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Porters’ Clothing Bank Kathmandu Environmental Education Project “We are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, so that we can see more than they, and things at a
greater distance, not by virtue of any sharpness of sight on our part, or any physical distinction, but
because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size” -KEEP
Progress Report 2014/15
Thousands of individual porters as well as porters from the different trekking companies are getting privileged,
after the establishment of the KEEP’s Porters’ Clothing Bank in September 2009. Indeed they are outfitted and
protected from cold and frostbite in the high Himalayas during the trekking period. It has been running since 6
years now, and we have grown to accommodate more numbers in the coming future. It is a great pleasure to report
the progress, challenges and sustainability of Clothing Bank in 2013/14. I would like to thank all the national and
international donors, member agencies and individuals for supporting KEEP’s PCB in so many ways. I would also
like to invite other more trekking companies and individual porters who have not yet used our clothing bank, to
come and visit it at KEEP office during office hours and get benefited from the services we provide. KEEP’s
Executive committee, Director and all the team are very excited to work to ensure the sustainability of the Porters’
Clothing Bank in the future, which will stand for quality Porters Clothing Bank. Infact, we always strive for your
sincere comments and feedback, for the betterment of KEEP’s Porters Clothing Bank. At the end, I would also like
to thank the entire KEEP family for their diligent work in achieving the goals of KEEP’s PCB at this height.
Sagar Pandey
Since its establishment in September, 2009.The Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) has
been overseeing the operation of the Porters’ Clothing Bank Despite having many obstacles to overcome;
KEEP PCB has been able to reach its current state of success because of the overwhelming support of our
Partners and Supporters. I personally extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to each of them. With
their support, KEEP has been able to run the PCB project smoothly for six long years. Lastly, as Director, I
want to recognize the important contribution of our staff for their understanding and teamwork. Thank you
all!!!
D.B Gurung
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the supporters of the Porters’ Clothing
Bank Project. With your continuous support, KEEP has been able to run this PCB project
smoothly and successfully. We express our sincere appreciation to the following
organizations.
International Mountain Explorer Connection (IMEC)
International Porters Protection Group (IPPG)
Porter’s Progress UK
The Intrepid Foundation
GloboTrek
SST Foundation
Porteurs d'Avenir
Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN)
Dr. Jim Duff
Else James
Dr. Nick Mason
Dr. Louise Cook
Ian Wall
Karen Valenti
BACKGROUND
In the last fifty years, tourism has been one of the activities with the highest expansion
potentials in the world. It plays an important role as a local development strategy due to its
potential for growth and for being a product that can only be consumed in “loco”. The spatial
expansion of tourism and the growing diversification of this activity in the world create
opportunities for countries, regions and communities to seek to bring about their
development.
We all know that tourism porters play an imperative role enabling tourists all around the
world to visit Nepal’s most pretty and difficult terrain as well. In consequence, every year
many porters suffer from illness caused by the cold and high altitude sickness: and some even
die there in the up Himalayas.
To reduce this number and provide some relief to those porters’, KEEP’s Porters Clothing
Bank (PCB) provides an independent trekkers and small trekking companies with an
inexpensive means of equipping porters for a mountain.
Just for a while imagine yourself carrying 80 lb (30 to 40 kgs) load over a snow covered pass
in the harsh climate and environment of the high mountains, wearing only rubber sandals,
cotton trousers and a thin jacket. It sounds painful and yet it is a reality. It sadly well depicts
the working and living conditions of the Himalayan trekking porters. With these ill conditions
in mind, KEEP set up a Porters’ Clothing Bank in September 2009, aiming “to provide
poorly equipped porters with better clothing, suitable for their treks in a mountain
environment”.
Since its establishment, KEEP PCB has been consistently equipping porters to get vigorous
into the challenging Himalayan environment by minimizing and preventing the occurrence of
illnesses and fatalities among them. Besides this, KEEP strives to educate Tourists, Trekking
agencies and Porters alike on both the need of more acceptable treatment’s standards for
porters and the need of direct access to appropriate clothing and equipment. Over the last few
years, PCB has been lending individual trekkers and trekking agencies full sets of clothing
and equipment at a small refundable deposit. This project has proved to be highly successful
in improving the treatment and working conditions for porters of Nepal.
