Congratulations to SAATH for the success of SAATH EVENT 2008

Thank you to all supporters, volunteers and members who are directly or indirectly involved for the success of SAATH EVENT 2008 on 13th December 2008 at Bhojan Griha, Dillibazar.

Click on the image below to view some of the fun moments of SAATH EVENT 2008.

Our Culture, Our Identity

Our Culture, Our Identity


There are certain social issues, which can be effectively dealt with largely by the intervention of Professional Social Workers. Indeed, Social work is a multidimensional approach to tackle various Social and Cultural issues in very effective manner with proper utilization of resources for sustainable benefit of individual, group, society, nation and the world as a whole. Social Workers, apart from dealing with social issues, also take steps in maintaining proper social system with a special focus on preserving culture of that particular community and the country; thus respect the sentiments of local people. Social workers generally regard “culture” as a way of life of people living in that community that provides a guideline for a group of people to act reciprocally for the benefit of each other. Functionalists believe that culture of a group or of a community builds on a common ideology, philosophy, ethics and values that are respected by the people of that community which is necessary for the proper functioning of a society. Indeed, culture binds people to generate a sense of solidarity and we-feeling amongst them despite of their personal values and interests. However, with the lens of Conflict Theory, culture is not always for unifying people as each individual are free to have different ideologies and personal interests. The lack of consensus between different individuals in time and space lead to Cultural conflict.

In our present context, Nepal is going through a cultural conflict with the change in political situation. Sociologists consider this ongoing phenomenon is largely because of politicization of our culture. This has created a havoc situation that is fading our Nepali identity and there are high possibilities of deterioration of our culture, social norms and values. So, it’s a high time to be genuinely concerned about our culture for ensuring the respect towards our diverse culture and taking steps to preserve and promote it. Nevertheless, preserving our culture and identity can be the best strategy to promote Tourism industry in our country, which has also been recognized by the Finance Minister. Nevertheless, it’s not only the role of Government, but all the stakeholders should contribute their right effort in this great mission. With this regard, youth as the important key players can play very significant roles in promoting our culture and preserving our identity. In this scenario, SAATH (A youth group of Social Workers in Nepal) has tried to take some steps with SAATH EVENT 2008 that is to be organized on December 13, 2008 to address the issue - our culture, our identity and for moving forward to contribute its right efforts in promoting Nepali Culture and also to inspire others for their genuine involvement in this mission. SAATH understands the importance and essence of Nepali Culture, which SAATH take it as unique Nepali identity.








In the present context, when most of the young people are indulged into various socially unacceptable activities, there are few young individuals who have a strong determination to work for society and who are really contributing their efforts for our society. SAATH EVENT 2008 being a step put forwarded by such youth can’t be neglected, and obvious intrinsic reason is visible to everyone to call it as a worthy event for our society. Besides, the practical and truthful information to be provided by individuals, experts and organizations will be of great value for everyone. General public esp. youth will be aware about various issues like diversity of Nepali culture, cultural conflict and positive steps to create the sense of “Unity in Diversity”. Reciprocally, SAATH EVENT 2008 will be a platform for our ethnic groups, cultural groups and associations to come together to celebrate each other’s culture in one space and time and also to present their Traditional Culture at National Level. Moreover, we have lots of ethnic groups and traditional cultures that are not so much highlighted are in need to be exposed for the larger population. This Event particularly will provide a room for them to come up to stand in front to make everyone aware of their culture and traditions. Empirically too, it is an event organized by youth to sensitize youth to promote our Nepali Culture, so it holds a larger degree of significance.

It is noteworthy to mention that youths are not only the “future” but are indeed the “present of the Nation”. It is needless to mention that many Nepalese youths are staying abroad. However, there are youths, but few in number, who still believe in their youth spirit and are determined to work hard in Nepal for Nepal. They are the one who, rather than blaming Government sector, are taking genuine actions for social changes. SAATH EVENT 2008 is one of the actions needed in this high time. It is hoped that all the stakeholders including Government will develop the faculty to understand the importance of youth initiated programs like this. The success of this program will definitely inspire many Nepalese youth to take similar kind of actions and create opportunities for themselves in Nepal itself. This ultimately will help in creating sound environment for promoting Nepali culture and also for maintaining cultural consensus amongst different groups of people.

Article by:

Lachhindra ( B.S.W., M.A.)

SAATH

saath25@gmail.com

SAATH EVENT 2008 - DECEMBER 13, 2008 @ BHOJAN GRIHA, DILLIBAZAR

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SAATH EVENT 2008- DECEMBER 13, 2008 @ BHOJAN GRIHA, DILLIBAZAR

SAATH EVENT 2008 - DECEMBER 13, 2008 @ BHOJAN GRIHA, DILLIBAZAR - YOUTH FOR PROMOTING CULTURE AND PRESERVING OUR IDENTITY !!
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What should I say ?? A travel warning !

What might be the problem??

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

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This information is current as of today, Wed Nov 26 2008 21:32:51 GMT+0545 (Nepal Standard Time).

NEPAL

November 21, 2008

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to Nepal and urges caution when traveling in country. The Department of State remains concerned about the security situation in Nepal and urges American citizens to obtain updated security information before they travel and to be prepared to change their plans on short notice. This replaces the Travel Warning for Nepal dated May 7, 2008 and updates safety and security information following the formation of the coalition government in August, 2008.

Despite the recent smooth transition of government, some unrest remains. The Young Communist League (YCL), a Maoist Party subgroup, continues to engage in extortion, abuse, and threats of violence, particularly in rural areas. Youth groups from the other two main political parties, the Nepali Congress (NC) and the United Marxist-Leninist Party (UML), have also formed and clashes continue among these political rivals. Violent actions by multiple armed splinter groups in the Terai region along the southern border with India remain a significant concern.

While protests and pre-election localized bombing incidents have decreased, demonstrations and disruptions still occur. During demonstrations, protestors have used violence, including damaging vehicles, throwing rocks, and burning tires to block traffic. Given the nature, intensity, and unpredictability of disturbances, American citizens are urged to exercise special caution during times when demonstrations are announced, avoid areas where demonstrations are occurring or crowds are forming, avoid road travel, and maintain a low profile. Curfews can be announced with little or no advance notice. American citizens are urged to consult media sources and to register with the Embassy (see instructions below) for current security information.

