Special thanks to our donor Ms. Debbie for donating us proper hiking equipment we are now safe and free from cold now!!!!!!

Zara Charity Donations

ZARA Charity donates equipment to the mount Kilimanjaro porters society (MKPS) to be used by porters when they are working

Porters Database Project

It's been a busy couple of weeks here at MKPS.  We have Tracy Pepper in our office hard at work updating our Porters Database with photos and stories of some of the great porters who work so hard to get people to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

This database is going to help us share porters stories and hopefully get them the exposure they deserve so that maybe a kind and generous soul might want to sponsor one of them to continue their education so that they can live a life of their dreams.  

Maybe you've climbed Kili and you remember a porters face but can't remember his name.  This database will help reconnect people who may wish to help someone who helped them reach the "impossible".

We all have dreams.  Your dream might have been to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro.  Many of our porters dreams are simple - to send their kids to school and to have the opportunity to earn more money through schooling.

Education is the KEY to a better life. 

Porters are contracted by guides from various companies. Zara Charity created MKPS to insure that porters were given equal rights and pay regardless of which company employs them. Their pay has not been consistent over the years but thankfully to Zara, the Minister of Tourism announced that all porters must earn $10/day. There has been some false claims that the porters working for Zara are not paid fairly and that the tips are not distributed fairly. Zara is the only company that pays their porters directly into their personal bank accounts which means that a porter must have a registered account. They also provide workshops on financial management, entrepreneurial skills, disease and alcohol education and a number of other courses free of charge to all porters and guides of Kilimanjaro. Many porters aspire to one day become guides or tour operators or entrepreneurs. Here we will share their stories and maybe find them a sponsor who will help fund their education to give them and their family a better future. These are a few of the wonderful porters of Kilimanjaro.  Zara is currently fighting the Tanzanian government to increase the wage by another $3. The stories are will inspire you and make you appreciate what you have.

Name: Wahabi Mziray 

Nickname: Waha

Title: Mountain Porter 

Age: 43

Family: A wife and three children: A son, age 15, two daughters age 10 & 5

Worked with MKPS for more than 7 years, 3 years as a cook.

"Zara is my first choice when I look for work as a porter. They treat everyone fairly. They help with hospital bills, sickness support and provided transportation to the hospical when my Mummy died. Many people appreciate Mama Zara. She helped us manage our money better by setting up bank accounts. Our salary is deposited directly which makes it easier to save. Zara company is very supportive."

He has all of his own equipment which was collected over the years as donations given to him from climbers.

His dream is to travel to Europe on holiday one day.

“I’d like to be an Assistant Guide but I need to improve my English and I would like to learn Spanish.”

He feels MKPS needs more equipment available for porters to borrow.

Name: David Mashambo 

Title: Mountain Porter 

Age: 32

Family: A wife and 2 children: Son 10 yrs, Daughter 2yrs

He has been a porter with MKPS for 2 years.

"It's important to know yourself, to know what you need. Many porters spend their money on the wrong things. My dream is to go to school to study Tourism. I want to become a tour operator or to run my own business but I would like to find a sponsor who can help me achieve my Bachelor of Arts in Tourism. Another dream is to make sure that my children are going to school so that they have a better life."

"MKPS is much better organized compared to other societies. They make sure that when I work I am paid and if I get injured I am treated immediately."

"Tips should be given directly to the porters from the clients if possible and not through the guides. Clients should consider tipping each porter no less than $15/day."

He owns most of his own equipment and clothing which he purchased himself with tips and salary. He needs thermals undergarments and mittens.

"Climbing the mountain needs courage and it is not easy work. You should sacrifice yourself. It is so difficult, you can die if you are not careful. But it will give you a better life and make you a hero."

Name: Yobu Eliamini

Age: 26

Title: Mountain Porter

Family: He supports his parents and his 18 year old sister who is at school. He pays her school fees.

He's been a porter with MKPS for 3 years.

"The difference between MKPS and other porters societies is we get our salary through bank accounts. The salary is fairly paid and it stays in the bank. I use tip money for my basic needs and give the rest to my mother, I only spend my savings on my sisters school fees and in the low season. MKPS also provide us with mountain equipment like raincoats. We are all one family, I like being an MKPS member."

