KHURPA CARE PAKISTAN. Baltoro Glacier Porter Training Project Pilot. Khurpa Care Pakistan with Porters Progress UK. Phase I: Summer/Fall 2013

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1 KHURPA CARE PAKISTAN 2013 Year End Report Baltoro Glacier Porter Training Project Pilot Khurpa Care Pakistan with Porters Progress UK Phase I: Summer/Fall 2013 Khurpa Care Pakistan Skardu,Gilgit- Baltistan, Pakistan Phone: E - Mail: zahidy2k6@yahoo.com 1

2 Comments from some of the 400 post-training evaluations collected this summer If everybody learned these skills, we can make our lives much safer. Muhammad Ismail, Kuardu Village, Age 32 7 years working as a Khurpa [Today s training] is a very good thing and because of it I am now confident. I gained a lot of knowledge. Now I can work in expeditions also. Anwar Ali, Village Surongo Shigar, Age years working as a Khurpa [Will this training make you safer in your job?] Yes. We have to remember these things always and have to join again and again. Ali Noor, Village Daso Shigar, Age 25 years old 10 years working as a Khurpa [Today s training] is so nice. People have to join these courses because they are very useful. Kumail Hussain, Village Tissar (Chumik) Shigar, Age 25 5 years working as a Khurpa 2

3 Executive Summary As part of the 2013 phase of the Porters Progress UK-funded Baltoro Glacier Porter Training Project Pilot, Khurpa Care Pakistan ( KCP ) inserted three instructors at Paiyu camp (4 th stage of the Baltoro Glacier/K2 trek, height 3400 meters) to conduct research with visitors about issues affecting Pakistani mountain workers, mediate disputes affecting khurpas and lead introductory training on a variety of topics necessary for khurpas to do their job safely. The 2013 pilot was a successful start to achieving the goals of the project. Feedback from KCP staff, local stakeholders, and khurpas (low altitude porters) illustrate the desire for an annual KCP presence along the Baltoro Glacier trekking routes in order to raise awareness of the issues khurpas face, help resolve disputes, and improve the safety and well-being of khurpas through better knowledge and skills. The success of the 2013 pilot is notable given that final project approval and funding arrived later in the season than initially anticipated. Funding for this 2013 Pilot was received from PPUK in July The project activities on the Baltoro Glacier began on August 5, 2013 and continued until October 10, The August-October project dates added logistical hurdles as the peak of the climbing and trekking season in the Karakorum generally extends from mid May to mid July, with visits steadily decreasing in August and September. Nonetheless, demand for training was high and exceeded the number who could be accommodated in each training session. The fact that so many of the proposed targets were met in this short amount of time is testament to the demand for this project. Despite the shortened season, Khurpa Care successfully completed most aspects of the 2013 Pilot that were outlined in the initial project proposal. KCP supplemented the planned activities on the Baltoro with additional training and outreach activities in villages of the Shigar valley after returning from the Baltoro Glacier in mid to late October. This included an additional three day First Aid course at the Shigar Degree College for 100 students who also work as porters for income to support their studies. Notable successes of the 2013 pilot include: Conflict management activities Excellent outreach with visitors (khurpas, guides, tour companies, foreigners, Pakistani officials) on the Baltoro Awareness raising around issues affecting khurpas No accidents or porter fatalities this summer Effective, well-received training activities along Baltoro Considerable enthusiasm generated for annual KCP presence on Baltoro Detailed internal record keeping and internal M&E efforts KCP team members wish to express their gratitude to PPUK for providing this opportunity to expand the scope and impact of KCP s work with khurpas during the summer work season on the Baltoro. While khurpas and their families are among the most vulnerable members of one of the poorest regions of Pakistan, they are also some of the friendliest, toughest, and most proud people to be found anywhere. It is a privilege to be doing good work in a tough region of the world. Thank you to PPUK for helping to make these KCP activities possible. --Zahid Hussain & Paul Charlton January

