Fun with learn at WASH Leadership Hiking

Fun with learn at WASH Leadership Hiking

By: Phurba Sange Moktan

What comes in mind when listened about hiking? It’s obvious, FUN. However, a hiking made by “paschim paaila” jointly organized with Rotaract Club of Midtown, Rotaract Club of Dillibazar, YPEER and NYCA to Sundarijal Height on 31^st March, 2012 was quite different. The hiking included not only fun but also learning with lots of fellowship opportunities.

Marking World Water Day-2012, the event entitled, “WASH Leadership Hiking (Water Special)” was conducted in which fun with learn was the prime motto. All the participants are youth representatives from the five different youth groups.  The hiking started at the Sundarijal Buspark with briefing of the details from facilitators. Then, four different groups namely Water Optimizer, Water Quality Maintainer, Sanitation Promoter and Hygiene Promoter were formed to have different team work exercises. Throughout the hiking, three landmark points were maintained to have different team works in which on first point each group presented about the important component for effective team through games, on second points quiz competition were made on WASH and on the final point, five remarkable sharing on different issues. In addition, best team was also declared as “Hygiene Promoters’ team” and they got awarded.

Though the hike was fifth series hike, most of the participants were new and were so excited throughout the event. “This gonna be a life time experience for me. I really love this hike.” said by Taryn Meyers, international participants for the hike. “The hike was made to be 75 % fun, 25 % learn and 100 % fellowship”, Said by Buddha Bajrachaya, Event Coordinator, “paschim paaila”. “And I hope this was achieved for sure.” The event was concluded at around 4 pm with farewell tea.

Taking waste water concern into discussion on WASH Forum

Taking waste water concern into discussion on WASH Forum

By: Phurba Sange Moktan

Problem is existed only when there is no way for solution. Likely situation is also for waste water in urban context, which was shared on WASH Forum; Last Friday’s sharing on WASH, Feb series on 24th February, 2012 among two resource persons working on the sector at ENPHO Hall, New-Baneshwor which has been conducting with the joint effort of “paschim paaila” and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO).

Mr. Rajendra Shrestha, Program Manager, ENPHO and Mr. Ram Kumar Shrestha, Engineer, High Powered Committee for Integrated Development of Bagmati Civilization were resource persons for the event. The event was begun with the welcome remarks from Mr. Rajesh Adhikari, ENPHO. Then, the first session was led by Mr. Rajendra as key speaker. He shared the ideas related to Waste Water, Management of Waste Water and Decentralized approaches and models. “The present practices of waste water in Cities like Kathmandu are displacement but not management. Actual management will be seen only when there is treatment practices are applied.” He said.  Similarly, Second session was led by Mr. Ram as speaker. He shared his experience and field based ideas regarding Bagmati River Waste Water Treatment. He said that the waste water is treated on the plant from north part of Pashipatinath, the holy temple. “We are working to create clean, green and healthy Bagmati.” He said. Finally, the program was concluded with appreciating with tokens of love and final remarks.

Exhibiting eco-ideas on Eco-Fair

By: Merina Shakya

Food, Cloth and Shelter are considered as basic need for all living beings. But now “Healthy and Eco-friendly Environment” can also be considered as a part of basic need. Environment, as we know is being degraded day by day due to human activities. This is the time to be environmental friendly and save environment for the future generation. Inorder to allocate knowledge regarding environmental friendly materials and applications to general public, Himal Media announced the first-ever trade fair showing the environmentally friendly technologies and lifestyles at Nepal at Nepal Academy on February 11-12. 

ENPHO, “paschim paaila” and Niva Rain also took part at Eco-fair. They exhibited models of constructed Wetland, Eco-san toilet, Bio-Sand Filter, P/A Vial, working model of Rainwater harvesting, waste water treatment and Reuse. Visitors from different institutions/organizations and general public were pleased to know about the concept of Zero Waste techniques through Eco-home. They were also curious to know about Eco-San and its mechanism. Visitors were specially praising the works and showed their interest on event. “This is really new and innovative technology and we should give a try to this one” –said one of visitor after knowing about Eco-San toilet.

The exhibition was inaugurated on 10 February, 2012 by lightning the solar light instead of traditional light. More than 40 exhibitors had stalls on the fair which showed Nepal’s progress in environmentally friendly techniques.