He has purchased his own equipment but he doesn't have proper gloves. He said he's hesitant to borrow them from MKPS because he doesn't want to be held responsible if they are stolen or go missing. Also he mentioned that the guides prefer them not to wear gloves - they say it will make them stronger. If they forget their gloves at home, they can still work.

"My dream is to be a driver guide in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. I want to go back to school, study at the Mweka College for 3 years. I want to improve my Spanish. I want to help my family."

"The best part about being a porter is the hospitality - helping others on the mountain, supporting them by carrying their equipment and the satisfaction I feel helping both clients and my own team. We live as one family."

 

Name: Thomas Enosi Philipo

Age: 25 

Title: Mountain Porter 

Family: His father passed away. He supports his mother and his 15 year old brother.

He has worked as a porter for 2 years.

"I love the service we give from our company. I like how we make the clients feel especially when they reach the top and how happy they feel. I want them to reach Uhuru peak."

He has purchased his own clothing and equipment. A client gave him a sleeping bag and air mattress. He doesn't have gloves but he doesn't like to wear them.

"I want to study. I'd like to be a professional guide so I can help my family. I want to change my life."

Name: Joseph Paulo 

Nickname: Kabila

Title: Mountain Porter

Age: 26

Family: Not married, no children. His father passed away and his mother lives in another village. He sends her money.

He has been a porter with MKPS for 8 years.

"I lived in another village outside of Moshi. My father died when I was in Secondary School so I left and came to Moshi to find a job which would assist me to continue to study. I am currently studying tourism which I am paying for myself. My dream is to become a driver guide. I need 2 or 3 more years of study to reach that goal. It would be a dream to find a sponsor to help me finish my schooling. I use the high season very carefully so that I have money left in the low season"

He purchased his own equipment and clothing. He is in need of a new rain jacket and trousers, shoes and rucksack.

"I have only worked for Zara because the guides are my friends. Other companies don't pay as well. MKPS helps us when we have any health problems. If someone dies they will send him or her to their birthplace for a buriel. I once knew a porter who died on the mountain and MKPS paid for his funeral."

Name: Robert Mushi 

Nickname: Mseda (which means "Soldier")

Title: Mountain Porter

Age: 24

Family: He lives and supports his Grandparents but also sends money to his mother and father, he is the main earner in the family.

He has been a porter and member of MKPS for 4 years.

"Zara is a good company. They have the best tours which tip better compared to other companies. Better tips means we can get through the slow times when there is no work. If I am tired or don't feel well, my tips motivate me to work hard. Zara take care of everything which makes it easier for us to work. Everything is right. Professional."

"MKPS offer good service. They help with hospital costs. You can come to the office to fill out the forms and get medical attention right away. In the four years I've never been sick but I like knowing that I will be looked after if I do. Also, if a family member dies they offer support."

He has his own equipment and clothing. In the past he's borrowed jackets and they've given him a rash because they weren't cleaned properly.

"I am looking for sponsorship to help me to be a Guide. It's hard work but I want to be a Guide. I would love that. I want to go to school to study for at least 2 years. Six months is not long enough. I want to improve my English, learn French, German and Spanish. This will take time. I want a good job with a good salary so I can buy a house and start my own clothing shop in Arusha because it's a big city where there are many people."

Name: Jonas William 

Nickname: Kiwango 

Title: Mountain Porter

Age: 21

Family: Not married, no children. He sends money to his father.

He has been a porter for 6 months and is a member of MKPS.

"MKPS focuses on it's members rights and wages, other societies do not. I am now a dependable person to my family. MKPS pays well, I get to meet lots of people from other parts of the world. My dream is to be a tour guide so I can control my own life. I would like to improve my English and learn to speak French."

He borrows all of his equipment and clothing from MKPS. He doesn't own any of his own yet.

He likes to save his money in the bank. He doesn't spend his salary, he only uses his tips for basic needs including food, phone, clothes, rent and for his family.

He would like to see a rise in salaries for MKPS members.

Name:  Heppy

This is one of our women porters.  

Interview to come.  

