11th Annual Sharing of Paschim Paaila Organized

 Prepared by: Ms. Sushama Sharma, Member, PP Batch III

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator

Paschim Paaila organized 11^th Annual Sharing Program on 23^rd August, 2020 through zoom platform to celebrate the completion of its 11 years of journey serving in the sector of WASH, Emergency, Disaster and Epidemic with voluntary essence and to share progress of FY 2019/20 and way forward in presence of guests and Paaila members.

The program started with one minute silence for the departed souls in an epidemic and pandemic as tribute from Paschim Paaila. The program continued with presence of valuable guests Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha, Deputy Director at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as Chief Guest, Mr. Bhushan Tuladhar, Chairperson of ENPHO and Environmentalist, Prof. Dr. Murali Gopal Ranjitar, Chairperson at NIHE, Mr. Bipin Dangol, Senior Sanitation Expert at Islamic Development Bank, Ms. Bhawana Sharma, Executive Director at ENPHO, as Special Guests, Mr. Manjeet Dhakal, LDC Support Team Head, Climate Analytics, Mr. Raman Bhattarai, Intellect Disease Specialist and, Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, Immediate Past President of Paschim Paaila as Guests.

Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator/Member Secretary of Paschim Paaila, shared the progress on activities of FY 2019/20 of Paschim Paaila which was followed by announcement of Paaila Idea Fund 2020. The basic objective of “Paaila Idea Fund” is to encourage youths of Nepal for the creative ideas into action in WASH, SDG and Emergency intervention initiatives. The introduction session of energetic youth volunteers as PP Batch III members was then followed by announcement of Paaila of the Year 2019/20 Award. Every year Paschim Paaila has been acknowledging the effort of volunteerism and dedication with the title “Paaila of the Year” award. This year, Ms. Sushama Sharma, PP Batch III member, was awarded as “Paaila of the Year 2019/20 Award”.

In the program, Chief Guest, Special Guest, Guest and Paaila members gave valuable remarks and assured to be with Paschim Paaila. During the remarks, Paschim Paaila team were appreciated for the initiative of Mask-Mandu Campaign. The campaign aims to aware and sensitize general public on proper use of mask and to maintain hygiene behaviour to prevent the spread of Coronavirus/COVID-19 engaging most energetic youths.

Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha said, “I have never seen such leadership of youth in the sector in any part of the world. It is great to such leadership of youth in Nepal but it now needs to be spread worldwide through social media and networking” during the guest remarks.

Altogether 40 Paaila members attended the Annual Sharing program as Guests and general member. Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, President of Paschim Paaila formally closed the program summarizing remarks and with the vote of thanks to guests and paaila members for the presence and remarks.

WASH FORUM Reloaded on “Stress Management Among Youths”

Prepared by: Paaila Sushama Sharma, Member, PP Batch III

Edited by: Paaila Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator

On 20 August 2020, Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO (Environment and Public Health Organization) organized 9^th WASH FORUM Reloaded on “Stress Management among Youths” through zoom platform. The main objective of the program was to share about stress and its effects on career development of youths, acquaint youths about how to Reduce, prevent and cope with stress as well as to share importance of psycho-social well-being. In Nepal, 40% of people are younger than 18 years of age and COVID-19 pandemic may be a stressful situation for young people regarding career development. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

Dr. Narendra Singh Thagunna, Vice President of Association of Psychologist was the speaker for the program. The session was initiated with evaluation on mental health condition of participants through a form filling process with specific questions. During the session, different types of mind exercise were conducted. The meaning of stress, cause of stress on students, consequences of student’s mental health on were mostly highlighted in the session.

Dr. Thagunna explained 6 stress management strategies to prevent from unhealthy stress coping mechanism. Also, participants were encouraged to build a positive mental health by creating healthy routine, owing your feelings, eliminating toxic influences, supporting each other, and connecting with others also shared the tips for success on life.

The program had an overwhelming participation of more than 90 participants from different part of Nepal. At the end, Dr. Thagunna addressed queries from the participants. Paaila Amrit Bista, Member, PP Batch III facilitated the overall program.

Celebrated International Youth Day-2020

Prepared by: Paaila Sushama Sharma, Member, PP Batch III

Edited by: Paaila Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator

Every year International Youth Day (IYD) is celebrated on 12 August, 2020. This year’s theme for International Youth Day was “Youth Engagement for Global Action”. The engagement of youths at the local, national and global level enhances the process of national and institutional activities. Paschim Paaila and ENPHO has been celebrating International Youth Day to motivate, celebrate the energy of youth, engage them and enhance their capacity. Paschim Paaila and ENPHO organized the talk program, “Connecting Youth to Youth: An Inspirational Talk” and continued campaign “Mask-Mandu Campaign” to celebrated International Youth Day 2020.

