Gender Issues on School WASH at WASH FORUM

Gender Issues on School WASH at WASH FORUM

By: Mahidul Islam

How many of us think from the gender lens while providing accessibilities and facilities? Yes, one should think in this way as well. The monthly talk forum: WASH FORUM discussed the forum on the issues of Gender on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) entitled, “School, WASH and Gender: Key Issues” with making eyes opening on last Friday of November i.e. 25th November, 2011 which has been conducting joint effort of “paschim paaila” and ENPHO since 2010 at ENPHO Hall, Thapagaun. 

On the forum, main discussion points were school, sanitation and gender sensitization related issues in which two speakers Ms. Shikha Shrestha, Water Aid Nepal (WAN) as Key Note Speaker and Ms. Shubha Kayastha, Youth Peer (YPEER) as Youth Speaker shared their ideas, experiences and opinions. In addition, this forum has also been focused on current issues regarding school, concerns and initiatives of WASH sector and tries to address the voices of diversified youth communities and others.

“GoN policy says 1 toilet must serve 50 students but data set shows that on average, one toilet serves 127 students in Nepal.  This indicates that more toilets need to be built even at existing community schools” Said, Ms. Shikha Shrestha, WAN. “Lack of adequate toilets and waste disposal facilities in schools create a high risk of spreading disease and discourage to attend the students.” She added. Similarly, Ms. Shubha, YPEER addressed that it would be the potential roles of youth who are fruitful avenues to consider for interventions to stimulate demand for school sanitation and gender issues. 

Finally, the program was summarized with thank giving and presenting token of love to the speakers.

युवाहरुबाट सरसफाइका लागि भैली सम्पन्न

फुर्बा सांगे मोक्तान/ २९ कार्तिक, २०११

भैलो आफैमा एउटा उत्साहजनक शब्द हो, जसमा सान्स्कृतिक एबम मनोरन्जनात्मक तादाम्यता रहदै आएको छ। प्रत्येक बर्ष दिपावलिको पावन अवसरमा खेलिदै आएको भैलो कार्यक्रम यसपटक "पस्चिम पाइला" को युवा साथीहरुमाझ पनि बिशेष शैलीमा प्रस्तुत भयो । सान्स्कृतिक, मनोरन्जनात्मक उध्येश्यका साथसाथै सामाजिक उध्येश्यका साथ खेलिएको भैलो कार्यक्रम यो बर्ष बिभिन्न सामाजिक संघसंस्थाहरु लक्षित गर्दै करीब ३० जना युवाहरुको जमातले लक्ष्मीपुजाको अघिल्लो २ दिन, कार्तिक ७ र ८ गतेलाई उल्लसपूर्ण ढंगले मनाएका थिए। 

नुवाकोटको थाङ्सिङ गा. बि. स. को लामागाउ प्रा. बि. मा खानेपानी तथा सरसफाइको सहज पहुच पुर्याउने उध्येश्यका साथ ५ सन्स्थामा खेलिएको यस भैलो कार्यक्रमबाट तेइसहजार पचास रुपैया सन्कलन गर्न सकिएको थियो। "भैलोबाट अपेक्ष्या अनुरुप आर्थिक सन्कलन हुन नसके पनि यसले हाम्रो समुहको टिमवर्क, अपनत्व र उध्येश्यलाई अझ मजबुत बनाएको छ। त्यसैले, हामीहरुले यसलाई सफल सुरुवातको रुपमा लिएका छौ। र अवस्यै पनि यस सामाजिक उध्येश्य प्राप्तिको लागि थप पहलकदमी पाइलाहरु अगाडि बढाउदै लैजानेछौ।" भन्दै थिए, भैलो कार्यक्रम सम्योजक, बुद्ध बज्रचार्य। भैलो कार्यक्रमबाट करीब १ लाख रुपैया सहयोग संकलन गर्ने उद्येश्य राखिएको थियो, जसका लागि थप फन्ड रेसिंग (fund raising) गतिविधिहरु पनि तय हुदै गैरहेको जानकारी पनि गराउदै थिए बुद्ध बज्राचार्य।

त्यसैगरी, भैलो कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न भएपछी सबै युवा साथीहरु एक ठाउँमा बसेर पृष्‍ठपोसण गरेका थिए भने लामागाउ नै गएर पनी थप छलफल चलाएका थिए। भैलो कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न हुनुभन्दा पनि युवाहरुमा परिवर्तनका लागि आएको जागर वास्तवमा उत्क्रिस्ट रहेको कुरा उल्लेख गर्दै थिए, "पश्चिम पाइला" का संजाल संयोजक फुर्बा साङगे मोक्तान।   

Youth issues on disaster risk reduction at national symposium

By: Phurba Sange Moktan

Youths shared ideas, opinions and experiences on the issues of youths on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at National symposium held on Kathmandu.

As a part of International Disaster Risk Reduction Day-11 (IDRR-11), national symposium entitled, “Importance of participation of Youths and Children in DRR in Nepal” was conducted at Kathmandu on October 13 with the joint effort of various youth organizations and other stakeholders where “paschim paaila” was one of them. The symposium basically focused on the issues of Youths and children and their role on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) which is definitely an issue for consideration.

“paschim paaila”, being a youth network on Environmental health and Disaster, also utilized the platform for sharing some thoughtful learning and youth initiatives regarding “youths’ issues and  role on Disaster/Emergencies”. Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan presented a paper on behalf of “paschim paaila” combined with Mr. Brabim KC, AYON on the topic entitled, “Youth, Youth policies in Nepal and Youth Engagement in Disaster Risk Reduction”. Also, the remaining three papers were presented by the expert from UNICEF, NRCS and Department of Mines and Geology, GoN.

Around 100 participants were participated on the symposium in which more than 60 percent participants were youths. Similarly, remarkable participation from children could be seen on the symposium along with the professionals. Finally, a youth declaration on DRR was made after the group discussion with the participation of youths and children and the symposium was concluded.