Some years ago Ben Ayers, a young American from the USA, started a radical experiment in porter empowerment by setting up Porters Progress Nepal (PPN) based in Katmandu. This became a leading light in educating porters, village initiatives and putting clothing on their backs when they ventured up the hill with loads. With porters on the board of directors this became a highly regarded outfit and so it remains to this day.
Only....
Ben has gone his separate way with some of his staff and started Porters Progress Sagarmatha (PPS) based on the clothing bank in Lukla.
The reasons for the split are unclear and probably best left so. But we now have two NGOs with similar aims and working with the same group of people. The only difference is that PPN is totally porter led and while this is quite admirable their lack of expertise and backing is showing up.
Funding and advice is being arranged for PPN from overseas in exchange for good management and transparency.
Lets see how the porters cope in their first steps off the mountain and into the jungles of NGO land.
Good luck to both orgs!
Dr Jim
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
1 comment:
Thank you Jim - I want to thank Dr. Jim Duff of IPPG for taking over the task of running the Global Porter Blog. It's one way we hope to communicate to more people the issues regarding treatment of the men and women working as porters around the world. There is probably no one more qualified to speak on the subject than Jim. scott (mtnfund)
Post a Comment