An Inspirational Talk Program

The program “Connecting Youth to Youth: An Inspirational Talk” was jointly organized aligning with

this year’s theme through zoom platform on 12 August, 2020. This event was organized to transform stress in strength, encourage youth engagement in Hygiene Campaign and exploring the opportunities connecting youths to inspire and encourage for global action from local efforts.

Mr. Kshitij Raj Lohoni, Software Engineer at Apple Company and Founder of Krinjal Foundation was the Speaker of the program. The session started with life experience sharing of the speaker. Mr. Lohoni, as a part of session, reflected on the way to move forward in life with a positive thoughts and have determination to achieve the targeted goals to inspire and motivate youth. The program continued with direct question and answer session with the speaker to get suggestions and guidance regarding various topics including involvement of youth for COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 50 youths directly attended the session that started at 8 in the morning through zoom.

Mask-Mandu Campaign

Later on the day, aspiring youth volunteers of Paschim Paaila conducted Mask-Mandu Campaign at Basantapur, Kathmandu. Mask-Mandu Campaign is a youth led initiative to sensitize and aware the general public on proper use of mask and promote safe Hygiene behavior to prevent the spread of COVID-19. People walking around without mask in public, street vendors, shop owners are the target group of the campaign. During the campaign general public of different age group, economic background and professions who were walking without mask, wearing mask improperly and/or just holding mask were sensitized on importance of proper use of mask and hand hygiene. As a motivational factor, those people, walking around without mask were supported with a mask.

More than 200 public people were counselled on proper use of mask, good hygiene practices to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and its importance focusing on the present pandemic situation among which masks were distributed to 47 people. Paschim Paaila youth volunteers have been counselling and distributing mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with a personal safety first such as use of masks, sanitizer for both the parties, volunteers and general public and wearing face shield.

Organized WASH-CO Workshop I Series 2020

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator
Prepared by: Ms. Susma Sharma, Member, PP Batch III

Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), jointly organized three days “WASH-CO Workshop I Series 2020” from 16^th to 18^th May, 2020 through Zoom platform. This is the very first workshop organized with an objective to enhance the capacity and knowledge on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and its linkage to COVID-19 to empower youths on WASH and COVID-19 to support in preventive measures and bring youths as change maker.

The three day workshop covered sessions related to WASH, COVID-19, hygiene behavior and practice, impact of COVID-19 on SDGs and social media use through presentations from WASH professionals and media professional. The three day workshop moreover remained participatory with interactions and discussions with and among participants. Altogether 40 participants were selected through an application to attend the workshop from various educational background including public health, environmental science, social work, engineering and bio-technology. 

“Participating in the workshop allowed me to gain unknown facts in regard to WASH and COVID-19 and beyond the general information. Thank you Paschim Paaila for providing the opportunity” Ritendra Babu.

Organized 10 Series of College Campaign on “Youth, WASH and SDG”

- Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator

On December, 2019 Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO, completed 10 series of College Campaign on Youth, WASH and SDG which was initiated on February, 2019 to enhance their capacity and knowledge on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). The program was organized on December 18 and 20, 2019, the campaign was organized at National Academy for Medical Studies (NAMS) at Old Baneswor to students of first and third semester.

The ‘College Campaign’ program with aims to encourage youths to involve in various WASH related social issues, to motivate them to act as Youth WASH ambassador and to sensitize them on importance of WASH to create environmentally healthy community and support nationwide WASH activities to achieve SDG goal 6. This program highlighted basics and facts on WASH and its national and worldwide status including areas of WASH that has to be addressed and requires special roles of youth to achieve the goal.

Altogether, 54 students of Bachelor in Public Health actively participated in the program. The program was held in two days with 25 students of first semester on 18 December, 2019 in facilitation of Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila and Ms. Lasata Manadhar, Resource Center Associate and with 29 students of 3^rd semester on 20 December, 2019 in facilitation of Ms. Anita Bhuju and Ms. Ritu Sharma, Senior Resource Center Associate.

"Being student of public health, I have interest on Research and Campaigns. I gained knowledge on WASH, SDG and Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) and gave me an idea on campaign. Also, I am motivated to volunteer/work in the sector of WASH, SDG and specially FSM" - Ms. Pushpa Giri, NAMS College, BPH 1st Semester.