WASH Orientation at Saligram Balgriha, Lubhu

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila
-Ms. Puja Bisunke, Member, Paschim Paaila Batch II

Paschim Paaila organized an orientation on WASH on 25 January, 2020 at Saligram Balgriha located at Lubhu, Lalitpur. The orientation program was organized to aware and sensitize children of Saligram Balgriha on basic importance of WASH. The program highlighted on water purification methods for clean and safe water and proper sanitation and hygiene for healthy life.

In the program, children were oriented with easy and understanding methods through demonstration of poster with pictures and playing video. During one day orientation program, members of Paschim Paaila batch II, Ms. Puja Bisunke and Mr. Meghajan Budha delivered messages on water purification methods at household level, solid waste management, waste segregation, critical stages of handwashing and steps of handwashing to participating children.

 

The sessions were made interesting and interactive with informative games and songs. A demo dance of handwashing steps was done to make the steps memorable to children. Altogether 27 children staying at Saligram Balgriha participated in the orientation program.

Celebrating World Menstrual Hygiene Day- 2015

sMenstruation is a natural process that all women have to go through it, but this natural phenomenon which is perceived as an impure, bound by silence, shame and social taboo in our society. A woman menstruate for a total 40 years in her lifetimes but majority of women who lives in developing country like Nepal do not have access to clean water, sanitation and Hygiene and other services and opportunities as well as there is lack of awareness on Menstrual Hygiene in Nepalese community as like NalangVDC where people even don’t consider about menstruation matter.

Thus, Paschim Paaila has taken the initiation through mass awareness program on Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) focusing on Menstrual Hygiene Management on 29^th May, 2015 to mark the “World Menstrual Hygiene Day- 2015” at Nalang VDC of Dhading district.

The program was started with the short speech of Ram Prasad Silwal, Incharge, Nalang Health Post. There were more than about 200 Participants and most of them were female of menstruating age group. Participants didn’t interact about menstruation at starting. When we shared menstruation as natural phenomenon and importance of menstrual hygiene, they started to share their problems regarding menstruation especially during the earthquake time. The one of the important achievements was female of menstruating age were motivated to maintain hygiene during menstruation through the mass awareness program.

In addition to this, soap for hand washing, chlorine solution, Piyush were distributed to each household and sanitary pads were distributed to teenager girls. At last, the program was concluded by Paschim Paaila Team followed by group photo.

Street Drama for Total Sanitation Campaign

Street Drama for Total Sanitation Campaign

Street Drama raising awareness and sensitizing people about five components of healthy living (safe drinking water, proper use and maintenance of toilet, personal hygiene including proper hand washing practices, indoor air pollution and solid waste management) was successfully conducted at the streets of Nagarkot VDC by the volunteers of Paschim Paaila under SWASH project Nagarkot. 

The street drama was organized for the success of Total Sanitation Campaign running at Nagarkot VDC starting from 28^th August to 5^th September, 2014. After some days of practice, volunteers performed their first drama in Jalpa Devi Temple in Telkot on the day of Teej, the festival of Hindu women. “I liked the drama and the message in the drama was very useful” said by one of the viewers after the drama. The feedback collected after the drama was positive and they appreciated the effort of the performers. 

The first day drama helped the volunteers to know the real scenario of the Nagarkot and were all prepared for their next performance. Accordingly the 12 shows gone fantastic with the support of local people of Nagarkot VDC and also with assistance of Mr. Rajesh Byanjankar, Project Assistant, ENPHO. 

The drama group performed dramas in different places of Nagarkot VDC including community, school, bus stop and market areas. The feedbacks collected after the drama encouraged the volunteers and the objective to make the viewer aware about complete sanitation was found to be fulfilled.

The volunteers also performed some dramas reaching to inner villages along with the Sarangi players. They added up extra flavor in enhancing the supporting environment for performing drama. The music along the drama caught the attention of the people around the village. Everybody enjoyed the drama along with the message through music.

MAHILA KA LAGI PAAILA

Dflxnfsf nflu kfO{nf

Paschim Paaila implemented its project under Paaila Idea fund - 2013 as "Dflxnfsf nflu kfO{nf"/ "Paailas for Women" at Thapathali Slum area, where 23 women’s of different age group (17-74 years) participated on 29^th May, 2014. The program started with the general information about Paschim Paaila by Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila. The program was divided into two parts i.e. WASH and importance of Vermi-composting technique.

Mr. Bajracharya took a session of WASH whereby he gave idea on importance of water to the living creatures as well as present situation of Water in context of Nepal. According to him, “Slum area of Kathmandu is very prone to Water borne disease, once it catches a person it can be easily transmitted from person to person very soon.” Whereby, he gave examples of Jaundice in Biratnagar (2014) and epidemics in Jajarkot (2009). In addition to that, Mr. Bajracharya highlighted different ways of water purification viz. filtration (different approaches), boiling, SODIS, Chlorination (Piyus). Most of the participants took it positively and agreed to follow one of the water purification techniques. Then, he gave some idea about the healthy behaviour mainly focusing on "Hand washing techniques". All the participants vouched to follow ‘Ati-Pati’ technique from the very day.