Crime in the Kathmandu Valley, including violent crime and harassment of women, continues to rise. Police resources to combat such crime are limited. Police have reported a number of robberies by armed gangs, sometimes resulting in injury to the victims. The U.S. Embassy reports an increase in crime in some popular tourist areas such as Pokhara and the Thamel area of Kathmandu. Visitors to Nepal should practice good personal security when moving about, especially at night, and avoid walking alone after dark, carrying large sums of cash, or wearing expensive jewelry. In several reported incidents tourists have had their belongings stolen from their rooms while they were asleep. Solo trekkers have been robbed by small groups of young men, even on some popular trails. Some Young Communist League members extort money from foreign tourists along some popular trekking routes, and have threatened physical violence to Nepalis and non-Nepalis alike for violating localized strikes.

Travel via road in areas outside of the Kathmandu Valley is hazardous due to erratic drivers and frequent road accidents. Public transportation, such as microbuses and tuk tuks, should be avoided because they are often overfilled, driven unsafely, and mechanically unsound. American citizens should use taxis with meters or negotiate a price with the taxi driver before starting a trip.

Most U.S. official travel outside the Kathmandu Valley, including by air, requires specific clearance by the U.S. Embassy’s Regional Security Officer. As a result, The U.S. Embassy’s ability to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens may be limited. Active duty U.S. military and Department of Defense contractors must obtain a country clearance for official and personal travel to Nepal.

The U.S. Government’s designation of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” organization under Executive Order 13224 and its inclusion on the “Terrorist Exclusion List” pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act remain in effect. These two designations make Maoists excludable from entry into the United States without a waiver and bar U.S. citizens from transactions such as contribution of funds, goods, or services to, or for the benefit of, the Maoists.

For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at http://travel.state.gov. Americans living or traveling in Nepal are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website (https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp). The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is located at Maharajgunj. The telephone number is 977-1-4007200, 4007201. The number for after-hours emergencies is 977-1-4007266, 4007269. The fax number is 977-1-4007281. The Consulate’s e-mail address is consktm@state.gov and its Internet web page is http://nepal.usembassy.gov. U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State’s latest Country Specific Information for Nepal and the Worldwide Caution, available at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Good for IQ: 100 Weird Facts About the Human Body

By Christina Laun(Posted by: Prabhu Shrestha)

The human body is an incredibly complex and intricate system, one that still baffles doctors and researchers on a regular basis despite thousands of years of medical knowledge. As a result, it shouldn’t be any surprise that even body parts and functions we deal with every day have bizarre or unexpected facts and explanations behind them. From sneezes to fingernail growth, here are 100 weird, wacky, and interesting facts about the human body.

The Brain

The human brain is the most complex and least understood part of the human anatomy. There may be a lot we don’t know, but here are a few interesting facts that we’ve got covered.

1. Nerve impulses to and from the brain travel as fast as 170 miles per hour. Ever wonder how you can react so fast to things around you or why that stubbed toe hurts right away? It’s due to the super-speedy movement of nerve impulses from your brain to the rest of your body and vice versa, bringing reactions at the speed of a high powered luxury sports car.
2. The brain operates on the same amount of power as 10-watt light bulb. The cartoon image of a light bulb over your head when a great thought occurs isn’t too far off the mark. Your brain generates as much energy as a small light bulb even when you’re sleeping.
3. The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica. Or any other encyclopedia for that matter. Scientists have yet to settle on a definitive amount, but the storage capacity of the brain in electronic terms is thought to be between 3 or even 1,000 terabytes. The National Archives of Britain, containing over 900 years of history, only takes up 70 terabytes, making your brain’s memory power pretty darn impressive.
4. Your brain uses 20% of the oxygen that enters your bloodstream. The brain only makes up about 2% of our body mass, yet consumes more oxygen than any other organ in the body, making it extremely susceptible to damage related to oxygen deprivation. So breathe deep to keep your brain happy and swimming in oxygenated cells.
5. The brain is much more active at night than during the day. Logically, you would think that all the moving around, complicated calculations and tasks and general interaction we do on a daily basis during our working hours would take a lot more brain power than, say, lying in bed. Turns out, the opposite is true. When you turn off your brain turns on. Scientists don’t yet know why this is but you can thank the hard work of your brain while you sleep for all those pleasant dreams.
6. Scientists say the higher your I.Q. the more you dream. While this may be true, don’t take it as a sign you’re mentally lacking if you can’t recall your dreams. Most of us don’t remember many of our dreams and the average length of most dreams is only 2-3 seconds–barely long enough to register.
7. Neurons continue to grow throughout human life. For years scientists and doctors thought that brain and neural tissue couldn’t grow or regenerate. While it doesn’t act in the same manner as tissues in many other parts of the body, neurons can and do grow throughout your life, adding a whole new dimension to the study of the brain and the illnesses that affect it.
8. Information travels at different speeds within different types of neurons. Not all neurons are the same. There are a few different types within the body and transmission along these different kinds can be as slow as 0.5 meters/sec or as fast as 120 meters/sec.
9. The brain itself cannot feel pain. While the brain might be the pain center when you cut your finger or burn yourself, the brain itself does not have pain receptors and cannot feel pain. That doesn’t mean your head can’t hurt. The brain is surrounded by loads of tissues, nerves and blood vessels that are plenty receptive to pain and can give you a pounding headache.
10. 80% of the brain is water. Your brain isn’t the firm, gray mass you’ve seen on TV. Living brain tissue is a squishy, pink and jelly-like organ thanks to the loads of blood and high water content of the tissue. So the next time you’re feeling dehydrated get a drink to keep your brain hydrated.

Hair and Nails

While they’re not a living part of your body, most people spend a good amount of time caring for their hair and nails. The next time you’re heading in for a haircut or manicure, think of these facts.