SUCCESS STORY OF THE PCB
Ever since KEEP is working in partnership with IPPG (International Porter Protection
Group), CAN (Community Action Nepal), Mountain Kingdoms (UK), World Expeditions
UK, Porter’s Progress (UK) and IMEC (International Mountain Explorers Connections) for
equipping the porters. The PCB currently stocks over a eight hundred sets of new clothing
items, including pants, jackets, trekking boots, sunglasses, gloves, sleeping bags, socks and
caps donated through organizations such as International Mountain Explorer Connection, The
Mountain Fund, and Himalayan Mountain Guides. Then after, with their assistance and
precious support, the PCB has been able to reach its current well-stocked state.
KEEP has been lending clothing items to various trekking agencies for their porters as well as
to individual porters since its establishment. So far, nearly 2000 porters, from different
trekking companies and individual porters also have been benefited from the KEEP PCB.
Porters’ Awareness Workshop: Trekking Porters have always been the backbone in making
a successful trekking operation in this tourism industry worldwide. However, still they have
been highly disregarded tourism professionals from universal perspective, who in fact, need
an attention with an ethical ways and act with a humanitarian approaches.
In order to bring awareness among porters and tourism stakeholders, KEEP successfully
conducted Porters’ Awareness Workshop-2014 in Beshisahar, Annapurna Region, Nepal on
the date from 22-23 May, 2014. The mission of this workshop was to bring awareness among
porters by improving the working conditions through education of porters.
PCB: CURRENT ACTIVITY
Similarly, the harsh mountain environment causes
clothing to wear-out rather quickly. Besides, over
the past few years, some items have been damaged
or lost by the Companies or individuals who have
borrowed them. Considering the volume of clothing
that we have loaned, though, actual lost articles have
been minimal. However, there is indisputably a
continuing need for support to the project, in order
to replace worn or damaged clothing items and keep
a good stock.
Table 1: Detailed PCB current stock
S.N Clothing
Items
Brought
by KEEP
Donation Previous
Stock
Damaged
Items
Current
Stock
Condition
1 Jackets - 20 537 347 170 Used
2 Pants 50 75 403 378 150 Used
3 Shoes 200 20 206 323 103 Used
4 Sunglasses 200 55 267 317 205 Used
5 Gloves - 35 62 32 65 Used
6 Sleeping
Bags
- 8 30 - 38 Used
7 Socks - 18 17 3 32 Used
8 Caps - 60 - 20 40 Used
Total Items 450 291 1522 1420 803
Figure 1: PCB-current stock of clothing set
170
150
103
205
65
38 32 40
Jackets Pants Shoes Sunglasses Gloves Sleeping Bags
Socks Caps
Altogether, 450 clothing set was brought by KEEP in the year 2013/14 which includes pants,
shoes and sunglasses. Similarly, different supporting agencies donated 291 set of items.
Among all, 1420 got damaged and now current stock of clothing items is 803 set. In which all
of the items were found to be in used conditions.
To add it more, KEEP PCB not only helps porters by
lending clothing items but also conducts programs for
porter’s welfare in creating awareness among them. Aware
of the need of education and research on porters’ rights and
aiming to make their voices finally heard, KEEP has been
annually organizing Workshops on the subject of porters’
welfare.
The course programs are basically designed to focus on the porters’ rights, mountain
environment, safety issues, PCB services available and procurement, as well as interaction
with trekking companies.
In addition to the porters’ awareness programs, KEEP PCB also aims to educate independent
Trekkers especially regarding their personal responsibility for the porters they hire. Also
towards the sake of creating awareness among the Trekkers, KEEP shows the documentary
“Carrying the Burden” on a daily basis and upon special request by visitors to KEEP.
WAY FORWARD
We always appreciate any contribution you can make to the Porters’ Clothing Bank. If a
volunteer courier is willing to cover shipping costs from the storehouse in Britain or America,
to their home in that country, a tax exemption receipt is available for the expenses incurred.
Please contact us at least one month prior to your departure for Nepal at [email protected] if
you are able to assist us.
Financial donations are greatly appreciated, and are preferred to donations of clothing as
KEEP is then able to purchase new clothing in Nepal and covers costs of repair and
replacement of items. Usually donations of used jackets and pants from Westerners do not fit
Nepali porters who tend to be smaller. However, donations of other clothing items such as
hats, socks, sunglasses, warm gloves and sleeping bags are always welcome. If you are able
to contribute financially to the KEEP Porters’ Clothing Bank, kindly use the following
contact details as mentioned in the wire transfer information.
