1: INTRODUCTION
Kilimanjaro Guides and
Porters Union (Ltd by membership shares)
(www.kilimanjaro-union.com) was established in September 2003 by
most of the experienced Guides and Porters in Tanzania.
The main goal is to put Guides and Porters together and where they
can meet to discuss issues, share experience, teach and learn from
each other.
This came into mind after seeing the problems that Porters and Guides
face on Kilimanjaro! Treated as “Luggage beast,” exploited
even by their fellow workers on Kilimanjaro.
Increase number of Porters deaths, Porters sleeping in old tents
that are terribly leaking and sleeping even ten of them in a tent
that accommodates 3 Tourists, Porters being beaten and even their
equipment destroyed by Rangers and even Park wardens, Porters carrying
too much weight of luggage, Low wages paid to Porters and Guides
by travel agents, Porters lacking education to guide them on the
Mountain like climatically hazards,
Porters and Guides lacking health and life Insurances and many more
problems made us Unite.
We started with 120 members and now we are 250 and more still joining.
The Union is working as a cooperative society, granted a license
to work as a travel agent to enable members get income to pay their
own Insurance premiums, training fees, office running expenses,
pensions for the members, climbing equipment for the Porters and
Guides.
At the end of the year through our general meeting the members decide
what to do with profit.
We regularly hold small meetings to discuss the issues related with
the Union.
We are truly a non- profit making organization.
Any travel agent can hire our members or anyone/organization can
book directly through the Union.
2: PROBLEMS THAT PORTERS FACE ON KILIMANJARO
-Over carrying of the
luggage
-Low wages and not paid in time
-Very poor mountain equipment
-Porters not getting enough food while in duty. Some of the companies
do not give food to the Porters, some give but the Porters’
allowances will be deducted to cover the expenses
-Porters will pay their own transport from their homes (Arusha or
Moshi) to the gates and back
-Increase number of porters’ deaths on Kilimanjaro
-Porters not insured and even not rescued while on the mountain
-Share the salaries (Some companies will hire two Porters to share
one salary if they find out that there is too heavy luggage at the
gate).
The Porters will end up relying only on tips!
3: GOALS OF THE UNION
-To make sure that Porters are not exploited
-Make sure that any Porter trekking on Kilimanjaro/any trekking
area get adequate equipment
-Pooling together for Insurances, training and pensions
-Work together with other organizations and Tanzania National Parks
to prevent Porters’ exploitation
-Provide good services to Tourists for sustainable tourism
-To make sure that the Union stay health financially through trips
that we make and contributions
-The union will have branches at each gate on Kilimanjaro/other
trekking areas to make sure that Porters are reached at their areas
of residence instead of coming to the base to attend classes or
any service (We have opened a new branch at Machame gate and soon
at the main Marangu route).
4: WHERE DO WE GET INCOME?
The following are some of activities operated by our members to
keep the Union growing, rather than relying only on contributions.
-Kilimanjaro climbing
-Mt. Meru
-Oldonyo Lengai Mountain
-City trips
-Cultural tours in Tanzania
-Hiring of Mountain equipment
-Members contribution
-Safaris in Tanzania (Camping, Lodge and luxury camping trips)
The profit goes direct to solve the above-mentioned problems and
buying Mountain equipment for the members and non-members.
5: PORTERS TRAINING AT MACHAME
The Porters training at Machame Kilimanjaro is one of the progresses
that Kilimanjaro Guides and Porters Union has achieved. Different
methodology has been adapted to make sure that they can speak fluently
English and able to communicate with people we are working with.
These include employ three professionals teachers for the same session.
Special thanks goes to Mama Shakira who is a Headministress of Nkwamwasi
primary school (where the classes are contacted) Machame,
Miss Anderson and Bene whose are American volunteers, International
Mountain Explorers connection (IMEC) who has contributed to this
training.
We have also opened a new office (branch) at Kilia village eight
Kilometres
before Machame gate to enable Porters meet and share ideas, meet
clients
Instead of coming all way long to the base in Arusha.
Other office branches will be opened once we can manage all.
Among other goals that we are focusing are:
-Health and Life Insurances
-Fair wages paid to the Porters
-Pensions
-Good shelter while trekking
-Proper climbing equipment
-Proper medicine and rescue while on trek
-Proper meals as the rest of the trekkers
-Free transport to and from the gates
-Reasonable luggage carried by Porters.
The latter has improved over 80%.
In collaboration with Kilimanjaro National Park and International
Mountain Explorers Connection, the maximum weight carried by Porters
is 25 kilograms including Porters own trekking gears.
This is a continuous training for porters and decided to establish
these camps at every route where Porters can study while waiting
for their climb.
The classes are at 3 Pm from Monday to Friday and this time will
allow Porters have enough time in the morning waiting for their
client, go home for lunch and attend classes.
This will also avoid Porters traveling from their gates to major
towns (Moshi and Arusha) to attend classes.
Those leaving in Moshi/Arusha have their classes there.
We started with English classes and first aid as these being the
basic knowledge they should begin with.
Other topics will be:
-Fauna and Flora
-Culture
-Customer care
-Sex and health education, environmental education among others.
6:SWAHILI SAYING
Elimu ni ufunguo wa maendeleo!
Translation:
Education is the Key to develop!
This is one of the straight saying that can be also considered as
a proverb!
There is no development without education.
We are there asking the Porters to put more efforts in such educational
opportunity and we also ask the communities around us to support
these potential men in tourism.
Educational materials can be sent to help them and we welcome any
volunteers to teach these people.
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