Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project update
by Karen Valenti, Program Director
The Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), an initiative of the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC),
celebrated its 2nd anniversary as a Tanzanian NGO on the 9th of January. KPAP’s activities include providing donated
equipment to the porters of the Kilimanjaro region, teaching English and first aid classes to the porter population, as
well as educating tourists about proper porter treatment.
KPAP has just revised its clothing lending program and 14 tour companies in the Moshi area are keen to take part in an
initiative to meet the clothing needs of their porters. We are in great need of couriers willing to bring over one of our
duffels filled with donated equipment from the USA. Please contact IMEC (info@mountainexplorers.org)
if you can help.
In November we completed our first ever English and first aid education series for the porters in association Zara Tanzanian
Adventures who hosted this 6-week program in which there was a total of 504 porter visits during the session. KPAP expects
to be busy with these classes in future low seasons here and Keys Hotel and Marangu Hotel have also offered space to provide
this necessary instruction for the porters.
KPAP has recently been granted access to the gates of Kilimanjaro by the Kilimanjaro National Parks Association (KINAPA).
This will enable us to educate tourists as they begin their climb as well as monitor the starting conditions of porters.
By having a regular presence on the mountain we hope to be able to reach an even greater audience regarding proper porter
treatment.
If climbing Kili, "Karibu" (welcome) to our office located at Hotel Da Costa in Moshi. You can help our efforts
by completing a post trek survey which will give crucial feedback to the tour operators. We also have affordable maps of
Kili for sale and the earnings are put towards the project.
For those individuals wanting to catch a glimpse of the porters’ life, we have an Off the Beaten Path Day Trip. Taking
part in this means you can spend the day with a porter in the village of Machame located at the start of the Machame route
on Kili. The proceeds benefit the Porters’ Network of Machame.
"Asante sana" (many thanks) to everyone who has taken the time to help us better the situation here.
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