जेष्ठको तातो घाममा, सर्लाहीको एक विद्यालयमा केही विशेष भइरहेको थियो । उत्सुकता र उत्साहले भरिएका आँखा लिएर विद्यार्थीहरू SOCHAI ले सञ्चालन गरिरहेको विद्यालय स्वास्थ्य तथा पोषण कार्यक्रममा सहभागी भए, जहाँ रमाइलो खेलका साथै सिर्जनात्मक र नवीनतम तरिकाबाट युवा स्वयंसेवकहरूमार्फत सिकाइ भइरहेको थियो ।
चार दिनको कार्यक्रमपछि लाज मान्ने विद्यार्थीहरू खुलेर बोल्न थाले। उनीहरूले आफैंले बनाएका पोस्टर र सामग्रीमार्फत विविध आहार खाने, अल्ट्रा प्रोसेस्ड फूड नखाने, शारीरिक क्रियाकलापमा सहभागी हुने, सरसफाई गर्ने, महिनावारी व्यवस्थापन गर्ने, आइरन फोलिक एसिड चक्की खाने, पोषण अवस्था कसरी बुझ्ने, सुनौलो १००० दिनमा पोषण, विद्यालयमा करेसवारी, दिवा खाजाको महत्व, विवाहको उचित उमेरजस्ता विषयमा साथीहरू र शिक्षकहरूलाई बुझाउन थाले।
पोषण मेलामा उनीहरूले आत्मविश्वासका साथ यी सन्देशहरू प्रस्तुत गरेको देखेर शिक्षक, घरपरिवार र स्थानीयहरू नै छक्क परे। यति छोटो समयमै कति धेरै सिकेर आफैँ बुझाउन सक्ने भएको ! ‘किताबी ज्ञानसँगै व्यवहारिक ज्ञान पनि आवश्यक रहेछ भन्ने महसुस भयो ’ पोषण मेलामा विद्यार्थीहरूका प्रदर्शनी हेर्न आउनुभएकी बरहथवा नगरपालिकाकी मेयर कल्पना कटुवालले दंग पर्दै भन्नुभयो।
विद्यालय स्वास्थ्य शिक्षा तथा पोषण कार्यक्रममा सिकिएको सन्देश त्यसपछि विद्यार्थीहरू मार्फत नै विद्यालयबाट घर र समुदायसम्म फैलिन थाल्यो। कार्यक्रमबारे गरिएको अध्ययनले पनि सकारात्मक नतिजा देखायो। यो एउटा सानो नमूना हो, जसले देखाउँछ किशोरकिशोरी र युवामा गरिएको सानो लगानीले कस्तो प्रतिफल दिन्छ भनेर। कति शक्ति र सम्भावना छ हाम्रा युवा जमातमा! आवश्यकता छ, मात्र विश्वास र अवसरको।
यस वर्षको विद्यालय स्वास्थ्य शिक्षा तथा पोषण सप्ताह (जेठ १ देखि ७ गते) अब सुरु हुँदैछ। यसैलाई एउटा नयाँ थालनीको अवसर मान्दै किशोरकिशोरी र युवाहरूका लागि आफ्नो तर्फबाट पहल गरौं। विद्यालय भनेको धेरै जीवनहरूमा एकैपटक सकारात्मक प्रभाव पार्ने बलियो माध्यम हो। यहाँ राम्रो स्वास्थ्य र पोषणको जग बसाएमा, सम्पूर्ण देशको सामाजिक र आर्थिक विकासको बाटो खुल्छ।
तपाईंको विद्यालयमा जेठको पहिलो साता के हुँदैछ ? हामीसँग सेयर गर्नुहोस् ।
SOCHAI ले सञ्चालन गरेको विद्यालय स्वास्थ्य तथा पोषण कार्यक्रमबारे थप जान्न यो भिडियो हेर्नुहोस् । https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vorf6iNzQgo
Translation
In the hot sun of Jestha, something special was happening at a school in Sarlahi. With eyes full of curiosity and excitement, students participated in the 4 days School Health and Nutrition program run by SOCHAI, where learning was happening through fun games and creative, innovative methods led by SOCHAI’s youth volunteers.
On the fourth day of the program, students who were once shy began speaking openly at the Poshan Mela (Nutrition Exhibition) led by the students. Through posters and IEC materials they had designed and painted, students started explaining various topics like eating a balanced diet, avoiding ultra-processed foods, participating in physical activities, maintaining sanitation and hygiene, managing menstruation, taking iron-folic acid tablets, understanding nutritional assessment tools, the importance of nutrition during the golden 1000 days, the significance of school gardens, the importance of mid-day meal program, and the proper age for marriage to their peers and teachers.
Seeing the students confidently present these messages at the Poshan Mela (final day of bootcamp) left teachers, family, local leaders and community amazed. “How much they had learned in such a short time and were now able to teach others! I am amazed by the progress of the students. This shows that practical knowledge is just as necessary as academic knowledge“, said Kalpana Katwal, the Mayor of Barhatwa Municipality, who came to see the students’ exhibition at the Poshan Mela.
The messages learned by students in the School Health and Nutrition program began spreading from the school to homes and communities, reaching even the out-of-school adolescents. A research study conducted to assess the impact of the program also showed positive results. This is just a small example that shows the impact of a small investment in adolescents and youth. How much power and potential there is in our youth! What they needed is simply trust and opportunities to learn and grow.
This year’s National School Health Education and Nutrition Week (from Jestha 1 to 7) is about to begin. Let’s take this as an opportunity to initiate efforts for adolescents and youth. School is a powerful medium to positively impact many lives at once. By establishing a strong foundation in health and nutrition in schools, we pave the way for the social and economic progress of the entire nation.
What’s happening in your school this week? Share your story with us!
To learn more about the School Health and Nutrition program run by SOCHAI, watch this video. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vorf6iNzQgo