KEEP strives to ensure Porters a more sustainable growth, safer and ethical working
conditions as well as respect for their rights. We are confident that this will be possible with
your support and the continuous and precious supports of all KEEP’s partners.
KEEP’s Porter Code
Pick up a load yourself! Have a
go by picking up a load and it won’t
take long for you to realize what a
tremendous job your porter is doing.
Don’t overload your porter.
Maximum load is 30-35 kg
Hire a porter in Nepal. Hiring a
porter is a good way to directly help
rural communities. A porter’s salary
from one trek can sustain their
families and benefit their local
community for several months.
What does a porter do? A
porter is someone who carries
your equipment for a trek. Some
porters do minimal guiding. It is
culturally accepted in Nepal to
hire a porter and it is a normal
business relationship.
Select strong and experienced
porters for high, remote treks.
Make sure your porter is also
provided sufficient food, clothing,
equipment, a sleeping mat and a tent
during your trekking period.
Pay a fair salary. Salaries
vary according to the location
you are trekking in-check with
KEEP’s Porters’ Clothing Bank for
current porter wages. A
porter/guide who speaks English
typically earns more. Don’t
bargain too hard-remember that
a little extra money goes a long
way.
Treat porters to tea or
meals. Offering meals and
snacks is a nice gesture. Ensure
your porter gets proper food and
water throughout the trek
because you depend on them.
Spend time with your porter.
There is much to be learned from
these physically hard working men
and women. Spending time in direct
contact with them encourages good
performances on their part and
enhances your own experience of
the trail.
Tip your porter well if they
have done a good job. Tips can
vary, check with your trekking
company or KEEP’s Porters’
Clothing Bank for
recommendations. Tips are
normally paid at the end of the
trek. Give the tip directly to
your porter and make sure they
know it is because they did a
good job. If you have any spare
equipment at the end of your
trek, it can make a real
difference to your porter’s
standard of living if you give it to
them.
Make sure that your porter
has insurance. Trekking
companies should have a blanket
policy covering all staff but not
all do-make sure you check.
Independent trekkers can get
insurance for their porter-find
out more from KEEP’s Porter’s
Clothing Bank.
Take care of sick porters.
Your porter deserves the same
standard of treatment, care and
rescue that you expect for
yourself. Make sure that sick
porters are sent down the
mountains with someone who
speaks their language and who
understands the problem.
Porters should never be sent
down alone.
Have a meal before you go.
Take your porter/guide for a
meal or tea before you start
your trek. Find out about
him/her and get an idea about
whether you will get along.
Remember you will be spending
the next few weeks together.
Use a trekking agency. Talk to
KEEP for a list of recommended
trekking agencies.
Please donate. Any spare
clothes or shoes at the end of
your trek to KEEP’s Porters’
Clothing Bank. It can make a real
difference to your porter’s
standard of living.
Report all instances of neglect or abuse to KEEP’s
Porters’ Clothing Bank.
Sharing the Responsibility…My porter’s experience
When I first came in Nepal in 2003, I traveled in
Ganesh Himal. There I became aware of the poor
working conditions the porters work in : they sleep in
the cooking tent, wrapped in a blanket right on the
ground even at high altitude when it's freezing. They
earn just a few dollars a day (2 euros per day) to cover
their food and accomodation and have to bear, besides
the heavy 35kg package, their own firewood, potatoes
and tea to get their only meal … Yet, the trekking
agency I traveled with was among the most influent
ones in Nepal … So I wanted to get deeper in that
system to better understand it.
I met many mountain guides and porters willing to share their own experience with me. It
was time for me to get in touch with local NGOs, fighting to enforce agencies to provide
coolies with better working conditions and dignity. Back in France, I started to write my
thesis entitled « Porters life conditions in Nepal from the begining of tourism in the 50's ».
Each year, I bring clothings gathered from mountainers in France and I organize french
classes for porters in a small NGO. Speaking french give them the opportunity to get a better
income as a porter and a better « chance » to become a mountain guide.
I found the organisation Porteurs d'Avenir in 2010 to get more means in my commitment and
to help the nepalese NGO KEEP. Each year, we bring to the porter many technical clothings
and sunglasses. Along the trekking tracks, more and more porters are equipped by
organisations like KEEP or by the agencies. That help to prevent porters from high altitude
sickness, snow ophtalmy.
