Porters' Clothing Programs soon to merge in Nepal

April 2008
Kathmandu, Nepal

The Mountain Porter Support Program, operated jointly by International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) and The Mountain Fund, moved its locations this past month for their office and porter clothing bank. The office is now in The Mountain Fund Volunteer Visitor Center. The Center is located in the New Scout Building in Lainchaur across from The Royal Palace. The clothing bank has been relocated to The Mountain Fund Program director Scott MacLennan’s home located in Sukedhara.

The Volunteer Visitor Center is open and free to all Mountain Fund, IMEC and South American Explorers Club members, and provides travel assistance, volunteer referral services, and free internet for members and working volunteers.

The Mountain Fund also learned that “Porters Progress” was planning to close the clothing bank which it runs in Lukla for the Everest region porters. After conversations with International Porter Protection Group, Porters Progress Sagamartha and Porters Progress Nepal, we are all very close to an agreement under which all porter clothing bank management in Nepal
will be consolidated. At the present time there are three primary organizations providing free clothing assistance for porters. Porters Progress Kathmandu, Porters Progress Sagamartha and the Mountain Porter Support Group operated by IMEC. Under the proposed merger, these three groups will operate as one with financial support from The Mountain Fund, Porters Progress USA, IMEC and International Porter Protection Group.

Porter clothing programs were first introduced to Nepal in the 1990’s by IMEC. Over the past decade the number of porter programs and clothing banks has grown, as has the locations where porter clothing can be obtained. While this has created some positive benefits for porters, it has also lead to duplication of efforts by the various porter support groups. Uniting all of these efforts under one management system will reduce operating costs and improve efficiencies.

The Mountain Fund and IMEC are also opening a branch office in Syabru Bensi this month. Located at the start of the Langtang Trek and Tamang Trail, this location will afford porters from the nearby Tamang villages an excellent opportunity to borrow appropriate clothing for working in this region. Space and management of the clothing bank have been generously donated by Hotel Lasha in Syabru Bensi. Clothing for porters will be available at the hotel starting late this month. Many thanks to Hotel Lasha for their kindness and support in making this possible.