Volume– 23 January 2018 In this Issue: Mid Phase Review of ICS Program Peer Education and Go Bag Awareness Raising Program 20th Earthquake Safety Day Celebration Training on Soil pH Test Cluster Meetings of ICS Program Board Member Visit to the FSCN/WJR Project Site DRR&M Act Orientation in Changunarayan Orientation and Meeting of IPM program for Small Farm- Inauguration of Mason Training ers 20th Earthquake Safety Day Celebration On the occasion of 20th earthquake safety day, Friends Service Council Nepal (FSCN) took part in the different programs in Kathmandu Valley. FSCN members, staffs and PRAGATI project, funded by ECHO and executed by the consortium of DCA, ADRA Nepal and VSO, team along with the direct beneficiaries of Bhaktapur district took part in a rally that was started from Madhypur Thimi Municipality and converted in a program at the premises of Nepal Red Cross Society Balku- mari, Bhaktapur branch. The chief guest of the program was Mr Rajendra Man Shrestha State Assembly member of Bhakta- pur 2 (B) constituency, the program was conducted on the chairmanship of Mr. Madan Sundar Shrestha, Mayor of Madhepur Thimi Municipality. The pro- gram was organized by District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC), Bhakta- pur in the collaboration with different or- ganizations, stakeholders and concerned agencies. In the program chairman of DDMC Bhaktapur, Mr. Drona Pokharel (CDO of Bhaktapur) gave his remarkable speech on the importance of earthquake safety day celebration. Similarly, FSCN team also took part in the program at Basantapur organized at central level. In the program the chief guest was Honorable Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prime-Minister of Nepal, and the chairmanship of Honarable Bir Bahadur Balayar Minister, Physical Infrastructure and Transport. It is remarkable that the slogan for 20th Earthquake Safety Day is “Strong Community and Local Government is the Strong Base of Earthquake Safety’’ Cluster Meeting of ICS Program Cluster meeting of ICS program was conducted in Nagarkot, Bhaktapur on 26th of December 2017. This program was im- plemented by Friends Service Council Nepal (FSCN) with the partnership of VSO since 1st November 2017 in ward no. 8 of Changunarayan municipality. The objectives of this cluster meeting was to allow member of the community a space to com- municate thoughts and ideas surrounding VSO Nepal and FSCN's aims and goals, introduce the community to outline our program, connect with a range of school and community members to collect their ideas, giving information why we (action learners) are here, making a communication between school and community people. This meeting was conducted in some schools and communities of the Changunarayan municipality. There were 161 participants including 79 males and 82 fe- males in the meetings of all 3 groups. 1 Volume– 23 January 2018 DRR &M Act Orientation in Changunarayan On the auspicious occasion of 20th Earthquake Safety Day, FSCN in support of its project partners organized an interaction program on "DRR&M Act" to the local representatives of 9 wards of Changunaryan Municipality on 19th of January 2018. The program was chaired by Mrs. Beena Bastola, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality and Chair of MDMC. There was participation of Mr. Som Prasad Mishra, Mayor of Changunarayan as a chief guest and Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chair- man of FSCN as a special guest. Representatives including ward chairs of 9 wards were oriented on the provisions of DRR&M Act specially focusing the provisions defined for the local level institutions for DRR and DM. Advocate Mr. Bishnu Timilsina, general Secretary of National Disaster Management Network Nepal (DiMaNN) presented on Act. The orientation program helped to understand the responsibility of not only government institutions but also of private sectors and the individual person for DRR and DM. Deputy mayor also expressed her commitment to internalize the DRR measures while developing and implementing municipal development plans. FSCN chairman also highlighted the role of local representatives on DRR. After the DRR&M Act orientation, a short presentation was made highlighting role of private sectors on DRR. As Changunarayan is rich in its cultural heritages and touristic place, there are lots of private sectors who are growing their business in Changunarayan. Private sectors such as NNTDC, Homestays, Brick Manufactures, Cooperatives and Private Schools are major private stakeholders of Changunarayan who can contribute in DRR and DM. With the aim of sensitizing their role on DRR, private sectors were invited in the program. Though there was not much participation from hotel sectors, other private sectors who participated in the program got information about their role mentioned in the new DRR&M Act. It is remarkable that PRAGATI project is funded by ECHO and executed by the consortium of DCA, ADRA Nepal and VSO. Inauguration of Mason Training On the occasion of 20th ESD, FSCN in collaboration with Changunarayan