PARTNERS
PARTNER FOR RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN EXPLORERS CONNECTION
The International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) is a U.S. based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote responsible and sustainable connections between travelers and the people of developing mountain regions of the world. Through IMEC’s local projects in Moshi, Tanzania and Kathmandu, travelers gain a greater understanding of labor issues surrounding the tourism industry.
In order to feed themselves and their families, porters take on the job of carrying heavy loads to high elevations on Kilimanjaro and in the Himalayas. Some of the problems porters face are:
* Underpayment by companies
* Not receiving the full amount of tip intended for them
* Inadequate clothing and gear
* Being forced to carry excess weight
* Insufficient food provision
* Poor sleeping facilities
Such treatment leaves porters open to illness and neglect on the mountain. Because porters have no job security, they have little room for complaint.
IMEC PORTER ASSISTANCE PROJECT
IMEC’s Porter Assistance Project seeks to improve the working conditions of trekking porters by:
* Providing individual porters and climbing companies with warm, high quality clothing free of charge.
* Offering English language, First Aid, HIV/AIDS Awareness, and Money Management classes in order to motivate and empower porters.
* Educating the tourist population about acceptable standards of porter treatment.
PARTNERSHIP FOR RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
IMEC created the Partnership for Responsible Travel Program to recognize those tour operators committed to promoting proper porter treatment and cultural and environmental sensitivity among their clients. The local projects in Tanzania and Nepal monitor company performance to ensure that Partners abide by IMEC’s Guidelines for Proper Porter Treatment. IMEC is the only not-for-profit organization with an office in Kilimanjaro that works specifically to improve porter conditions.
MEMBERSHIPS & SUPPORT
IMEC depends on grants, donations, and memberships to fund our local projects. By becoming a member with IMEC you will directly help fund the Porter Clothing Lending Program, Classes for porters, and Outreach which increases the public’s awareness regarding choosing a conscientious company.
Partner Page
Courier Program
Donations Form
Post Climb Survey
CARBON TANZANIA
Carbon Tanzania aims to reduce the threats of global climate change by turning carbon dioxide emissions into natural Tanzania forests. Working with rural communities in Northern Tanzania, Carbon Tanzania's projects not only contribute to conserving and protecting local ecosystems, but they also provide opportunities for improved local livelihoods.
www.carbontanzania.com
LEAVE NO TRACE
Leave No Trace is an national and international program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or climb. The program strives to educate all those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations.
www.lnt.org
3 PEAKS 3 WEEKS
The 3 Peaks 3 Weeks Challenge is an annual all-female climbing event which aims to summit three of Africa’s highest peaks in three weeks, raising money and awareness for the three key issues currently facing Africa; environment, education and health.
The climbs of Mt Kenya, Mt Meru and Mt Kilimanjaro aim to raise awareness for these peak issues and to support and encourage grassroots community organisations in Kenya and Tanzania who are focused on environmental, educational and health development.
3 Peaks 3 Weeks is organised in partnership with Save the Rhino International. SRI collects and distributes raised funds on behalf of 3 Peaks 3 Weeks to the three pre-selected organisations in Africa and assist with event management and logistics.
3 Peaks 3 Weeks is about dedication, motivation and inspiring individuals to climb higher and push harder for Africa's future than they ever thought possible.
www.3peaks3weeks.org
SAVE THE RHINO
Save the Rhino works to conserve viable populations of critically endangered rhinos in Africa and Asia. We recognise that the future of wildlife is inextricably linked to the communities that share its habitat. By funding field projects and through education, our goal is to deliver material, long-lasting and widespread benefits to rhinos and other endangered species, ecosystems and to the people living in these areas.
www.savetherhino.org
SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL CHANGE
To limit the impact of HIV/AIDS in underserved communities and to train future leaders in global health and development.
SIC believes that the HIV/AIDS crisis creates both an imperative to act and an opportunity to learn. We envision a world where HIV/AIDS no longer limits length or quality of life or reduces the social or economic development of communities, and where young people learn the skills to address the health crises of future generations.
www.sichange.org
WAVES FOR WATER
Bring a new source of clean drinking water to families & schools in need and tell this story: Many problems facing the world seem unsolvable –- clean drinking water isn’t one of them. The w4w team hopes to combine talents and resources with many others in charging towards the goal of H2O 4 every 1
www.wavesforwater.org | www.raincatcher.org
ETHICAL TRAVELER
Ethical Traveler is the first grass-roots alliance uniting adventurers, tourists, travel agencies, and outfitters — everyone who loves to travel, and sees travel as a positive force in the world. We feel that all travelers are, in effect, freelance ambassadors. We also believe that we have the ability to join our voices, and to use our economic power to strengthen human rights and protect the environment.
www.ethicaltraveler.org
IJOURNEYGREEN
Travel is essential to understanding culture, perpetuating peace and visiting monuments and people so unique, their memory will stay with us for a lifetime. After years of first hand evaluation of the detrimental impact of travel on both the environment and local communities, we were prompted to design the first ever truly sustainable solution tailored specifically to individuals, companies and tour operators.
From this most basic passion emerged the idea of a travel credit. It seeks to un-do the damage of travel; to ensure that generations of travelers will be able to be inspired by the same sites, cultures, people and places that we all love. ijourneygreen seeks to be more than simply an educational resource, we strive to actually make a substantial change in our world.
www.ijourneygreen.com
THE FOUNDATION FOR TOMORROW
The Foundation for Tomorrow strives to empower the future of the developing nations by educating their youth. We support orphans who would not be able to receive a primary, secondary or tertiary education. The Foundation for Tomorrow seeks to create environments in which peace, health, and human welfare prosper as a result of a well educated population.
www.thefoundationfortomorrow.org
PEAKS FOUNDATION
The Peaks Foundation is a nonprofit social enterprise that empowers women from across the globe to make a positive social impact through their participation in mountain-based adventure challenges in Africa, Asia, and South America. The teams use these challenges as a powerful platform to raise funds in support of three “peak” global issues: education, the environment, and health. By collaborating with local grassroots organizations that have proven to be effective, sustainable, and transparent partners, the Peaks Foundation is committed to achieving positive societal impact in the local communities in which we work.
www.peaksfoundation.org |