OPENING HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PORTERS

MICRO HEALTH INITIATIVE

TO ALL RESPECTIVE MEMBERS AND FANS PLEASE NOTE THAT AS SOON AS WE CAN WE ARE IN A PROSES OF FINISHING ROUND UP

MOUNT KILIMANJARO PORTERS SOCIETY 2013 ANNUAL REPORT.

Mount Kilimanjaro porters society is a non – government organization aims at supporting porters who climb Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru due to the fact that most of the porters are low income earners and have low or no education at all, The organization was established in 2004 with the purpose of improving porter’s welfare.

MISSION

· To improve living and working condition for porters who climbs MT. Kilimanjaro and Meru.

· To establish various projects which will help to improve living and working condition for porters.

·         To raise porters awareness especially by educating them through training, Seminars and workshops.

  MKPS Sponsor discussing something with member.

OBJECTIVES.

• To improve working conditions to members and provide working equipment such as tents, Jackets, rain trousers, socks, gloves. etc
• To facilitate Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Tourism Development.
• To support their living conditions and their families as well as their surrounding communities.

CURRENT PROJECTS LOOKING FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT

• CAR WASH PROJECT; the aim of the project is to ensure members get something to do all the year round, having the fact that Tourism is seasonal job, which with low season the project will help support their life, instead of suffering the economic hardships, while waiting for the new season.

• PLANTING TREES PROJECT; the project is carried on MKPS plot near Spring land hotel, where by clients have opportunity to visit the plot and plant some trees and by so doing they contribute and donate some materials including money to help support the project and ensure Environmental sustainability.

MKPS HAS DONE THE FOLLOWING TO SUPPORT ITS MEMBERS AND SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT.

·Workshop and free Training during the low season, such as health training e.g. MALARIA, HIV/AIDS, and other Diseases, financial management and Investment skills, mountain sickness training skills, environmental conservation education and English Course. 

· Assist opening a Bank accounts for almost 90% of our members so as to ensure that all porters have their own bank account and card, which will help them handle their money Safe and better, It is through this account we use to pay their salaries and other financial supports when they got problems like sickness, sympathy, etc. This helps some of the porters pursue their own businesses, afford build their own houses, pay their bills and taking care of their families and affords basic needs such as food, shelter, clothes, education needs, since with the accounts they also had the opportunity for Micro-credits from the company and other financial institutions. 

·Our environmental Concern and Conservation initiatives made us, start several tree planting projects around Moshi and Karatu (The High view Hotel) in order to raise awareness on environmental problems and this give employment opportunities to porters during the low season and help support their life.

·  We have established tipping sheets in ensuring that porters get their tips fairly as provided by clients, which this sheet should be signed by clients when pay tip, also be signed by porters when receive their tips and monitored by the office, this help to bring transparency and fairness in tipping issues.

·MKPS through their sponsors Zara Tanzania adventures and colleague have work to ensure that porters are paid well, and with this Zara and colleague has increased their salary to be much higher than what has been proposed by KINAPA and TANAPA.

· Each MKPS member has been given one bicycle donated by our sponsor Zainab. A. Ansell and Roger Ansell ZARA Tours directors.

·We have made identity cards for members, to help monitor and assist them for jobs and other requirements, Example we provide Member with hiking equipment such as sleeping bags, tents, rain coats, rain trouser, jackets socks, gloves shoes and the ID help a lot with this.

· To ensure that porters carry loads respond to set standards of 20kg per person, we have Established a measuring unit before take them to KINAPA gate for climb.

Mount Kilimanjaro porters society is a non– government organization aims at supporting porters who climb Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru due to the fact that most of the porters are low income earners and they have low or no education at all, so the organization aims at improving living and working conditions of porters.

The organization was established in 2004 with the purpose of improving porter’s welfare.

MISSION

· To improve living and working condition for porters who climbs MT. Kilimanjaro and Meru.

· To establish various projects which will help to improve living and working condition for porters

·         To raise porters awareness especially by educating them through training, Seminars and workshops.

OBJECTIVES

• To improve working conditions to members and provide working equipment such as tents, Jackets, rain trousers, socks, gloves. etc
• To facilitate Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Tourism Development.
• To support their living conditions and their families as well as their surrounding communities.

