Summits Africa has been working hand in hand
with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project for a number
of years. Our joint goal is to improve the working conditions
of Kilimanjaro's porters.
KPAP is a part of the International Mountain
Explorer's Connection which also works in a similar way in
Nepal. Find our more here.
To improve the working condistions of porters
Summits Africa does this by following KPAP's operating guidelines
and also by providing links to their information so that you,
the agent or traveller, can learn more about the wokring conditions
of porters on Kilimanjaro.
Summits Africa also provides First Aid intructors
to run Community Based First Aid courses, run in conjunction
with KPAP and a venue for First Aid courses, English courses
and other courses in the 'low' seasons.
You can find out more below:
Home
Porter
Poster
Climb
Survey
Courier
Program
Donation Form
PARTNER FOR RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
MOUNTAIN EXPLORERS CONNECTION
The International Mountain Explorers Connection
(IMEC) is a U.S. based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
whose mission is to promote responsible and sustainable connections
between travelers and the people of developing mountain regions
of the world. Through IMEC’s local projects in Moshi,
Tanzania and Kathmandu, travelers gain a greater understanding
of labor issues surrounding the tourism industry.
In order to feed themselves and their families,
porters take on the job of carrying heavy loads to high elevations
on Kilimanjaro and in the Himalayas. Some of the problems
porters face are:
* Underpayment by companies
* Not receiving the full amount of tip intended for them
* Inadequate clothing and gear
* Being forced to carry excess weight
* Insufficient food provision
* Poor sleeping facilities
Such treatment leaves porters open to illness
and neglect on the mountain. Because porters have no job security,
they have little room for complaint.
IMEC PORTER ASSISTANCE PROJECT
IMEC’s Porter Assistance Project seeks
to improve the working conditions of trekking porters by:
* Providing individual porters and climbing
companies with warm, high quality clothing free of charge.
* Offering English language, First Aid, HIV/AIDS Awareness,
and Money Management classes in order to motivate and empower
porters.
* Educating the tourist population about acceptable standards
of porter treatment.
PARTNERSHIP FOR RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
IMEC created the Partnership for Responsible
Travel Program to recognize those tour operators committed
to promoting proper porter treatment and cultural and environmental
sensitivity among their clients. The local projects in Tanzania
and Nepal monitor company performance to ensure that Partners
abide by IMEC’s Guidelines for Proper Porter Treatment.
IMEC is the only not-for-profit organization with an office
in Kilimanjaro that works specifically to improve porter conditions.
MEMBERSHIPS & SUPPORT
IMEC depends on grants, donations, and memberships
to fund our local projects. By becoming a member with IMEC
you will directly help fund the Porter Clothing Lending Program,
Classes for porters, and Outreach which increases the public’s
awareness regarding choosing a conscientious company.
Please join us and become a part of effecting
change for the porters by DONATING NOW to this worthy cause.
Your membership fees and donations are tax deductible to the
full extent provided by law.
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