11. Facial hair grows faster than any other hair on the body. If you’ve ever had a covering of stubble on your face as you’re clocking out at 5 o’clock you’re probably pretty familiar with this. In fact, if the average man never shaved his beard it would grow to over 30 feet during his lifetime, longer than a killer whale.
12. Every day the average person loses 60-100 strands of hair. Unless you’re already bald, chances are good that you’re shedding pretty heavily on a daily basis. Your hair loss will vary in accordance with the season, pregnancy, illness, diet and age.
13. Women’s hair is about half the diameter of men’s hair. While it might sound strange, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that men’s hair should be coarser than that of women. Hair diameter also varies on average between races, making hair plugs on some men look especially obvious.
14. One human hair can support 3.5 ounces. That’s about the weight of two full size candy bars, and with hundreds of thousands of hairs on the human head, makes the tale of Rapunzel much more plausible.
15. The fastest growing nail is on the middle finger. And the nail on the middle finger of your dominant hand will grow the fastest of all. Why is not entirely known, but nail growth is related to the length of the finger, with the longest fingers growing nails the fastest and shortest the slowest.
16. There are as many hairs per square inch on your body as a chimpanzee. Humans are not quite the naked apes that we’re made out to be. We have lots of hair, but on most of us it’s not obvious as a majority of the hairs are too fine or light to be seen.
17. Blondes have more hair. They’re said to have more fun, and they definitely have more hair. Hair color determines how dense the hair on your head is. The average human has 100,000 hair follicles, each of which is capable of producing 20 individual hairs during a person’s lifetime. Blondes average 146,000 follicles while people with black hair tend to have about 110,000 follicles. Those with brown hair fit the average with 100,000 follicles and redheads have the least dense hair, with about 86,000 follicles.
18. Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails. If you notice that you’re trimming your fingernails much more frequently than your toenails you’re not just imagining it. The nails that get the most exposure and are used most frequently grow the fastest. On average, nails on both the toes and fingers grow about one-tenth of an inch each month.
19. The lifespan of a human hair is 3 to 7 years on average. While you quite a few hairs each day, your hairs actually have a pretty long life providing they aren’t subject to any trauma. Your hairs will likely get to see several different haircuts, styles, and even possibly decades before they fall out on their own.
20. You must lose over 50% of your scalp hairs before it is apparent to anyone. You lose hundreds of hairs a day but you’ll have to lose a lot more before you or anyone else will notice. Half of the hairs on your pretty little head will have to disappear before your impending baldness will become obvious to all those around you.
21. Human hair is virtually indestructible. Aside from it’s flammability, human hair decays at such a slow rate that it is practically non-disintegrative. If you’ve ever wondered how your how clogs up your pipes so quick consider this: hair cannot be destroyed by cold, change of climate, water, or other natural forces and it is resistant to many kinds of acids and corrosive chemicals.

Internal Organs

Though we may not give them much thought unless they’re bothering us, our internal organs are what allow us to go on eating, breathing and walking around. Here are some things to consider the next time you hear your stomach growl.

22. The largest internal organ is the small intestine. Despite being called the smaller of the two intestines, your small intestine is actually four times as long as the average adult is tall. If it weren’t looped back and forth upon itself it wouldn’t fit inside the abdominal cavity.
23. The human heart creates enough pressure to squirt blood 30 feet. No wonder you can feel your heartbeat so easily. Pumping blood through your body quickly and efficiently takes quite a bit of pressure resulting in the strong contractions of the heart and the thick walls of the ventricles which push blood to the body.
24. The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razorblades. While you certainly shouldn’t test the fortitude of your stomach by eating a razorblade or any other metal object for that matter, the acids that digest the food you eat aren’t to be taken lightly. Hydrochloric acid, the type found in your stomach, is not only good at dissolving the pizza you had for dinner but can also eat through many types of metal.
25. The human body is estimated to have 60,000 miles of blood vessels. To put that in perspective, the distance around the earth is about 25,000 miles, making the distance your blood vessels could travel if laid end to end more than two times around the earth.
26. You get a new stomach lining every three to four days. The mucus-like cells lining the walls of the stomach would soon dissolve due to the strong digestive acids in your stomach if they weren’t constantly replaced. Those with ulcers know how painful it can be when stomach acid takes its toll on the lining of your stomach.
27. The surface area of a human lung is equal to a tennis court. In order to more efficiently oxygenate the blood, the lungs are filled with thousands of branching bronchi and tiny, grape-like alveoli. These are filled with microscopic capillaries which oxygen and carbon dioxide. The large amount of surface area makes it easier for this exchange to take place, and makes sure you stay properly oxygenated at all times.
28. Women’s hearts beat faster than men’s.The main reason for this is simply that on average women tend to be smaller than men and have less mass to pump blood to. But women’s and men’s hearts can actually act quite differently, especially when experiencing trauma like a heart attack, and many treatments that work for men must be adjusted or changed entirely to work for women.
29. Scientists have counted over 500 different liver functions. You may not think much about your liver except after a long night of drinking, but the liver is one of the body’s hardest working, largest and busiest organs. Some of the functions your liver performs are: production of bile, decomposition of red blood cells, plasma protein synthesis, and detoxification.
30. The aorta is nearly the diameter of a garden hose. The average adult heart is about the size of two fists, making the size of the aorta quite impressive. The artery needs to be so large as it is the main supplier of rich, oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
31. Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart. For most people, if they were asked to draw a picture of what the lungs look like they would draw both looking roughly the same size. While the lungs are fairly similar in size, the human heart, though located fairly centrally, is tilted slightly to the left making it take up more room on that side of the body and crowding out that poor left lung.
32. You could remove a large part of your internal organs and survive. The human body may appear fragile but it’s possible to survive even with the removal of the stomach, the spleen, 75 percent of the liver, 80 percent of the intestines, one kidney, one lung, and virtually every organ from the pelvic and groin area. You might not feel too great, but the missing organs wouldn’t kill you.
33. The adrenal glands change size throughout life. The adrenal glands, lying right above the kidneys, are responsible for releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. In the seventh month of a fetus’ development, the glands are roughly the same size as the kidneys. At birth, the glands have shrunk slightly and will continue to do so throughout life. In fact, by the time a person reaches old age, the glands are so small they can hardly be seen.

Bodily Functions

We may not always like to talk about them, but everyone has to deal with bodily functions on a daily basis. These are a few facts about the involuntary and sometimes unpleasant actions of our bodies.

