Protecting porters on Kilimanjaro

Following Inghams rebranding, the previous company-branded uniforms worn by Resort Managers and Representatives across almost 100 ski resorts worldwide, have been donated to the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project. The kit included ski jackets, pants, hats, polo shirts and fleeces.

Porters can be severely underpaid and many climb Kilimanjaro without adequate clothing, footwear, or equipment, suffering from altitude sickness and hypothermia. The Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project looks after the welfare of the porters providing clothing for them during climbing expeditions on Kilimanjaro.

Karen Valenti, Programme Manager for Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project, says, “It is with heartfelt gratitude that we wish to say thank you to Porters’ Progress UK, Lynsey Devon and Inghams for providing the high quality kit and to Lindy Wheeler in bringing nearly 300kg of gear to Kilimanjaro. This has been a record amount received from a courier in our 5 year existence.”

Environment and Social Responsibility Manager from Inghams, Lynsey Devon, says, “We are really pleased that we could find a good home for this high quality mountain clothing. It kept our staff warm in the cold mountain temperatures and we are happy that the uniform is now being put to good use and we hope the often overlooked Kilimanjaro sherpas can now keep warm and dry.”

Porters' Progress UK: PPUK is a charity which supports projects to improve the safety and welfare of porters in Nepal and around the world. Its next fund-raising event is a presentation by adventurer and extreme sports guru Tim Emmett at the Royal Geographical Society on 27 November at 7pm. For more information see Portersprogressuk.org.

About the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project: KPAP is an initiative of the International Mountain Explorers Connection. It provides clothing to porters for their climbs on Kilimanjaro through their clothing lending programme in Moshi, Tanzania. See Kiliporters.org for more details.