World Expedition - Index

World Expedition - booklet - Index

� All trekking porters should have provision for security,
personal protective equipment including shoes and clothes,
depending on the weather.
how can you help? You may like to make a donation to IPPG
to help with creating awareness of the issue or donate some
outdoor/trekking gear in reasonable condition to the IPPG
clothes bank. Email a message to Dr Jim Duff, national
representative and International co-ordinator at info@ippg.net or
download our ‘Porter for a Porter’ project details, and learn
how you can directly help the porters from our website
www.worldexpeditions.com
International Mountain Explorers Connection
The International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) is a
US based not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to
promote responsible and sustainable connections between
travellers and the people of developing mountain regions of
the world. Through IMEC’s local projects in Moshi, Tanzania
and Kathmandu, travellers 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
Sometimes these issues leave porters open to illness and
neglect on the mountain. As porters have no job security,
they have little room for complaint.
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 travellers regarding acceptable standards of
porter treatment
World Expeditions is a member of IMEC’s Partnership for
Responsible Travel Program which recognises those tour
operators committed to promoting proper porter treatment
and cultural and environmental sensitivity among their clients.
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