34. Sneezes regularly exceed 100 mph. There’s a good reason why you can’t keep your eyes open when you sneeze–that sneeze is rocketing out of your body at close to 100 mph. This is, of course, a good reason to cover your mouth when you sneeze.
35. Coughs clock in at about 60 mph. Viruses and colds get spread around the office and the classroom quickly during cold and flu season. With 60 mph coughs spraying germs far and wide, it’s no wonder.
36. Women blink twice as many times as men do. That’s a lot of blinking every day. The average person, man or woman, blinks about 13 times a minute.
37. A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball. No wonder you have to run to bathroom when you feel the call of the wild. The average bladder holds about 400-800 cc of fluid but most people will feel the urge to go long before that at 250 to 300 cc.
38. Approximately 75% of human waste is made of water. While we might typically think that urine is the liquid part of human waste products, the truth is that what we consider solid waste is actually mostly water as well. You should be thankful that most waste is fairly water-filled, as drier harder stools are what cause constipation and are much harder and sometimes painful to pass.
39. Feet have 500,000 sweat glands and can produce more than a pint of sweat a day. With that kind of sweat-producing power it’s no wonder that your gym shoes have a stench that can peel paint. Additionally, men usually have much more active sweat glands than women.
40. During your lifetime, you will produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools. Saliva plays an important part in beginning the digestive process and keeping the mouth lubricated, and your mouth produces quite a bit of it on a daily basis.
41. The average person expels flatulence 14 times each day. Even if you’d like to think you’re too dignified to pass gas, the reality is that almost everyone will at least a few times a day. Digestion causes the body to release gases which can be painful if trapped in the abdomen and not released.
42. Earwax production is necessary for good ear health. While many people find earwax to be disgusting, it’s actually a very important part of your ear’s defense system. It protects the delicate inner ear from bacteria, fungus, dirt and even insects. It also cleans and lubricates the ear canal.

Sex and Reproduction

As taboo as it may be in some places, sex is an important part of human life as a facet of relationships and the means to reproduce. Here are a few things you might not have known.

43. On any given day, sexual intercourse takes place 120 million times on earth. Humans are a quickly proliferating species, and with about 4% of the world’s population having sex on any given day, it’s no wonder that birth rates continue to increase in many places all over the world.
44. The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm. While you can’t see skin cells or muscle cells, the ovum is typically large enough to be seen with the naked eye with a diameter of about a millimeter. The sperm cell, on the other hand, is tiny, consisting of little more than nucleus.
45. The three things pregnant women dream most of during their first trimester are frogs, worms and potted plants. Pregnancy hormones can cause mood swings, cravings and many other unexpected changes. Oddly enough, hormones can often affect the types of dreams women have and their vividness. The most common are these three types, but many women also dream of water, giving birth or even have violent or sexually charged dreams.
46. Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born. While few babies are born with teeth in place, the teeth that will eventually push through the gums of young children are formed long before the child even leaves the womb. At 9 to 12 weeks the fetus starts to form the teeth buds that will turn into baby teeth.
47. Babies are always born with blue eyes. The color of your eyes depends on the genes you get from your parents, but at birth most babies appear to have blue eyes. The reason behind this is the pigment melanin. The melanin in a newborn’s eyes often needs time after birth to be fully deposited or to be darkened by exposure to ultraviolet light, later revealing the baby’s true eye color.
48. Babies are, pound for pound, stronger than an ox. While a baby certainly couldn’t pull a covered wagon at its present size, if the child were the size of an oxen it just might very well be able to. Babies have especially strong and powerful legs for such tiny creatures, so watch out for those kicks.
49. One out of every 2,000 newborn infants has a tooth when they are born. Nursing mothers may cringe at this fact. Sometimes the tooth is a regular baby tooth that has already erupted and sometimes it is an extra tooth that will fall out before the other set of choppers comes in.
50. A fetus acquires fingerprints at the age of three months. When only a small fraction of the way through its development, a fetus will have already developed one of the most unique human traits: fingerprints. At only 6-13 weeks of development, the whorls of what will be fingerprints have already developed. Oddly enough, those fingerprints will not change throughout the person’s life and will be one of the last things to disappear after death.
51. Every human spent about half an hour as a single cell. All life has to begin somewhere, and even the largest humans spent a short part of their lives as a single celled organism when sperm and egg cells first combine. Shortly afterward, the cells begin rapidly dividing and begin forming the components of a tiny embryo.
52. Most men have erections every hour to hour and a half during sleep. Most people’s bodies and minds are much more active when they’re sleeping than they think. The combination of blood circulation and testosterone production can cause erections during sleep and they’re often a normal and necessary part of REM sleep.

Senses

The primary means by which we interact with the world around us is through our senses. Here are some interesting facts about these five sensory abilities.

53. After eating too much, your hearing is less sharp. If you’re heading to a concert or a musical after a big meal you may be doing yourself a disservice. Try eating a smaller meal if you need to keep your hearing pitch perfect.
54. About one third of the human race has 20-20 vision. Glasses and contact wearers are hardly alone in a world where two thirds of the population have less than perfect vision. The amount of people with perfect vision decreases further as they age.
55. If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it. In order for foods, or anything else, to have a taste, chemicals from the substance must be dissolved by saliva. If you don’t believe it, try drying off your tongue before tasting something.
56. Women are born better smellers than men and remain better smellers over life. Studies have shown that women are more able to correctly pinpoint just what a smell is. Women were better able to identify citrus, vanilla, cinnamon and coffee smells. While women are overall better smellers, there is an unfortunate 2% of the population with no sense of smell at all.
57. Your nose can remember 50,000 different scents. While a bloodhound’s nose may be a million times more sensitive than a human’s, that doesn’t mean that the human sense of smell is useless. Humans can identify a wide variety of scents and many are strongly tied to memories.
58. Even small noises cause the pupils of the eyes to dilate. It is believed that this is why surgeons, watchmakers and others who perform delicate manual operations are so bothered by uninvited noise. The sound causes their pupils to change focus and blur their vision, making it harder to do their job well.
59. Everyone has a unique smell, except for identical twins. Newborns are able to recognize the smell of their mothers and many of us can pinpoint the smell of our significant others and those we are close to. Part of that smell is determined by genetics, but it’s also largely do to environment, diet and personal hygiene products that create a unique chemistry for each person.

Aging and Death

From the very young to the very old, aging is a necessary and unavoidable part of life. Learn about the process with these interesting, if somewhat strange facts.

60. The ashes of a cremated person average about 9 pounds. A big part of what gives the human body weight is the water trapped in our cells. Once cremated, that water and a majority of our tissues are destroyed, leaving little behind.
61. Nails and hair do not continue to grow after we die. They do appear longer when we die, however, as the skin dehydrates and pulls back from the nail beds and scalp.
62. By the age of 60, most people will have lost about half their taste buds. Perhaps you shouldn’t trust your grandma’s cooking as much as you do. Older individuals tend to lose their ability to taste, and many find that they need much more intense flavoring in order to be able to fully appreciate a dish.
63. Your eyes are always the same size from birth but your nose and ears never stop growing. When babies look up at you with those big eyes, they’re the same size that they’ll be carrying around in their bodies for the rest of their lives. Their ears and nose, however, will grow throughout their lives and research has shown that growth peaks in seven year cycles.
64. By 60 years of age, 60-percent of men and 40-percent of women will snore. If you’ve ever been kept awake by a snoring loved one you know the sound can be deafening. Normal snores average around 60 decibels, the noise level of normal speech, intense snores can reach more than 80 decibels, the approximate level caused by a jackhammer breaking up concrete.
65. A baby’s head is one-quarter of it’s total length, but by age 25 will only be one-eighth of its total length. As it turns out, our adorably oversized baby heads won’t change size as drastically as the rest of our body. The legs and torso will lengthen, but the head won’t get much longer.

