School WASH Campaign to improve WASH practice

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila
- Ms. Janaki Shrestha, Member, Paschim Paaila Batch III

School WASH (SWASH) campaign have been an effective means to aware and sensitize school children on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. WASH being very crucial part of life still have been in negligence. On 23^rd February, Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO in leadership of Paschim Paaila Batch III members organized SWASH campaign at Oxford Practical English School at Sallaghari, Bhaktapur in order to aware and sensitize the school students on WASH with special focus on handwashing practice to prevent diseases.

The program highlighted on safe drinking water and water purification options, solid waste management and toilet cleaning, proper handwashing and menstrual hygiene management. The program was made interactive, participatory and demonstrative. Participants were engaged in group activities and story sharing during the program to make information sharing more effective. Also, handwashing steps crucial during critical stages were demonstrated among participants. Quiz based on the topics delivered during program also made program interactive and informative.

Altogether 25 students of class 7-8 were engaged in the program in recommendation of school management committee. The campaign was facilitated by Ms. Janaki Shrestha, Ms. Punam Chauguthi and Mr. Sagar Gosai, members of Paschim Paaila Batch III. 

Ms. Anusha Dhaubanjar, one of the participant said   “session were very useful and informative we will share the information with others who did not get chance to participate in the program and also we are very much interested for training on homemade sanitary pad making.”

Youth WASH Concern Workshop XVII Series-2020

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila

- Mr. Amrit Bista, Member, Paschim Paaila Batch III

Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), jointly organized two days “Youth WASH Concern Workshop XVII Series-2020” on 1^st and 2^nd February, 2020 at ENPHO Hall, Thapagaun, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. This workshop was organized with an objective to enhance the capacity and knowledge of youths on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) integrating with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to empower youths on WASH as youth ambassador.

It is a knowledge sharing program based on participatory approach and interactive sessions among youths and WASH professionals. The program started with introduction of Paschim Paaila and participants. The two day workshop covered five different sessions on Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, WASH and SDG and, Youth leadership in WASH, respectively, in facilitation of Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila, Mr. Roshan Chaulagain, WASH Officer at ENPHO, Ms. Sabuna Gamal, WASH Trainer at ENPHO, Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Project Coordinator at ENPHO and President of Paschim Paaila and, Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, Immediate Past President of Paschim Paaila. Participants were engaged in different group activity and presentation in these sessions. The workshop was consisted of energizers and games during sessions and break to make learning more effective. The energizers and games also to highlighted importance of team work in any activity along with refreshment.

At the end of second day, four groups of participants presented Plan of Actions comprising ideas to conduct School Health Program (SHP) in menstrual hygiene and water purification techniques along with solid waste management training, college campaign in WASH and SDGs and advocacy in WASH. The program also covered pre and post-test and, self-assessment before and after the sessions to assess knowledge difference of a participants after participating in the workshop. Altogether, 11 youths from diverse educational background and institutions actively participated in the workshop. Mr. Ashish Maharjan, Research and Project Development Coordinator of Paschim Paaila facilitated overall program and Ms. Janaki Shrestha, Member, PP batch III and Eshna Shrestha, Volunteer,  supported in facilitation of overall program making workshop efficient.

“Sessions were good and this two day workshop has improved socialization and confidence in me”, Rejisha Maharjan, one of the participant of workshop said.

Youth WASH Concern Workshop- VII series

Youth WASH Concern Workshop- VII series

Two days Youth WASH Concern workshop (WCW) was successfully conducted on 21^st and 22^nd December 2013 organized by Paschim Paaila and ENPHO at Thames College. There were 22 youth participants from different college of Kathmandu valley. The overall objective of the WCW is to enhance the knowledge of WASH and disaster, to empower the capacities, motivate among youth and to boost the leadership capacities among the youth.

The program was coordinated by Mr. Roshan Chaulagain. The facilitators for the whole WCW were Mr. Bipin Dangol, Program Manager ENPHO on “Water management” and Mr. Raman Nepali Activist on “WASH youth leadership”, Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, District WASH Coordinator UN-HABITAT on “Sanitation Commons and Triggering”, Ms. Kamala KC, Executive Board member PP on “Health and hygiene and Behavior change communication”, Ms. Merina Shakya, Project Officer ENPHO on WASH on Disaster, Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Network coordinator on “Water and health”.

Two days workshop highlighted many aspects of WASH such as participants were able to know detail knowledge about food hygiene and menstrual hygiene as well. The session were conducted through various tools and techniques such as PowerPoint presentations, audio visuals, different group works, sharing of the cases, games, demonstration etc. during the sessions all the participants had active and energetic participation. At the end of the all session there were group work to collect the feedback and to develop WASH action project which participants committed to complete in near future with the technical support of Paschim Paaila.

WASH Orientation Program to Women Group of Baba Co-operative

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) orientation was conducted among the female group of Baba Saving and credit Cooperative Ltd, Thimi on 1^st June 2013 at Yechu Party Palace, Thimi with the coordination of Paschim Paaila. It basically focuses on environmental health with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and disasters/epidemics as social concern.

