The International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC), “through volunteer placement, homestays, tourist education, and “off the beaten path” trips is actively following the WTO Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty (STEP) program to promote responsible, sustainable tourism that facilitates benefits from tourism “trickling down” to all members of the local population.” They have projects and/or partners in Nepal, Tanzania and Peru.

They are also involved in a Porter Assistance Project, which works to provide appropriate clothes and shoes to porters, assist them with English language classes, and educate tourists about reasonable standards for trekking companies.

The Bootsnall Kilimanjaro Logue describes the “porter situation” in Kili:

often porters are poorly equipped (without appropriate clothes and shoes) to make the journey to the summit and sometimes end up seriously ill or worse. Tourists often feel guilty that they have spent so much on their own equipment and journey, and the porters are hauling it all around for minimal pay. It seems that economic pressure – perhaps caused in part by low wages paid by trekking companies – leads porters to simply re-sell more expensive clothing they might receive directly from tourists; it may be hard to believe that people would put themselves at such risk to bring in a small amount of money, but it apparently shows the severity of the problem that they do. Donating clothing through official channels such as IMEC’s porter project, which addresses the situation as a whole, is one way of circumventing this situation.

You can also volunteer to carry some donated clothes for porters – a representative meets you at the airport and you get, in addition to the knowledge you’ve helped in a small way, a ride ot your hotel. To volunteer your time in another way, you can contact IMEC.

Another valuable resource available is the IMEC-produced guide to volunteering in Tanzania and Nepal; to download these documents, which includes information on the background of foreign assistance in the country, a personal skills assessment, tips to enhance your experience, and over 50 volunteer leads, you simply need to become a member.

The Bootsnall Kilimanjaro Logue has more information on how to improve working conditions for porters.