Disease and Injury

Most of us will get injured or sick at some point in our lives. Here are some facts on how the human body reacts to the stresses and dangers from the outside world.

66. Monday is the day of the week when the risk of heart attack is greatest. Yet another reason to loathe Mondays! A ten year study in Scotland found that 20% more people die of heart attacks on Mondays than any other day of the week. Researchers theorize that it’s a combination of too much fun over the weekend with the stress of going back to work that causes the increase.
67. Humans can make do longer without food than sleep. While you might feel better prepared to stay up all night partying than to give up eating, that feeling will be relatively short lived. Provided there is water, the average human could survive a month to two months without food depending on their body fat and other factors. Sleep deprived people, however, start experiencing radical personality and psychological changes after only a few sleepless days. The longest recorded time anyone has ever gone without sleep is 11 days, at the end of which the experimenter was awake, but stumbled over words, hallucinated and frequently forgot what he was doing.
68. A simple, moderately severe sunburn damages the blood vessels extensively. How extensively? Studies have shown that it can take four to fifteen months for them to return to their normal condition. Consider that the next time you’re feeling too lazy to apply sunscreen before heading outside.
69. Over 90% of diseases are caused or complicated by stress. That high stress job you have could be doing more than just wearing you down each day. It could also be increasing your chances of having a variety of serious medical conditions like depression, high blood pressure and heart disease.
70. A human head remains conscious for about 15 to 20 seconds after it is been decapitated. While it might be gross to think about, the blood in the head may be enough to keep someone alive and conscious for a few seconds after the head has been separated from the body, though reports as to the accuracy of this are widely varying.

Muscles and Bones

Muscles and Bones provide the framework for our bodies and allow us to jump, run or just lie on the couch. Here are a few facts to ponder the next time you’re lying around.

71. It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown. Unless you’re trying to give your face a bit of a workout, smiling is a much easier option for most of us. Anyone who’s ever scowled, squinted or frowned for a long period of time knows how it tires out the face which doesn’t do a thing to improve your mood.
72. Babies are born with 300 bones, but by adulthood the number is reduced to 206. The reason for this is that many of the bones of children are composed of smaller component bones that are not yet fused like those in the skull. This makes it easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal. The bones harden and fuse as the children grow.
73. We are about 1 cm taller in the morning than in the evening. The cartilage between our bones gets compressed by standing, sitting and other daily activities as the day goes on, making us just a little shorter at the end of the day than at the beginning.
74. The strongest muscle in the human body is the tongue. While you may not be able to bench press much with your tongue, it is in fact the strongest muscle in your body in proportion to its size. If you think about it, every time you eat, swallow or talk you use your tongue, ensuring it gets quite a workout throughout the day.
75. The hardest bone in the human body is the jawbone. The next time someone suggests you take it on the chin, you might be well advised to take their advice as the jawbone is one of the most durable and hard to break bones in the body.
76. You use 200 muscles to take one step. Depending on how you divide up muscle groups, just to take a single step you use somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 muscles. That’s a lot of work for the muscles considering most of us take about 10,000 steps a day.
77. The tooth is the only part of the human body that can’t repair itself. If you’ve ever chipped a tooth you know just how sadly true this one is. The outer layer of the tooth is enamel which is not a living tissue. Since it’s not alive, it can’t repair itself, leaving your dentist to do the work instead.
78. It takes twice as long to lose new muscle if you stop working out than it did to gain it. Lazy people out there shouldn’t use this as motivation to not work out, however. It’s relatively easy to build new muscle tissue and get your muscles in shape, so if anything, this fact should be motivation to get off the couch and get moving.
79. Bone is stronger than some steel. This doesn’t mean your bones can’t break of course, as they are much less dense than steel. Bone has been found to have a tensile strength of 20,000 psi while steel is much higher at 70,000 psi. Steel is much heavier than bone, however, and pound for pound bone is the stronger material.
80. The feet account for one quarter of all the human body’s bones. You may not give your feet much thought but they are home to more bones than any other part of your body. How many? Of the two hundred or so bones in the body, the feet contain a whopping 52 of them.

Microscopic Level

Much of what takes place in our bodies happens at a level that we simply can’t see with the naked eye. These facts will show you that sometimes that might be for the best.

81. About 32 million bacteria call every inch of your skin home. Germaphobes don’t need to worry however, as a majority of these are entirely harmless and some are even helpful in maintaining a healthy body.
82. Humans shed and regrow outer skin cells about every 27 days. Skin protects your delicate internal organs from the elements and as such, dries and flakes off completely about once a month so that it can maintain its strength. Chances are that last month’s skin is still hanging around your house in the form of the dust on your bookshelf or under the couch.
83. Three hundred million cells die in the human body every minute. While that sounds like a lot, it’s really just a small fraction of the cells that are in the human body. Estimates have placed the total number of cells in the body at 10-50 trillion so you can afford to lose a few hundred million without a hitch.
84. Humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour. You may not think much about losing skin if yours isn’t dry or flaky or peeling from a sunburn, but your skin is constantly renewing itself and shedding dead cells.
85. Every day an adult body produces 300 billion new cells. Your body not only needs energy to keep your organs up and running but also to constantly repair and build new cells to form the building blocks of your body itself.
86. Every tongue print is unique. If you’re planning on committing a crime, don’t think you’ll get away with leaving a tongue print behind. Each tongue is different and yours could be unique enough to finger you as the culprit.
87. Your body has enough iron in it to make a nail 3 inches long. Anyone who has ever tasted blood knows that it has a slightly metallic taste. This is due to the high levels of iron in the blood. If you were to take all of this iron out of the body, you’d have enough to make a small nail and very severe anemia.
88. The most common blood type in the world is Type O. Blood banks find it valuable as it can be given to those with both type A and B blood. The rarest blood type, A-H or Bombay blood due to the location of its discovery, has been found in less than hundred people since it was discovered.
89. Human lips have a reddish color because of the great concentration of tiny capillaries just below the skin. The blood in these capillaries is normally highly oxygenated and therefore quite red. This explains why the lips appear pale when a person is anemic or has lost a great deal of blood. It also explains why the lips turn blue in very cold weather. Cold causes the capillaries to constrict, and the blood loses oxygen and changes to a darker color.