Ms. Merina Shakya, Network Coordinator Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Campaign coordinator and Ms. Manisha Thapalia, Media Coordinator  were the representatives from Paschim Paaila who facilitated the entire program. Total of 30 participants attended the orientation which was organized by Baba Saving and credit cooperative Ltd.

Mr. Nabin Prakash Shrestha, President of Baba Saving and Credit cooperative Ltd, on his opening speech asked all the participants to be a part of the session and apply in practice. Ms. Gita Shrestha was the Master of Ceremony (MC) of the program.

Ms. Merina Shakya started the session with the introduction of Water and its importance. Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, before entering in his session of Water purification methods energized the session with signature dance. Then the session was further continued. Many queries about the effectiveness of water purification method were raised and solved. Hygiene and Sanitation issues were further addressed during the session.

Our hand may look clean but how clean it really was, was then demonstrated by asking one of the participants to wash her hand with plain water and shown. Need of hand washing was then highlighted and proper hand washing techniques was demonstrated. The importance of hand washing using soap was made felt to the participants, after that there was session about household waste water management where basically the main concepts of household waste management was made clear and participants were also provided information that detail training of composting will be managed soon so that they can learn whole process of composting and apply at their home.

 At the end of all the session the participants were distributed with important IEC materials regarding WASH and also Soap were distributed. Thus the overall program went great with positive feedback and participation of the active women members of Baba-cooperative and the program ended with lunch and commitment to meet next time to learn about composting.

Paaila’s moving towards healthy community with visually impaired groups.

Paaila’s moving towards healthy community with visually impaired groups.

To encourage youths of Nepal for the creative ideas on WASH and Emergency interventions, that can be changed into action; to promote those creative ideas and to sensitize youths to execute idea into action, Paschim Paaila announced, “Paaila Idea Fund” worth Rs.5000/-.After having open invitation for the ideas, many Youth came up with many ideas. Among different ideas, the idea of “WASH Knowledge to Blind and Deaf students” was selected and was awarded to Mr. Pradeep Bhattari.

As we all know that, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are considered as basic needs of people. Pure and safe water, proper sanitation and hygiene should be accessible to all to meet the MDG goal. To meet the target we should flow the message through different activities that covers all the spot including different groups of people. But in general, programs are designed and conducted targeting particular groups who are physically able. 

Therefore to execute the idea of “WASH Knowledge to Blind and Deaf” and also to share WASH Knowledge, Paschim Paaila conducted WASH Knowledge sharing program for Blind student at Laboratory School, Kirtipur on 24^th September, 2012.

Total 65 students of different class and 6 school staffs were present at the program. Program was facilitated by Youths of Paschim Paaila, Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Mr. Pradeep Bhattarai, Ms. Lakpa Shrepa, Ms. Rubita Pulami, and Ms. Merina Shakya . Program was started with introduction of the team member and with simple game. Ms. Merina Shakya oriented about Water including POU options and Personal Hygiene focusing on Handwashing Techniques whereas, Mr. Buddha Bajracharya oriented regarding Sanitation including waste management and 3R techniques. The whole program was very interactive and participatory as students shared their knowledge regarding WASH. All the students learned six critical stage and proper techniques of Handwashing and also about waste management.

As this was an orientation for them, further more different follow up programs will also be conducted in coming future. Lastly, we express our gratitude towards all the teacher and administration of Laboratory School, Kirtipur. 

Training and Sharing among University Youths

Training and Sharing among University Youths

By: Ms. Sasmita Poudel

As a part of WASH Knowledge Sharing Campaign-11, “paschim paaila” conducted one day training on “Hygiene and Sustainable Sanitation” as a part of WASH Knowledge Sharing Campaign-2011 on 17th March, 2011 at ENPHO Hall.

The campaign has been supported by Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) and Center for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST) which has been kicked off from February and continues up to April, 2011. The campaign has intended to share knowledge among college/university youths and empower them for the betterment of their surrounding communities through the activities like Water and POU training, Hygiene and Sanitation Training, CLEAN FRIDAY, school health education program, WASH Sharing Program, WASH Circle formation, etc. in a cyclic process in which the training was a part of this initiative.

Participants were students of Bachelor in public Health from two institutions: National Academy for Medical Sciences and Nepal Institute of Health Sciences. The main objective of the training was to sensitize, empower institutional youths as youth leaders on Hygiene and Sustainable Sanitation with the replication of the knowledge among their respective communities & Schools. The resource person Mr. Rajendra Shrestha said, “Sanitation is forgotten Child today and no one want to take the responsibility though all are responsible for the consequences to come”. He further added yearly two Arab twenty Crore to 3 Arab sixty crore rupees in total is expensed on treatment of Health problems due to Water and Sanitation. Participants expressed their Knowledge through role play, poem recitation and slogans in group during the group work session.