Then in 2011/2012, I carried out « Une Vie de porteur » (« A porter's life »), a documentary
screened in KEEP and other agencies in Nepal. In France, I organized conferences and
participated in festivals to present the documentary, in order to bring into focus porter's life
for all people .Nowadays, many young men leave Nepal to get to the Emirates that need
workers in the building industry. As a consequence, there are less and less porters in Nepal
and in some regions like Dolpo and Mustang trekkings are organized with donkeys to offset
the lack of skilled porters. For instance, around the Annapurna base camp, more and more
women work as porters. Therefore the local life is reshaped even if without the women,
families and villages find their new lifestyle as time goes by.
PAULINE PRETET
( president of porteurs d’Avenir, France)
Porters’ Story
Porter Bikram Kumar Thapa Magar
Where should i start this pathetic Porter's take
from?
Who will understand a Porter's pain?
Neither does he get good salary, nor does he get
lighter load.
The salary hardly brings him two meals a day.
Please, support the porters together.
We always need them in trekking.
Give good salary and provide a good from office,
And arrange things like shoes and clothing from
office.
Trekking begins joyous when everything is
available.
Only then we porters would be respected
We, v porters, must be united.
All involves in telling must know about it.
We must always get a loaf of 30 kilos.
Let's make sure the list won't with more than 30
kilos
All the porters must progress.
I wish all potters would move forward all the time.
Nepali Porters Tilak Bahadur Dhakal
Her Nepali porter brothers, guests are waiting for
you.
Don't worry, note there is peace.
The scholars from all over the world ate quite
compassionate.
They link their life with that of porters.
Porters get lost when they fail to get load.
Their family members cry in hunger.
Forget education, three go away looking for load
And needing glad when they get loads to carry.
The sun is shining high in the sky.
So is the moon.
Yet the guests have stopped visiting Nepal.
The friends from all over the world must visit
Nepal.
We, Nepalese, will restore peace in Nepal at any
cost.
We will serve guests from the friendly countries
with our best.
More and more guests must visit Nepal
And the Porter's life must be considered.
Porter Laxman Tamang
I am a Porter, a small man.
I carry luggage of the rich
And the foreigners
I eat worse food than they do,
Wear tattered clothes,
Get a meager salary
Walk faster than them.
What can i do?
Such is my fate.
I pass my days in this way.
I forget my agonies in this way.
A Letter from Base Camp Bishnu Shyakhu
Dear, I am writing from base camp.
A have load is on my back.
I am only half standing.
I am shivering continuously with cold.
Dear, I am looking at your picture even though half
-asleep
Dear, I am carrying the lots with your memory.
I am surrounded by the ice.
The stream doesn't flow today.
The blood is frozen,
Fingers are failing, I am writing with frozen hands.
The friends are continuing up and up.
I am standing but keeping my head in my hand.
I am blocking death with a palm, dear.
My fingers are failing and I am writing with frozen
hands.
Seeing the load aside, I am thinking about you.
I am encountering destiny now.
Dear, I am writing from bar camp.
A heavy load is in my back.
I am half-standing.
Unforgettable Moment Kaji Tamang
Our dreams are big; and go with me as I go up.
The path is difficult with mud and dust.
We are cheated with half the wage promised
I'd we don't finish the trek
The Porter must return without their wage.
A labor's life goes on how and swears.
When we are not skilled we go to work.
As porters progress so does Nepal.
Only the thorns never the flower smells here.
We will only progress in society when literate.
Human beings are great by their hearts -
Not by their cast.
There are limited people who are helpful.
Some people help with money and some with
words.
Not all trekkers crush our dreams.
Some give porters a lot of support.
PORTERS CLOTHING BANK
Your willingness to support the KEEP Porters’ Clothing Bank is greatly appreciated.
Wire Transfer
KEEP Nepal
A/C 01-0140872-51
Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited
Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal
SWIFT CODE: SCBLNPKA
KEEP has recently moved to a new location. Please see the map below for detailed information
Editorial & layout team: Mr. Arjun Kumar Limbu, MS. Rakshya Neupane, MS. Laura
Vismara and Mr. Pemba Dorje Lopchan
P.O Box 9178, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: 977-1-4410952, 4410935
Fax: 977-1-4410292
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: www.keepnepal.org