Miscellaneous

Here are a few things you might not have known about all different parts of your anatomy.

90. The colder the room you sleep in, the better the chances are that you’ll have a bad dream. It isn’t entirely clear to scientists why this is the case, but if you are opposed to having nightmares you might want to keep yourself a little toastier at night.
91. Tears and mucus contain an enzyme (lysozyme) that breaks down the cell wall of many bacteria. This is to your advantage, as the mucus that lines your nose and throat, as well as the tears that wet your eyes are helping to prevent bacteria from infecting those areas and making you sick.
92. Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil. If you’ve seen the Matrix you are aware of the energy potentially generated by the human body. Our bodies expend a large amount of calories keeping us at a steady 98.6 degrees, enough to boil water or even cook pasta.
93. Your ears secrete more earwax when you are afraid than when you aren’t. The chemicals and hormones released when you are afraid could be having unseen effects on your body in the form of earwax. Studies have suggested that fear causes the ears to produce more of the sticky substance, though the reasons are not yet clear.
94. It is not possible to tickle yourself. Even the most ticklish among us do not have the ability to tickle ourselves. The reason behind this is that your brain predicts the tickle from information it already has, like how your fingers are moving. Because it knows and can feel where the tickle is coming from, your brain doesn’t respond in the same way as it would if someone else was doing the tickling.
95. The width of your armspan stretched out is the length of your whole body. While not exact down to the last millimeter, your armspan is a pretty good estimator of your height.
96. Humans are the only animals to produce emotional tears. In the animal world, humans are the biggest crybabies, being the only animals who cry because they’ve had a bad day, lost a loved one, or just don’t feel good.
97. Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people do. This doesn’t have a genetic basis, but is largely due to the fact that a majority of the machines and tools we use on a daily basis are designed for those who are right handed, making them somewhat dangerous for lefties to use and resulting in thousands of accidents and deaths each year.
98. Women burn fat more slowly than men, by a rate of about 50 calories a day. Most men have a much easier time burning fat than women. Women, because of their reproductive role, generally require a higher basic body fat proportion than men, and as a result their bodies don’t get rid of excess fat at the same rate as men.
99. Koalas and primates are the only animals with unique fingerprints. Humans, apes and koalas are unique in the animal kingdom due to the tiny prints on the fingers of their hands. Studies on primates have suggested that even cloned individuals have unique fingerprints.
100. The indentation in the middle of the area between the nose and the upper lip has a name. It is called the philtrum. Scientists have yet to figure out what purpose this indentation serves, though the ancient Greeks thought it to be one of the most erogenous places on the body.

SAATH E-NEWSLETTER
Bi-Monthly Newsletter
September 2008. Issue 1, Vol 1

In This Issue:

Introduction
Programs of SAATH
Message from SAATH
Upcoming Events


Newsletter Team:
Sabin Babu Maharjan
Tripti Dhungana
Prabhu K. Shrestha

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Wishing you a Prosperous and
Happy Vijaya Dashami
&
Deepawali 2065
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Vision

"Nepalese society being developed into a just society where people from all sectors would have equal access of opportunities and would enjoy their human rights"

INTRODUCTION

SAATH is a group of dynamic youth who have been successful in contributing their genuine and priceless efforts in the field of social work since 2004; with the basic aim of promoting professional social work for ensuring social justice and for striving humanity and tranquility in our society. SAATH addresses barriers, inequalities and injustice that exists in the society and give particular attention to service oriented programs for the general welfare of the society with special regard to vulnerable, disadvantaged, oppressed and exploited individuals and groups, raising awareness on different social issues for resource mobilization and advocacy in order to protect rights of different groups. By adopting these instrumental strategies the members of SAATH have been contributing their professional knowledge and skills to address different social issues. The team believes that lots of things can be accomplished by working together, with special focus on meaningful involvement of youth. So within the short time period, the organization is successful in organizing the programs like:

• Annual SAATH Events
• World AIDS Day Events
• Media programs on HIV & AIDS
• SAATH with Elderly people
• Bagmati river festival- school program

SAATH has been conceptualizing new ideas, executing ideas into actions with the meaningful involvement and participation especially of the youths and with support from different individuals who holds an important responsibility in the society. It acts as an inspirational force to compel the present generation for their meaningful involvement in Social Work (and believes that lots of thing can be accomplished by working together). The basic vision of SAATH to create a just society cannot be achieved without the concern of the majority of the people. SAATH calls for the genuine involvement of people from different segment of the society especially the youth group, and anticipate on creating a just, humane and a tranquil society for all. SAATH which also means togetherness believes in working hand in hand as it would further widen up the possibility of rapid and effective development and social change.

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SAATH in Media

SAATH had conducted different radio programs on HIV and AIDS. The program was been broadcasted through HBC FM for a year in 2005. The success of this program is the immediate cause for planning the similar kind of media programs for ensuring its continuity and sustainability, so forth in order to make a long term impact. As a result SAATH is planning to do media advocacy on HIV and AIDS through its monthly e-newsletters.


SAATH in Social Justice

The youth members of SAATH respects all the individuals of the society. It is always with the people on marginalized line. SAATH believes on "Equality Comes Only Through the Social Justice". SAATH is conducting programs like "A day with elderly people". The youths members got involved in the recreation activities with the elderly people and bears the responsibility to create the just society.


SAATH in Leadership Development

The core team of SAATH is the youth members. So the organization is fully devoted in the leadership development of the youth members. For that the programs like weekly interaction program on any social issues with the expertise on the field is carried out in the agency. Mainly the issues are being selected as the current hot topic for the discussion.


SAATH in Nature and Culture

SAATH being a social organization it feels the responsibility on the preservation of the nature and culture of the nation. Till now SAATH had organized the grand program like Bagmati festival 2007 in which not only the youths but also large number of school students also participated.

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- Message from SAATH

We are SAATH...

