Deusi Vaailo for School-WASH (SWASH) Campaign-2070

On the auspicious occasion of Tihar festival 2070 Paschim Paaila organized two days Deusi Vaailo Program on 1^st and 4^th, November 2013. The program was organized with a motive to develop good fellowship and strengthen bonding between the Paailas of Paschim Paaila and different supporting organizations and individuals; likewise the next main objective was raising funds for the effective conduction of School-WASH (SWASH) campaign.

 After the successful completion of the Construction of Community level (2000 liters) Bio-sand filter at Pathivara Tole, a Peri-urban squatter community in Kapan VDC of Kathmandu district with the fund raised from "Vaailo for Cause-2069". This year as well Paschim Paaila successfully organized "Deusi Vaailo for School-WASH (SWASH) Campaign-2070". Therefore, to disseminate information regarding WASH among school going students, youth of Paschim Paaila Played Deusi Vaailo at the aagaan of different organization and individuals.

There were more than 25 energetic Paailas involved for the grand success of Deusi Vaailo Program. The program was facilitated by Mr. Buddha Bajracharya Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila. The contributors for Deusi Vaailo Program were ENPHO, CEN, Mr. Om Prasad Gautam, Mr. Murali Gopal Ranjitkar, Mr. Rabin Bastola with whom Paschim Paaila played Deusi Vaailo with great fun and entertainment.  

Deusi Vaailo was played with informative Deusi Vaailo songs, Drama and various single, free and group dances which created very delightful environment at the aagan of all the organizations and individuals.  While asking about feeling regarding the Deusi Vaailo Program with Event Coordinator for Deusi Vaailo Ms. Urmila Lama, she said," I am very much happy with the success of this program and would like to thank all the Paailas for their service above self, really youth power is greater than all."  

"Food Hygiene Practice in Nepal; an Experience from Formative Research" WASH Forum 25th Series

WASH Forum 25^th series was conducted at ENPHO hall on 30^th August 2013 on topic "Food Hygiene Practice In Nepal; An Experience from Formative Research" with an objective is to share the knowledge and experience of formative research on food hygiene; and analyze critically on issues of food hygiene and its practices in Nepal.                  

Mr. Om Prasad Gautam, Public Health Expert of Nepal, Principal Investigator (PI) and from London school of hygiene and tropical medicine (LSHTM) was the key speaker for Discussion forum with 35 energetic youths from Public health, Environment science and Social science sector. Mr. Gautam shared his knowledge and experience regarding the interventional research recently being implemented at Baluwa and Naya Gaun VDC of Kavre District among the mothers having children's between 6 month and under 5 years. Mr. Gautam highlighted the importance of Food hygiene in all levels, especially for children's.  He motivated the youths to spread awareness of Food hygiene as it is one of the most important health issues in the present scenario in our country.

Mr. Gautam said that "changing behavior is very hard .It depends on the nature of setting. The old methods of raising awareness are not suitable, the approach and Setting should be known before implementation." Formative research on food hygiene matters as diarrhea is still 2^nd largest killing disease which is directly linked with food hygiene. He told the new idea for awareness.

In his slides he included the factors contributing for foodborne infection the previous and present changes in food hygiene handling practices of mothers after the interventional research and implementation of behavior changing approaches. The whole session was very much interactive and informative; the youth got to learn many new approaches and information. There was also shown short video regarding the critical times where mothers neglected the proper Hygiene Practices. He also introduced how the behavior of people can be changed in effective way.

Mainly question rose about the formative research regarding sustainabily, effect of education on food hygiene. He replied that it would be implemented in 4 district of Nepal. If it becomes effective then it would be implemented in other places. VDC, FCHVs will contribute in it. He told that Behavior of people affect in food hygiene. Which should be changed and they should be motivated to be ideal mother. 

The programme was then concluded by one of the supportive Paaila Ms. Susmita Paudel former Advocacy Coordinator. Overall program was facilitated by Mr. Roshan Chaulagain and the program was ended with group photo and interaction with participants.

 

Youth Day Celebration with Talk Program on “Scope and Role of Youth in Environment and Health Sector with Bhushan Tuladhar”

Youth Group photo

On the special occasion of International Youths Day (IYD) 12^th august, 2013, Paschim Paaila organized a Talk program on Scope and Role of youth in the sector of Environment and Health with Mr. Bhusan Tuladhar, Environmentalist as resource person for the program.  

Token Of love to Bhushan Sir

Mr.Buddha Bajracharya, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila welcomed all the 48 energetic youth from various backgrounds with brief objective of talk program as to get motivated and inspired by Bhushan sir regarding role and scope of youth in sector of environment and health with Grand celebration of IYD with Paschim Paaila. 

Mr. Tuladhar started his session focusing on the role of youth rather than scope with fact that, “Youths are not future but present among them top 5% are in this room.” Youths are for today i.e. youth’s empowerment should be utilized for today. He further focused on how one can utilize the resources that they have. He raised three questions in that case, Where are we? Where do we want to go? And how can we reach there? He mentioned that most of people get confused on where they are? So one should first know that where they are in the present situation.

During the program

He also talked about SWOT/C (Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat/Challenges) in which SW is the internal factor whereas OT is the external factor. He listed as a youth of Nepal, strength of youth from among the youth present in the program which were Unity, Hard working, Energetic, Enthusiastic, Volunteering, Patriotism, Skill and Knowledge, Decision making power, Hopefulness and Patience, Honesty, Self confidence, Cooperative and Optimistic. Among all these points, he focused in the point Optimistic the most.

Similarly, the weakness of youth were listed as Negative Attitude, Confusion, Hopelessness, Lack of patience, Blaming other, Aggressiveness, Jealousy, Low self esteem, Selfishness, Afraid of initiation, Stubborn, Bounding in making decision, Selfish politics, Communication problem and so on. The youths should always focus on positive attitude rather than negative attitude so that they can understand themselves that where they are right now Mr. Tuladhar suggested. He mentioned Success is 90% attitude and 10 % work. Success can start with own strength. He further talked about the entrepreneurship.

He inspired the youth to be proactive along with volunteer spirit. "Don’t depend on other to tell you that what you should do this or that." One should think in a broad way that how he/she can do something different than other.

Participant Interacting

The program moved towards discussion where participants raised lots of queries "what may be the possible threats in the sector of environment and public health? Are they vulnerable?" and the solution were also given to those queries as we must remember “Russian Rule” that “I must do it in order to get rid of it”, must have willingness to learn, courage to make mistake and confidence or pair of support may be missing. Also asked by participant as she wants to do something innovative but have no confidence and what she can do in that case? One of the participants gave suggestion that stand in front of mirror and say that "I am the one I can do, today is my day and start it today." In between of smile and non smile, there is a gap and that gap is the great thing that motivates yourself and other.

At the end of the program Mr. Tuladhar was appreciated with Token of love. Likewise Mr. Bajracharya Thanked all the participants and resource person for making the program a grand success and also collected feedback to make to program more effective in the future with sharing about Emergency Relief Fund (ERF). Some of the youth donated some amount for ERF. Finally a group photo was taken and the floor was closed.