CURRENT PROJECTS IN NEED OF FUND

•  CAR WASH PROJECT; the aim of the project is to ensure members get something to do all the year round, having the fact that Tourism is seasonal job, which with low season the project will help support their life, instead of suffering the economic hardships, while waiting for the new season.
• PLANTING TREES PROJECT; the project is carried on MKPS plot near Spring land hotel, where by clients have opportunity to visit the plot and plant some trees and by so doing they contribute and donate some materials including money to help support the project and ensure Environmental sustainability.

MKPS HAS DONE THE FOLLOWING TO SUPPORT ITS MEMBERS AND SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT.

· Workshop and free Training during the low season, such as health training e.g. MALARIA, HIV/AIDS, and other Diseases, financial management and Investment skills, mountain sickness training skills, environmental conservation education and English Course. 

· Assist opening a Bank accounts for almost 90% of our members so as to ensure that all porters have their own bank account and card, which will help them handle their money Safe and better, It is through this account we use to pay their salaries, financial supports when they got problems like sickness, sympathy, etc This helps some of the porters pursue their own businesses, afford build their own houses, pay their bills and taking care of their families and affords basic needs such as food, shelter, clothes, education needs, since with the accounts they also had the opportunity for Micro-credits from the company and other financial institutions. 

·  Our environmental Concern and Conservation initiatives made us, start several tree planting projects around Moshi and Karatu (The High view Hotel) in order to raise awareness on environmental problems and this give employment opportunities to porters during the low season and help support their life.

·         We have established tipping sheets in ensuring that porters get their tips fairly as provided by clients, with this sheet should be signed by clients when pay tip, also be signed by porters when receive their tips and monitored by the office, this help to bring transparency and fairness in tipping issues.

· MKPS through their sponsors Zara Tanzania adventures and colleague have work to ensure that porters are paid well. and with this Zara and colleague has increased their salary to be much higher than what has been proposed by KINAPA and TANAPA.

· Each MKPS member has been given one bicycle donated by our sponsor Zainab. A. Ansell and Roger Ansell ZARA Tours directors.

· We have made identity cards for members, to help monitoring and assist them for jobs and other requirements, Example we provide Member with hiking equipment such as sleeping bags, tents, rain coats, rain trouser, jackets socks, gloves shoes and the ID help a lot with this.

· To ensure that porters carry loads respond to set standards of 20kg per person, we have Established a measuring unit before take them to the KINAPA gate for climb.

Story of her life.,.

She is a porter at The Zara tours company..My name is Angel Tegemea Mafuwe, I was born at machame uduru in 21/12/1992, we are five children in our family I have two sisters and two brothers. I completed  my primary education at uduru primary school at machame in 2006,I was selected to join secondary education in 2007 at machame uduru secondary school complete my secondary education in 2010, I was not able to proceed with advance education because of low pass mark I got division iv 32,  My mother passed away in 2007 and no one was there to support me in my education and my father has no job so I didn’t go back to school. When my mother passed away we were left with our father and he doesn’t have a permanent job, he deals with small business to support   our family, in our family I’m the only child who was able to reach secondary school, my brother my sister and my twin sister they also deals with small business.  Due to the low living standard of our family I decide to find a job at green beans company which is located at mkufi area opposite machine tools in 2011,I did the job for two month, later on I quite the job because the salary was not enough to satisfy me and my family needs.  When I was home after quitting the job I was thinking of which job should I do to earn money in order to satisfy my needs and my family needs? I heard from my friends that there is a   porter job that is offered by some tours companies, I applied for the job in 2011 and I was able to work with some tour companies in Moshi but failed to continue working with them because of low salary which didn’t satisfy my needs.  I decided to look for another job at ZARA tours in 14/1/2011, and I was hired,  My guide was Yohana he cooperated with me, and my first route with him was mount meru, and I proceed well  doing other job with him.  I am thankful to ZARA tours director ZAINAB .A. ANSELL for supporting me  especially by giving  me  job which helps me to  be able to stand as a woman and I’m able to assist my family and to fulfill  my personal needs and my family needs  such as food, shelter, hospital bills e.t.c. WITH THANKS, YOURS SINCERLY, ANGEL TEGEMEA MAFUWE.