SAATH means "Support" SAATH means "Togetherness"
SAATH believes in the Power of Togetherness, and thus SAATH works together with different individuals, groups and organizations in order to provide necessary support for needy people and the communities to strive for Tranquility and Humanity in our society.
Looking back to the history of SAATH, in June 25, 2004, the minds of 11 youth with educational background of Social work got merged into one and came up with SAATH EVENT on September 25, 2004, which was a huge success. Therefore, September 25, 2004 could be regarded as one of the most significant days, not only in the history of SAATH, but in the history of Professional Social Work in Nepal. It's the day when a group of young people showed their exclusive potentialities amalgamated with professionalism, which made a significant impact in the field of HIV & AIDS and in the field of Social Work in general.

The success of the event became the compelling force for many other individuals including celebrity figures, organizations and corporate sectors to make their commitments to join hand in hand with SAATH for Noble Causes. With youth spirit and innovative ideas, SAATH kept on moving forward with various effective programs for bringing positive changes in the field of Social Work esp. in the issues of HIV & AIDS, Drug use, Rights of Elderly, Child Rights and Environmental issues as well. In 4 years of time, it has made significant impacts in our society and it has inspired many organizations and youth for contributing their right efforts in the field of Social Work. Now, SAATH has proved to be platform for many youth having genuine orientation towards making impacts in the life of others including underprivileged people, and ultimately are making difference in their life. The right effort, commitment and leadership of these dynamic youths have made SAATH always alive and vigorous on its path.

Lachhindra Maharjan
Founder Member
SAATH
Kathmandu, Nepal

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- Upcoming programs...

SAATH EVENT 2008 - Youth-to-Youth Fest for a Noble Cause

SAATH has organized two national level SAATH Events with thematic focus on HIV & AIDS and "Youth in Social Work, Youth for Social Work". SAATH has its plan to organize 3rd SAATH Event in November 15, 2008 with the thematic focus on "Youth in preserving and promoting Nepali Culture ". The event will set up an example that some youth are actively involved in preserving our culture, our identity. This may inspire other youth as well.

Indeed, Nepali Culture is our identity and we are responsible to maintain our identity. One can feel that any other cultures have been highly influenced by Modernization and Americanization. But, when we think about our culture we feel proud, as our traditional cultures can still be observed in our villages as well as in the city areas too. We still have been able to preserve our traditional festivals like Harisiddhi Jatra, Lakhe Jatra, Machhindra Nath Jatra and many more as Ethnic languages, music and dances. Indeed, our Nepali identity is not only limited to Country of Mt.Everest and Country of Buddha . It is our role to create additional identity as country of Socio-cultural heritage.

However, there are high possibilities of deterioration of our culture, social norms and values. So, it's a high time to be genuinely concerned about our culture for ensuring the respect towards our diverse culture and taking steps to preserve and promote our culture. Nevertheless, preserving our culture and identity can be the best strategy to promote Tourism industry in our country. In this context, youth can play very significant roles in promoting our Nepali culture. With this thought, SAATH is therefore on its way to organize SAATH Event 2008 to promote our culture.

The event shall have complete package of various programs that promote traditional Nepali culture: - Nepali dances, songs, musical instruments, language, Ethnic customs and traditions.

The Event will comprise of:

• 40 informative stalls for presenting different Nepali cultures set up by different ethnic groups and cultural groups along with 35 food stalls (typical Nepali food)
• Musical shows and concerts by various musical bands and singers/celebrities.
• Traditional dances by cultural groups, ethnic groups, students and youth groups.
• Documentary shows addressing richness of Nepali culture
• Art exhibition
• Special presentations and seminars by different Cultural Associations

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© SAATH e-newsletter 2008.

..:: SAATH ::..- HIMALAYAS AND SIR EDMUND HILLARY

"HIMALAYAS AND SIR EDMUND HILLARY" - Documentary Film Festival '08

Showing at Russian Centre of Science and Culture on 10th & 11th March 2008

Some of the major events organized by SAATH till date.

1) SAATH EVENT 2004

“SAATH EVENT 2004” was organized on Sept.25, 2004 to support women and children living with HIV and AIDS. For the event, SAATH collaborated with different organizations esp. Sangati Extended Care centre and Sneha Samaj. In addition, SAATH also collaborated with various schools and colleges with the main purpose of raising awareness among the students on the issue of HIV & AIDS. In addition, the program was to support women and children living with HIV & AIDS by establishing SAATH Treatment Fund.

In the event, 55 stalls were assembled comprising of 30 food stalls, 15 exhibition stalls, 8 game stalls, 1 music stall and 1 special stall on HIV & AIDS. In accordance to the primary purposes of the event (i.e. to sensitize the visitors esp. the students through the information regarding every aspects of HIV & AIDS, and to raise funds as for the support to women and children living with HIV.) All in all, the entire event was the combination of informative and entertainment activities.

Apart from various aspects, SAATH EVENT-2004 was also a success from one peculiar aspect as well, i.e. Rs. 1, 05,000/ was raised from that event which was used as “Treatment Fund” for women and children living with HIV”. The fund raised was deposited in Nepal Investment Bank, and the proper mechanism was developed by SAATH in coordination with SNEHA SAMAJ. The fund has been effectively used to support many women and children living with HIV.

2) WADE “World AIDS Day Event 2004”

Understanding the significance of World AIDS day, SAATH organized World AIDS Day 2004 with the combined effort of different groups (including women, men, youths living with HIV, and vulnerable groups like youths, drug users, homosexuals, etc.) to show and to set an example on solidarity among different groups for acting against HIV and AIDS.

The program that was named as “World AIDS Day Event (WADE), 2004”, included:

• Human –Chain program (A symbol of solidarity; a solidarity to share love, compassion hope and inspiration): More than 700 people (including students, individuals representing different organizations, celebrities, social figures and general people) joined hand in hand to form a human- chain around the “Traffic Island, Maitighar” followed by “A FLAME OF HOPE AND INSPIRATIONS” lighted at Bhadrakali by Mani Khadka (PLWHA).

• Candle light program: To bring a hope and solidarity among the people living with HIV and AIDS around the world and to commemorate the people who had died of AIDS, two thousand and four “Candles” or “Diyo” were lighted with an estimated of 400 participants.

The basic purpose of WADE was to back up the worldwide World AIDS Campaign realizing our potentials and to accelerate the national response to HIV and AIDS through a focus on women and girls preventing new infections, promoting equal access to treatment and mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS. That means, the WADE acted as a complementary National campaign being organized with the efforts of SAATH and Nepal Plus.