4 A strong porter M, Hussain at Urdukas camp, Baltoro Glacier. 4

5 Overview of 2013 Pilot Project Baltoro Glacier Porter Training Project Pilot KCP and PPUK Phase I: Summer/Fall 2013 Pilot Project Aim: To demonstrate that KCP can improve Khurpas knowledge, skills, and behavior by posting KCP trainers along the Baltoro Glacier trekking route in order to access large numbers of motivated Khurpas with training and information on the most important topics required for their work. Status after 2013 Pilot: Overall aim remains unchanged. KCP may increasingly emphasize the conflict management aspects of KCP s work on the Baltoro. Similarly, the successful outreach, listening, and information sharing sessions conducted by KCP as part of the pilot may ultimately contribute as much as the specific trainings do to long-term positive changes in the lives of khurpas. These activities may receive increased focus in Pilot Activities: KCP representatives conduct five main activities through this project: 1. Training. On key issues affecting Khurpas. 2. Conflict management. To mediate disputes and advocate for Khurpas. 3. Registration of Khurpas. Continuation of existing efforts. 4. Surveys. Data collection of key indicators regarding portering issues. 5. Listening & Discussions. Regarding Khurpas concerns and experiences. Proposed Targets: Khurpas participate in Basic Awareness and Information Gathering Meetings Khurpas participate in Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue 5

6 Khurpas participate in Medical Rescue and Evacuation Khurpas participate in First Aid and High Altitude Illnesses Khurpas participate in Environmental Awareness additional Khurpas are registered this summer Status after 2013 Pilot: Met targets 1, 5, and 6; good progress was made towards achieving targets 2, 3, and 4. Number of Participants in Trainings and Registration Baltoro 2013 Total Number of Distinct Individuals who attended any KCP Baltoro Glacier Training in 2013 Khurpas (Low Alt Porters) High Altitude Porters Cooks Guides Sirdars (chief porters) TOTAL: Total number of trainings delivered: 120 Total number of individuals who completed all four core trainings offered this summer: (First Aid, Basic Climbing, Self Rescue, and an evening Awareness Course) Type of Training # of Sessions Held # of Participants* Length & Locations First Aid hours, mostly Paiyu Self Rescue hours, mostly Paiiyu Basic Climbing and hours, mostly Paiyu Rappelling Glacier Travel hours, Paiyu, Ghoro II, Concordia Crevasse Rescue hrs, Paiyu & Ghoro II Training TOTALS 120 sessions 2479 Participants* Awareness Course Lectures on Conflict Management, professionalism, and environmental impacts TOTAL (Training + Lectures): sessions 3415 Participants* 6

7 * = There were 1771 distinct individuals who participated in these trainings. Some individuals attended more than one type of training, and a smaller number of individuals attended a single type of training more than one time (new participants were given priority but if space was available then repeat participants were allowed). Detail of Activities Conflict Resolution Conflict management on issues involving khurpas and mountain tourism in Baltistan continues to be an increasingly important aspect of KCP s role in Baltistan. KCP team members were involved with the resolution of approximately fifteen disputes in the summer of At various points they were called upon by the police, Government of Pakistan officials, tour companies, guides, khurpas, and foreign visitors to help mediate disagreements that arose this summer. Specific examples of the types of issues KCP helped mediate in 2013 include: A situation involving a distressed European female trekker experiencing problems related to her permit, her financial arrangement with her trekking company, and her emotional response to these issues. KCP team members were specifically called from Skardu to Hushe village (a full day s travel) to facilitate a solution between the police, a tour company, and this trekker. Numerous payment problems involving khurpas and their employers; Difficulties between guides and foreigners in Paiyu; Interpersonal problems within trekking groups (for example, members of different nationalities not getting along) that were spilling over to affect all those involved with the expedition. Productive interactions with the Pakistani security agencies that included helping to negotiate a solution allowing the popular Ghondoghoro Pass trekking route to reopen after having been closed for a period of time due to concerns on the part of the intelligence agencies about a foreign paraglider who had posted his paragliding videos of this sensitive area on the internet. Additionally, KCP team members led approximately thirty discussions with groups of khurpas about approaches to effective conflict resolution this summer. These discussions included concepts such as the importance of honest and professional behavior; listening to others viewpoints; skills of basic communication and how to apply those within expeditions; seeking to understand others interests; and ways to get KCP or others involved early if there is an emerging dispute so that it can be dealt with before it becomes a problem. A sign that these conflict management efforts are having a positive impact is that there were no porter strikes on the Baltoro in This is a testament to the improving situation for both foreign visitors and for mountain workers: as recently as 2006, large porter strikes were an annual occurrence on the Baltoro that frequently led to a poor international perception of Baltis, animosity between groups of khurpas, and bitter recriminations that left both sides (foreign visitors and khurpas) with their legitimate needs still unresolved. While tensions still exist and competing interests will always need to be managed, from a conflict management perspective the situation on the Baltoro continues to evolve in positive directions. Khurpas and other mountain workers have an increasing voice in deliberations around decisions that affect them. The channels for khurpas to ensure that their basic needs are met are being increasingly refined. Training Three training sites were utilized this summer (see initial map on page 6 camps are circled in green) Paiyu Ghoro II 7