Mu- nicipality, inaugurated 8 days mason training on earthquake resilience con- struction technology. The training will be organized for 8 days to 25 skilled ma- sons of Changunarayan Municipality. It was inaugurated by FSCN Chairman and Deputy Mayor of Changunarayan. They were provided with safety met during inauguration. This training aims to en- hance the skill of skilled masons on re- silience technology. It is remarkable that PRAGATI project is funded by ECHO and executed by the consortium of DCA, ADRA Nepal and VSO. Deadline February 2018 Deadline February Are You Interested …...? The Start Free Challenge Core Area: Reduction of new HIV infections in children SDG: 16 International Trans Fund Promote Peaceful and Inclusive Societies for Sustaina- Core Area: Social justice, movement building, and the liber- ble Development, Provide Access to Justice for all and ation of trans people. Build Effective, Accountable and Inclusive Institutions at All Levels Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund 2 Core Area: Conservation of plant, animal and fungus spe- Volume– 23 January 2018 Mid Phase Review of ICS Program A mid phase review of ICS program was conduct- ed in Nagarkot, Bhaktapur on 15-17 of January 2018. This program was implemented by Friends Service Council Nepal (FSCN) with the partner- ship of VSO since 1st November 2017 in ward no. 8 of Changunarayan municipality. In the program International as well as Nepali Action Learners actively took part in the different sessions. This review was facilitated by Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa, Executive Chairperson of FSCN and Mrs. Shakti Gurung, Project Coordinator of PRAGATI project. Mr. Thapa dealt with the importance of volunteerism, history of FSCN, experience of FSCN with the partnership of VSO. Mrs. Gurung dealt with the different project implemented by FSCN with the focus on the consortium project PRAGATI through DCA, ADRA Nepal and VSO. During the program, ICS action learners shared the experience, knowledge and learning from the program till the date by directly participating in different communities, schools, health centers, women groups, child clubs and youth groups activi- ties. Peer Education and Go Bag Awareness Raising Program Peer Education and Go Bag Awareness Raising Program of ICS program was conducted in Nagarkot, Bhaktapur on 30th Dec.2017 and 3rd Jan. 2018. This program was im- plemented by Friends Service Council Nepal (FSCN) with the partnership of VSO since 1st No- vember 2017 in ward no. 8 of Changunarayan mu- nicipality. The objective of peer education was to be able to teach classes 4 and 5 about the different hy- giene methods and hand washing methods similarly the objective of go bag awareness program was to aware about DRR, risk reducing methods and what is needed in a go bag and why. During the peer edu- cation program icebreaker followed by presenta- tions on what their roles on personnel hygiene, school hygiene and home hygiene was discussed, interaction discussion and lesson planning, similarly in go bag awareness raising program basic information and knowledge given on DRR, hazard, risk and go bags was given to students, handling and showing go bag items followed by questions and a class quiz in the school. In these programs total participants were 56 including 17 males and 39 females. Training on Soil pH Test Friends Service Council Nepal conducted one day training on soil pH test for the members of Jaleshwori Women’s Agriculture Multipurpose Cooperative of Godawai-2 on 24th January 2018.The training was conducted through the Livelihood Based Self-Recovery project which is being implemented by FSCN in partnership with World Jewish Relief (WJR). The training was held at Godawori municipality ward 2 in Lalitpur. The topics that were covered in the training were soil sampling techniques, soil pH scale, identification of lab equipment, buffer solution preparation, pH meter calibra- tion, pH testing procedure, record keeping and lime recommendation. A total of 17 participants attended the training among which 9 were female and 8 were male. 3 Volume– 23 January 2018 Board Member Visit to the FSCN/WJR Project Sites Board members of Friends Service Council Nepal (FSCN) visited the project site Godavari on 18th January 2018. The visit was conducted through the Livelihood based self-recovery project which is being implemented by FSCN with support from World Jewish Relief (WJR). A total of 9 board members visited the site. The main objective of the visit was to monitor the final phase of the project activities and to interact with the project stakeholders. During the visit the first interaction of the board mem- bers were with the Jaleshwori Women’s Agriculture Multipurpose Cooperative members at Kitachaur ward office.FSCN is working in close collaboration with the Cooperative in aspects of input supply, technical backstopping, business develop- ment support etc. During the interaction with the cooperative, the Ward Chairperson, Devendra Kumar Basnet also participated and he also expressed his gratitude to FSCN for this project.