Next session was taken by Mr. Regan Sapkota, Paaila idea fund 2013 winner took session on Vermi-composting technique. According to Mr. Sapkota Nepali are not Poor but the way of thinking is very poor. He added, vermiform composting can be lucrative source of income to many unemployed Nepalese as the worms produce ample compost and multiply their number very quickly. He highlighted various facts about the importance and effectiveness of vermin composting and urged the participants to practice this composting technique. All the participants were very much inspired so at the end of the session all the participants came to common understanding to start Vermi composting commercially so that this technique can help them financially to uplift their living standards. Most of the participants were motivated and said they will embark the Vermi-composting from their home. All the participants looked positive and were exhilarated and said programs was fruitful for them and they will soon follow the technique taught to them.

A Day Training on MHM and homemade sanitary pad Preparation

A Day Training on MHM and homemade sanitary pad Preparation

During the Preparation of Homemade Sanitary Pad

Day long training on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and homemade sanitary pad Preparation was conducted at Baluwapati Secondary School, Baluwapati-4, Kavre on 13^th March, 2014. The training was executed by Paschim Paaila as a part of Japan Water Forum fund under the project “Construction of Bio-Sand Filter, Child friendly hand washing station & training on making homemade sanitary pad and menstrual hygiene management” In collaboration with ENPHO.

The main objective of the training program was to promote hygiene behavior of school students particularly among girl students and to address hygiene & sanitation problems during menstruation.

After Training with Pads

Group Photo after Training

The training was divided into three sessions. First session focused on personal sharing about menstruation and the complication related to it. Second session was of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and the last session was the technical session about the preparation of home-made sanitary pad using locally available clothes. Total of 55 girl student of class 8 and 9 attended the training with 3 female teachers.

At the end of the program Menstrual Hygiene Care Team (MHCT) with total of 8 students and 2 female teachers were formed who will be responsible to raise awareness among other girl students in the school in coordination with School administration and even provide homemade sanitary pad as per necessity.

Youth WASH Concern Workshop VI series

Youth WASH Concern Workshop VI series

Participants of Youth WASH Concern Workshop VI series

WASH Concern workshop is an interactive attempt of Paschim Paaila to incorporate youth in WASH. Here youth from different colleges were gathered to share their views and to boost up their knowledge in WASH. The VI series of WASH concern Workshop was conducted on 6^th July 2013 at Thames College with total of 24 participants.

Mr. Ash Kumar Khaitu from ENPHO, Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan from UN-HABITAT and Mr. Sarbagya Shrestha from Water Aid Nepal were the key speaker of the Workshop.

Youths during the sessions

The program began with warm welcome from Event Coordinator Mr. Buddha Bajracharya who introduced Paschim Paaila , its vision, objectives, past activities, recent activities, upcoming plan and goal.. Mr. Ash Kumar Khaitu from ENPHO started the session of "Water and hygiene including youth" where he discussed about Open defecation free (ODF), quality maintenance of water, some facts and figures about coverage of water in public and water pollution.

The second session which was of personal hygiene and health was facilitated by Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan from UN-HABITAT who started the session with the comparison of human mind with the glass. Then description on personal hygiene was discussed. The session had lots of group works.

In the session mode of transmission of feaces and what and where can be the barrier to stop the transmission, critical condition of hand washing and hand washing technique were discussed. Different energizer games were played to entertain the participants.

Engagement in Games and Group work

The third session was of sanitation and waste management including role of youth which was facilitated by Mr. Sarbagya Shrestha from Water Aid Nepal. The session was started with the experience sharing from participants on open defecation. Mr. Shrestha then defined sanitation and its types; Improved sanitation, on site sanitation, Food sanitation, Environmental sanitation and Ecological sanitation.

Some facts about sanitation of our country were revealed during the session i.e. 62% of rural school has at least one toilet. 29% of total waste generated is generated by Kathmandu valley only. And only 45 % of total waste generated is collected. He also shared some triggering method in order to make people aware about need and importance of sanitation. Some live examples of proper utilization of waste were also discussed during the session.

Active Involvements of youths

He concluded youth as key for social change, most energetic and proactive age of life, critical mass for action and present leaders. The session was ended with the individual commitment of the participants and feedback collection. Participants rated the workshop as interactive, fun filled and informative.

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.

Clean-up/Awareness Campaign at Pathivara

Clean-up/Awareness Campaign at Pathivara

A clean-up Campaign was organized by Pathivara Nawa yuwa Club with support of Paschim Paaila at Pathivara tole on 11^th  May 15, 2013 Saturday. There was huge participation of local youths, children, community people and team of Paschim Paaila in the program. The program was conducted in Pathivara community to raise awareness regarding proper Sanitation and Hygiene in the community.

The reason behind selecting Pathivara as our campaign site was based on present scenario of Pathivara. In that community present sanitation status was observed, it was not satisfactory.   Community was facing water related diseases in recent days. Overall objective of this campaign was to improve the existing situation and also to promote bio-sand filter in the community for safe drinking water supply.

As a part of campaign there was a meeting prior the event with Pathivara Nawa Yuwa Club. The program started from 7:30 am, all the youths were ready with brooms and sack to collect the waste in their community. There was also good participation from nursing students of Om Institute of Health Science. The team visited door to door as well to collect the waste and aware the community people about the importance of proper maintained sanitation and hygiene in their surroundings.

The program was conducted for about 3 hour which was very much effective. After the conduction of Cleanup program there was also sharing about the progress and further plans for construction of Community Bio-sand Filter. After the clean-up program the youths were so motivated that they further planned to clean Dhobi Khola which is situated in Pathivara Community. Thus the Clean-up/Awareness went very much effective with strong community participation.