3) Media program on HIV & AIDS

SAATH and Nepal Plus combinely launched media program on HIV & AIDS on February 1st 2005. It was broadcasted on HBC FM 94 Mhz for one year (Feb 2005 – Jan 2006) and was successful in addressing various social issues related to HIV & AIDS. The major achievement of the program was that it provided a good platform for number of people living with HIV & AIDS for conveying their message to the general public. In addition, various groups like women living HIV & AIDS commercial sex workers, homosexuals, ex-IDUs got opportunities to put forward their voice for sensitizing the audience.The success of this program is the immediate cause for planning the similar kind of media programs for ensuring its continuity and sustainability, so forth in order to make a long term impact.

4) A study on "the existing conditions of organizations working in the field of HIV/AIDS"

SAATH in the year 2005 did a research work in studying the existing conditions of the organizations working in the field of HIV and AIDS. The study was very significant from both short term and long term aspect. The study had an immediate outcome for it determined the almost exact number of organizations working in the field of HIV & AIDS in the Kathmandu Valley. The study collected the profiles of almost all the organizations working on HIV & AIDS. The study also had focus on gathering information with regard to the conditions of organizations working in this field. In addition, the study extracted the information to know the perspectives of organizations and the programs and activities carried out by the organization.

5) Awareness Campaign:

SAATH in collaboration with Nepal Plus has been actively involved in conducting awareness programs regarding HIV and AIDS, drug abuse in several schools, colleges and communities. Besides, awareness campaign SAATH has also been involved in showcasing documentaries in colleges to create awareness.

6) SAATH EVENT 2007

In the present context, when most of the young people are indulged into various socially unacceptable activities, there are few young individuals (but matured with their thoughts) who have a strong determination to work for society and who are really contributing their efforts for our society. SAATH EVENT-2007 being a step put forwarded by such youth can’t be neglected, and obvious intrinsic reason is visible to everyone to call it as a worthy event for our society. Empirically too, it was an event organized by youth to sensitize youth on various social issues, so it holds a larger degree of significance. Besides, the practical and truthful information provided by individuals, experts and organizations was of great value for everyone. General public esp. youth were being aware about various social issues and will come to know about such organizations as well. Reciprocally, SAATH EVENT was a platform for the organizations to reach the larger population easily (Media coverage were the additional help for the organizations). Apart from above mentioned significance, some amount of fund was raised from the Event, which is named as “SAATH EDUCATION FUND”. The SAATH EDUCATION FUND is for the deprived children to support them in their education.

7) SAATH with Elderly Citizen

SAATH organized the program "SAATH with Elderly Citizen" the cultural program at “Pashupati Bridha Ashram” on June 30, 2007. The sole purpose of the program was to spend a day with elderly at the ashram, to provide them a day of recreation and entertainment and to give emotional support to the elderly by bringing together children, youths and elderly from different organizations. The special performances by musical band Kutumb, together with cultural performances by the members of SAATH, children from Maiti Nepal and other organizations were the major features of the program.

8) Bagamati River Festival- School Program

SAATH organized Bagamati River Festival-School Programs from 23rd July – 5th August 2007 in affiliation with Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT).The Bagamati River Festival-School Programs included inter-school art, essay and poem writing competitions. The main event was held on 5th August 2007, where selected poems together with best essays were presented and paintings of the participants were exhibited. Certificate and prizes were awarded to the winners on the main event day. Besides, the literary figures like Kali Prasad Rijal, Ramesh Khakurel, Bhuvan Hari Sigdel, Omi Sharma, Prava Bhattarai, Kosh Raj Neupane and Arjun Parajuli showed their participation in the program along with their poems on "Bagamati" for inspiring the students. Honourable Satya Mohan Joshi presided in the event as the chief guest of the program.

SAATH with Mission!!

Attributes of SAATH members:

• Understands the importance of social work in Nepalese context.
• Driven to make positive changes in the field of different social issues.
• Capability of critical analysis and work for advocating on behalf underprivileged groups.
• Strong desire for social justice.
• Potential to stimulate youth’s participation for genuine actions.

Vision
"Nepalese society being developed into a just society where people from all sectors would have equal access of opportunities and would enjoy their human rights"

Goal
"Promote and establish professional social work in Nepalese society"

Objectives:

• Create a platform for Youth social workers for their genuine actions in social fields.
• Promote the concept of Youth-to-Youth advocacy for bringing positive changes in different social issues.
• Generate a sense of solidarity among different groups of people to work on different social issues.
• Protect and promote the rights of different groups of people esp. marginalized and underprivileged people.

Activities:

• Conducts youth mobilization programs.
• Provides social services for needy people through the proper utilization of “SAATH fund”.
• Conduct awareness raising programs on different social issues.
• Advocate change for the overall benefit of society esp. for the protection of rights of people with their HIV, child rights etc.

SOCIAL SERVICE, AWARENESS RAISING AND ADVOCACY FOR TRANQUILITY AND HUMANITY (SAATH)

SAATH is a group of dynamic youth who have been successful in contributing their genuine and priceless efforts in the field of social work. The group basically comprises of the youths with educational background of social work. SAATH as a group was formed in July 25, 2004 and registered in July 2006, with the basic aim of promoting professional social work for ensuring social justice and for striving humanity and tranquility in our society. SAATH addresses barriers, inequalities and injustice that exists in the society and give particular attention to service oriented programs for the general welfare of the society with special regard to vulnerable, disadvantaged, oppressed and exploited individuals and groups, raising awareness on different social issues for resource mobilization and advocacy in order to protect rights of different groups. By adopting these instrumental strategies the members of SAATH have been contributing their professional knowledge and skills to address different social issues. The members have increased their leadership skills and professionalism. The team believes that lots of things can be accomplished by working together, with special focus on meaningful involvement of youth.

SAATH has been conceptualizing new ideas, executing ideas into actions with the meaningful involvement and participation especially of the youths and with support from different individuals who holds an important responsibility in the society. It acts as an inspirational force to compel the present generation for their meaningful involvement in Social Work and believes that lots of thing can be accomplished by working together. The basic vision of SAATH to create a just society cannot be achieved without the concern of the majority of the people. SAATH calls for the genuine involvement of people from different segment of the society especially the youth group, and anticipate on creating a just, humane and a tranquil society for all. SAATH which also means togetherness believes in working hand in hand as it would further widen up the possibility of rapid and effective development and social change.

SAATH, with the youth’s spirit have organized various programs, events and activities as steps to bring positive changes in the field of social work. In very short duration of time it has made a significant achievement, and thus has received supports from various individuals and organizations.