Purpose: Clinics, Porters & Sherpas Support
Start Date: April, 2015
Funding Level: $29,600
Lives Directly Impacted: 490
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TOURISM - Clinics, Porters & Sherpas Support
EVEREST BASE CAMP, Nepal
SUMMARY
Inti Raymi Fund visited Nepal and provided financial support to 90 Indigenous Sherpas and Porters hauling loads along the route from Lukla to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Additionally, we provided financial support into four local medical clinics which provide free medical care to the local Indigenous Peoples in the Khumbu Valley who cannot afford western treatments.
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TOURISM BEGINS WITH AN OPEN & THANKFUL ATTITUDE
WHEN TRAVELING, WHAT IMPACT DID THE LOCALS HAVE ON YOUR EXPERIENCE?
If the local people played an important role in provided you a superlative experience, may we suggest you show them your gratitude with a mind-blowing tip? Whether it was the wait staff, the expedition leaders or porters who carried your gear, or a fun tour guide…keep a watchful eye out for all the people at your destination who’s goal was to further your experience. Consider ignoring global cost of living adjustments, and simply do something nice and memorable for the locals who were almost certainly not born into the same socioeconomic situation you were given, such as a free education, medical support, disease & war free childhood, etc.
Even though you purchased your airline or cruise tickets allowing you to visit these exotic beaches, safaris or jungle destinations you are still trespassing on their ancestral and family lands. It is always the governments, tour operators, and big vehicle owners who reap the vast majority of any economic benefits to be gained on tourism unless “You help then directly”.
LEAVE A COUNTRY BETTER OFF THAN WHEN YOU ARRIVED
As we all know, you can’t take it with you when you go, so as my grandmother used to say “Money is like manure, you need to spread it around”. The second adage which is really overused but way under-applied is that “It’s Better to Give, Than to Receive”. If travelers would throw caution to the wind and share more of their vast comparative wealth with the people in underdeveloped and struggling countries, a traveler’s experience could be multiplied tenfold into an emotionally enriching sharing experience and a vacation.
HELP INDIVIDUALS AND ASK THEM TO HELP OTHERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY
Please consider giving directly to those around you while traveling, alternatively, visit their community centers, hospitals, or clinics and ask directors there how you can help. It mights surprise you what kind of response you would get and what an emotional reward it could be to help a small village or community with a community gift.
ARE THEIR ANY CRISIS OR NATURAL DISASTERS TO CONSIDER PAST OR PRESENT?
During my visit to climb Mt. Everest, the infamous 4-25-2015 earthquake and avalanche happened. These events ironically were subsequent to the completion of this project. That said, we still remained for several days at basecamp after the earthquake supporting the medics and flying out the roughly 50 critically injured at base camp, and the approximate 19 who died among us. Additional photos shown below are of the destruction at Basecamp, Kathmandu and Bahktapur World Heritage Site community.
DONT BLEED THE ARTISANS’ LAST DOLLAR
When traveling, please consider enjoying the local artisans’ markets and handicrafts, and be respectful of the local’s talents as the artists. Secondly, be mindful that when you negotiate down the price, this may make you feel good; however, it could be a price below their cost because they may be just “trying to put food on the table” that night by liquidating their inventory. Please don’t use “Inflation” as your excuse, to not provide a nice tip for their services. You like to be paid for your services and talents, please be respectful of their time and talents albeit different from yours. There is nothing that says “you’re an American” more than being an arrogant and obnoxious tourist.
WHAT THE INTI RAYMI FUND DID ON THE WAY TO EVEREST BASE CAMP
Consider us crazy? I would ask you to try this…
As Chaski and I were trekking up to Everest Base Camp, we couldn’t help noticing the huge loads the Porters and Sherpas were carrying on their backs with straps across their heads. Due to very, very limited economic opportunities in the country of Nepal, the trekking, tourism and especially the Mt. Everest Expeditions have attracted many very desperate men who are trying to make a living for their family, however difficult and dangerous it is. Despite the dangers of altitude sickness and even death, plus the rigors of back breaking loads up to 110kgs, and physical injuries and falls, every year thousands of brave yet humble men wander up the valley to work the Everest Season. In retrospect, this year more than ever, the Porters needed the extra cash in their pockets as their country was hit my the massive destructive earthquake killing roughly 10,000 and destroying buildings everywhere in Nepal.
In 2015, Chaski and I did our best to select those who appeared to need economic support the most, then we personally and Respectfully thanked each one of them for their service and hard work for all the climbers. Along with our sincere compliments, we Respectfully gave 90 Sherpas & Porters from the lower Khumbu Region a new $100 bill which equates to roughly 15% of their annual pay as laborers (annual income for 2017 was $730). As you can see from our photos of their faces after their shock, they were really delighted and happy and they all had a great story to bring home to their families. A total of $9,000 was given in this segment of our project. You can also see our sharing in action with one of the porters in the video below.
In addition to the support for individuals mentioned above, the Inti Raymi Fund also supported the following four local privately funded hospitals, which provide either free or significantly subsidized medical help for the local Indigenous Peoples of the region:
-1 Lukla Hospital (Nicole Niquilla Foundation) Total: $3,500
-2 Pheriche Hospital Total: $2,500
-3 Kinde Hospital in Khumjung (HRA) Total: $4,500
-4 Everest Base Camp (HRA) Total: $2,500
-90 Local Porters: Total: $9,000
-Mission 14.org Total: $7,600
Total Nepali Support: $29,600
A special thanks to the mission14.org team of climbers who’s climb was dedicated for the awareness and prevention of young girls being kidnapped and taken into the illicit sex and labor slavery industry along the India/Nepal border region.
TEAM MEMBERS
