Untangling the Knot regarding Water, Sanitation and Food Security on WASH FORUM

By: Merina Shakya

March, considered as the month of water, being celebrated World Water Day on 22^nd of March. The theme for this year was “Water and Food Security”. Focusing on the issue the topic entitled “Water Sanitation and Food Security: Untangling the Knot” was conducted on 30^th March 2012 as a part of WASH FORUM, March discussion series.

                             

Mr. Madan Kumar Chapagain, Department of Food Technology and Quality Control shared key notes on “Water Sanitation and Food Security: Interlinking three factors relating water sanitation and food security”. He focused on perspectives of water and food security, some facts, present scenarios and challenges on the issues. He also highlighted on the governmental efforts.

Following the session, Dr. Saroj Kumar Chapagain, Centre of Research for Environment, Energy and Water (CREEW) shared the outcomes of Nepal National Water Week-12 with linking the issues of water, sanitation and food security. He said, “All the efforts made in between has definitely supported to untangle the knots and shown the direction to the solution.” All participant form different institutions actively participated on the forum to untangle the knot relating the water sanitation and food security through the open discussion with resource persons.

Youths getting empowered on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Issues

By: Phurba Sange Moktan

Being key stakeholders for change, youths from different dynamics and arenas gathered to concern on the issues of WASH at “WASH Concern Workshop-III”- A full day training workshop focusing on youths on 17th March, 2012 at Thames Seminar Hall, Old-Baneshwor. The event was jointly organized “paschim paaila” and ENPHO with the venue support of Thames International College (TIC).

The workshop was based on open call participation. 21 youth participants from various institutions, organizations, clubs, etc. actively participated. The workshop was begun with the welcome remarks from Ms. Merina Shakya, event coordinator followed by the icebreaking from Ms. Kamala KC, Facilitator. First session was led by Mr. Brabim Chhetri, Secretary, AYON on “Youth as Change Maker” in which he shared his valuable personal experiences with change making examples that was very inspiring for the participants to do something by their own level. Similarly, Mr. Rajesh Adhikari, Program Manager, ENPHO took the second session on “Water, Health and Optimization” in which he delivered the ideas for drinking safe water and preserving water in present context, which was also found very fruitful. Then, the topic entitled, “Person Hygiene and Health” was led by Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, Network Coordinator, “paschim paaila”. “Hygiene is about practicing in day to day life for self and caring self. Behaviour change is very crucial for hygiene promotion.” He said. Furthermore, Mr. Rajesh Manandhar, Program Manager, UNHABITAT shared about the importance of Waste Management with showing the solutions during his presentation entitled, “Sanitation and Waste Management”.

After the completion of thematic sessions, Team Synthesis and Performance session was facilitated by Mr. Phurba. Role playing, poem writing, slogan writing and statue presentation were performanced after the team synthesis from each team. On the basis of their team work and creativity, “Team of the batch” was declared. Likewise, Mr. Prabin Rai, one participant was also awarded from “WASH Ambassador Award” for being best participant for the workshop. Finally, the workshop was concluded with the participatory distribution of “Certificate of Participation”.

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.