WASH FORUM Reloaded on Transforming Waste to Value: Opportunities and Challenges

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila
-Mr. Amrit Bista, Member, PP Batch III

Paschim Paaila and ENPHO jointly organized 3^rd series of WASH FORUM Reloaded on “Transforming Waste to Value: Opportunities and Challenges” on 24 January, 2020 at Decentralized Solid Waste Management (DESWAM) Compost Plant also known as Compost Production and Processing Center, Shankharapur Municipality, Sakhu, Kathmandu.

The main objective of 3^rd series of WASH FORUM Reloaded is to sensitize the youths on importance and ways of conversion of waste to productive value and, to provide knowledge to maximize value from waste by promoting recycling, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and creating green jobs through orientation along with the site observation.

Mr. Saroj Shrestha, Site manager of Blue Waste to Value (BW2V) facilitated the program to orient and for site visit for participants. The information about the establishment of BW2V, its partner organization, working mechanisms, advantages and existing challenges that BW2V is currently facing was shared during short orientation and introduction of the company. Along with introduction, Mr. Shrestha shared about future planning and strategies of BW2V to overcome the existing challenges. “Though we are not in extensive progress in present context, we are looking forward for strengthening financial status for this plant. Also, municipality has committed to support technically and financially”, said manager, Mr. Saroj Shrestha.

The participant also visited working site and observe the working processes. The Compost Production and Processing Centre collects decomposable and non-decomposable waste in different days. It collects the decomposable waste on Wednesday and Thursday. Organic shredder machine is used to make the fine pieces of the waste and de-watering machine is used to extract the liquid content present in the waste. The Effective Micro-organisms (EM) are used to decompose. After 30 days compost becomes ready for use. Such compost manure costs NRS 30/kg for local people. The compost plant also provides Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to staffs for health and safety measures which found being properly used during the visit. Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network coordinator of Paschim paaila, closed the session by providing vote of thanks to the facilitator and all participants. Altogether 18 participants joined the WASH FORUM Reloaded program from different institutes.

Introduction and Orientation: PP Batch III

Edited by: Ms. Anita Bhuju, Network Coordinator, Paschim Paaila
- Mr. Sagar Gosai, Member, Paschim Paaila Batch III

Paschim Paaila (PP) Batch is the new initiative of Paschim Paaila for providing certified volunteering opportunity to 5 motivated youths who are keen to learn skills and are looking forward to establish career in development sector. This platform provides wide range of volunteering opportunities through event planning, reporting, coordination, documentation and mentoring. Every six months, new batch members is formed with five members.

On 14 January, 2020 an introduction program and 21 January, 2020, an orientation program was organized at ENPHO hall, Baneshwor, Kathmandu for members of Paschim Paaila Batch III. The event was organized for introduction of Paschim Paaila and team to batch members and introducing batch members to other team members along with brief description sharing of responsibility as batch members and to orient on WASH. The five batch members who have been selected through the procedure of application and interview were excited being a part of Paschim Paaila team.

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.