The COVID-19 pandemic has shut down the tourism industry all over the world. For people who rely on income from tourism to support themselves and their extended family, the current situation has been catastrophic.
Mount Kilimanjaro usually brings in large numbers of tourists to Tanzania, providing jobs for locals on and off the mountain. Every year, thousands of people from all over the world attempt to summit Africa’s highest mountain and the world’s highest free-standing mountain. These trekkers are supported by a huge team of hard-working porters who carry heavy loads (on their head!) up and down the mountain, set up their client’s campsites and when necessary, help with medical evacuations.
Pride Expeditions, a small travel company based in North Wales that offers gay friendly adventures around the globe, is working in conjunction with the Kilimanjaro Porter’s Assistance Project (KPAP) on a really positive scheme to support some of the porters who are currently out of work due to the pandemic. The project is raising money to employ Kilimanjaro porters over the coming summer months when they would normally be busy working on the mountain. The aim of the scheme is to raise £6000 by mid July – enough funds to pay fifty porters to work for eight days in August with the task of cleaning the campsites on the mountain and removing any rubbish that may have amassed.
Whether you have climbed or worked on Kilimanjaro in the past, hope to climb it in the future, or if you have ever been assisted by porters on any other trekking or climbing expedition you will know how hard these heroes work, so if you can afford to donate to support this project that would be fantastic. Thank you. The link to donate is here.