This training/workshop was organized for school children to discuss and know about the Primary Health issues and their Prevention and Cure. This program was inaugurated by His Excellency President of Nepal Dr. Ram Baran Yadav at the presidential auditorium, Shital Niwas, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal. The program which aimed in aiding underprivileged and migrant people suffering from environmental hazards in the country for long term was funded by the Open Society Foundation-United Kingdom. Other national organizations such as the Chaudhary Group, Centre for Environment Education Nepal, Star Hospital, and National Aayurvedic Centre made this program possible by providing resources, skills and technical help as cosponsors. This program was held on January 29-February 02, 2009.Thirty Students from around twenty districts attended this training program.
In this programme when we say Little Doctors, we mean little leaders, creators and curators of tomorrow. We usually take doctors for people who perform surgery and cure diseases, but not in this case.” – Sagar Aryal (President SSI)
“This has been a good opportunity for us to learn. We were taught various things, useful from individual as well as the country’s standpoint. I am thankful to the readers club and the involved organisations for this training,” – Manoj Kumar Singh (Participant)
“This programme has been really good but it would have been better had it been a little longer. That way, we could have learnt more.” – Samay Rijal (Participant)
To Read Coverage Article on National News Paper The Kathmandu Post Click Here or Scroll down the page.
SMALL WONDERS DRESSED TO HEAL
Feb 2, 2009, The Kathmandu Post:
We are the prospect of the country; in our shoulder lies its future.ù It was with this motto that six tender-aged sixth graders started Sano Sansar Readers Clubù for students. Now, three years on and with 50 general members and up to 100 volunteers, the club is well established and growing.
With the guidance of family members and advice from involved organizations, this club working for and headed by children is now venturing into national level projects. They recently organized a training program, Little Doctors,ù to educate students about the health sector: its present state and ways to improve it. The participants were taught about first aid, personal hygiene, Ayurveda, vaccination, diseases and environment,ù informed Sagar Aryal, the 13 years old founder of the Sano Sansar Readers Clubù.
The training program aims at making young people more responsible, towards themselves as well as towards the country. It is easy to point the finger at others. At this program, we teach students to improve themselves instead of blaming others. If we all perform our duty then the world would be a better place to live in” he said.
The three-day-long training program has 30 students from all over the country: places like Illam, Syangja, Humla, Taulihawa, Bhojpur, Palpa and Dhading. Since this is a national level program, we invited schools from outside the Valley as well.ù
President Ram Baran Yadav inaugurated the training program by handing over medical kits to each of the participants. “The president is very happy about the program. Since he was involved in the field of medicine, he understood our concept and was very encouraging,” Aryal said.
Star Hospital, Kirtipur, had sent over some of its doctors to assist the students with the training program being conducted at the Laboratory School, Kirtipur. “The club asked us for support and we were more than happy to provide it. The objective of the training program was noble and since children were its main instigators, we decided to lend our help,” said Tulsi Ram Sharma, the public relation officer of Star Hospital.
From the Aayurved sector, Singhadurbar Vaidyakhana supported this programme. “They helped us a lot. We gave each participant a pouch of Aayurvedic tea sponsored by Vaidyakhana. They also sent us instructors in Aayurveda,” said Sagar Aryal. It was Dr. Hari Prasad Pokharel, a doctor of natural medicine, who enlightened the students on yoga and aayurveda.
“It is important that we give students right education. Training them is something anyone can do, but doing that in right way is what counts. In this program when we say Little Doctors, we mean little leaders, creators and curators of tomorrow. We usually take doctors for people who perform surgery and cure diseases, but not in this case,” said Aryal.
The Sano Sansar Readers Clubù is the only children’s club working for the country’s uplift. The idea for the club first entered Sagar’s mind when he was reading in the library. I came up with the plan and some of my friends followed, he says. The children registered the club with the help of Sagar’s parents and made membership procedures public.
We have worked hard to bring this club together. We ask different organizations for their support. Some of them have been supportive, but most simply rebuff our approach,” said Sagar Aryal.
The club has organized other activities on smaller scale. “We organized a painting competition on the occasion of Children’s day. It went off well. As far as this program is concerned, we have had to encounter quite a few problems. Not everything went according to our expectations but the response so far has been good.”
The major problem of the club is financial. “It is always hard for students to find funds. We save our pocket money but that is never enough. It would have been very easy if the organizations working for children supported us, but they didn’t,” says a rueful Sagar. This training at Laboratory School was sponsored by Chaudhary group, Star Hospital, Nepal Government and Open society foundation, a U.K.-based organization working for children.
The training ran for three days through Jan. 31-Feb. 2. “This has been a good opportunity for us to learn. We were taught various things, useful from individual as well as the country’s standpoint. I am thankful to the readers club and the involved organizations for this training,” said Manoj Kumar Singh, a participant of the program.
Another participant, Samaya Rijal, a ninth grader in Maha Manjushree Higher Secondary School, said, “This program has been really good but it would have been better had it been a little longer. That way, we could have learnt more.”
Sano Sansar Readers Clubù, though an association of the very young, is full of potential. “We have no doubts about our capability to achieve all our goals,” said Sagar Aryal. And with this confidence the club is marching ahead to lay the foundation of a truly New Nepal. City Post wishes them all the luck.
