What we do

Machermo porter shelter & rescue post

Working for the safety of the mountain porter

IPPG aims to improve safety and health for porter working in the mountains for the trekking industry worldwide. We work to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death. We do this by raising awareness of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters’ foremen), and trekkers.
IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).

The 25 country representatives are the backbone of IPPG. We all work as volunteers and our only paid staff is Chhewang Sherpa, the rescue worker at the Machermo porter shelter and rescue post. Representatives’ activities may include arranging lectures, film shows, stalls at various venues, setting up the porter photo exhibition, fielding media and public inquiries, and fundraising.

IPPG is involved in these activities:

Educate trekkers on the issue of porter safety, through flyers, posters, photo exhibitions, video and media
Lobby government departments
Encourage travel agents and trekking companies to consider porter safety
Maintain and update our website
Assist with the provision of clothing and footwear for loan at the trail head through porter clothing banks
Raise funds for and building porter shelters
Help set up an emergency relief funds for injured porters or their dependents
Run conferences for porters in Nepal
Set up a porter shelter and rescue post in Machermo on the Gokyo trek to try reduce the death toll in that area
Organise fundraisers through articles, lectures, documentaries, letter writing, talks, and donations
Cooperate with other porter NGOs

Has there been any progress?

Since IPPG’s inception in 1997 there have been positive changes. It is slowly becoming less usual to see trekking porters who are not adequately equipped and sheltered. Aid posts and hospitals report that most sick porters are now accompanied by a trekker, sirdar or group leader. Governments are starting to show interest in enforcing trekking porter legislation. Local organizations such as TAAN (Travel Agents Association of Nepal) and the NMA (Nepal Mountaineering Association) are beginning the process of using their prestige to push for necessary changes.

OTHER PORTER NGOS

In Nepal, Porters Progress is committed to education, porter clothing and has board members who are mainly porters.

On Kilimanjaro the guides and porters themselves have initiated the Kilimanjaro guides and porters ltd.

IMEC (USA) works in education and porter clothing in Nepal, Peru and Tanzania.

Finally, but not least, Tourism Concern (UK) have been a potent lobby group working with travel agents and trekking companies.

We all have different approaches, projects and policies. Yet we are all working for the same common goal and support each other’s efforts.