* Lending donated clothing at no charge to the porters for use while climbing;
* Providing free classes for the benefit of the porters in English, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Money Management, and First Aid Certification;
* Educating the public on the porter working conditions and providing Guidelines for Proper Porter Treatment.

Clothing Lending Program
Many porters are poorly outfitted for the physical rigors of climbing and suffer due to inadequate protection from the extreme weather found on the mountain.  IMEC provides mountain climbing clothing, at no cost, to porters.  Our clothing stock includes waterproof ski jackets, rain jackets and pants, fleece pullovers, hats, gloves, scarves, socks, and boots.  Porters are required to leave an item of value as a deposit which can be retrieved once the washed clothing is returned.  Local outfitters in Nepal and Kilimanjaro also utilize IMEC’s clothing as uniforms for their crew.

IMEC receives gear donations from Sharing Warmth around the Globe (SWAG), a U.S. nonprofit organization which collects used ski resort clothing and donates them to causes around the world; major manufacturers such as North Face, Patagonia, REI, Montrail, and Sierra Designs; and countless individuals.  Donated clothing is transported to Nepal and Kilimanjaro through IMEC’s Courier Program in which U.S. travelers volunteer to carry a duffel bag of clothing as one of their checked bags. Read more…