8 Concordia (10 days) On any given day, 3-4 of the above-listed trainers were present at one of these three sites on the Baltoro glacier. These 3-4 trainers worked together to offer one training in the morning and one (different) training in the afternoon. Participants in each of the trainings included khurpas (low altitude porters), high altitude porters, cooks, guides, and foreigner visitors. Each training accommodated participants (max 30). Most participants participated in one full day of training (one morning session + a different afternoon session that same day). Frequently participants requested to participate in additional trainings each time they came through a camp where KCP trainings were offered. From the records available at the time of editing this document, it is not clear how frequently participants were accommodated in a second training day. What a typical training day looked like: Begin at 9 am Register khurpas, cooks, sirdars, etc with KCP porter registration roster Conduct one morning training session (3 hours) Conduct one afternoon training session [on different training topic] (3 hours) Evening discussions / listening to peoples needs and perspectives KCP teammembers also interacted with and provided outreach to all visitors to their camp throughout the day. KCP gave visitors and training participants drinks and hot teas (if it was cold) this attracted a lot of attention, people came to the KCP camp to observe the trainings and learn more about KCP s activities. This generated lots of interest this summer very effective for outreach and awareness raising. Number of Participants in Trainings and Registration Baltoro 2013 New Registrations with KCP Participated in Trainings Roster Khurpas (Low Alt Porters) High Altitude Porters Cooks Guides Sirdars (chief porters) TOTAL: Total number of training sessions delivered: 120 Type of Training # of Sessions Held # of Participants Length & Locations First Aid hours, mostly Paiyu Self Rescue hours, mostly Paiiyu Basic Climbing and hours, mostly Paiyu Rappelling Glacier Travel hours, Paiyu, Ghoro II, Concordia Crevasse Rescue hrs, Paiyu & Ghoro II Training TOTALS 120 sessions 2479 Participants 8

9 LECTURES on Conflict Management and not Littering TOTAL (Training + Lectures): sessions 3415 Participants *Note: The reason for the discrepancy between the total participant numbers in the two tables needs to be clarified with Zahid Hussain when he returns. This may reflect a typographical error in the top table, or the top table may reflect an earlier incomplete tally, or perhaps the difference reflects single individuals participating in multiple courses. The top table is from the December 2013 report jointly prepared by KCP and the Government of Pakistan, while the lower table s numbers are more recent and were tallied specifically for this report. Most popular trainings sessions All sessions were well attended and enthusiastically received Self rescue (prusiks, jumaring, rappelling) was perceived as particularly valuable o Many Baltis stated they will also use these skills when managing their goats in the mountains! o Trekkers and other foreign expedition members also showed notable enthusiasm for these skills First aid trainings o Many participants had specific first aid questions (snow blindness, what to place on a cut, etc) Difficulties encountered with the trainings: The technical climbing techniques (new knots, clipping in with locking carabiners, etc) were generally the concepts most difficult for participants to understand and retain. Glacier travel and ice climbing sessions were challenging to equip all participants adequately because of the need for larger amounts of specialized equipment (boots, crampons, ice tools). This year the trainers were based out of Paiyu (lower camp on glacier) with activities spread across 3 locations along the Baltoro, which was difficult to manage logistically next year they aim to utilize a small core team of trainers that is more concentrated in a single area for a specified period time. Plans for next year regarding training activities: 9

10 Hold an orientation/training course for potential 2014 Baltoro trainers in the spring of 2014 Utilize a competition (try-out) to select the trainers for 2014 Make some of the training more advanced and hire a small core (3-4) of trainers and focus their time on three locations: o Concordia: 2-3 weeks (potentially more) Benefits: porters are present at Concordia on a daily basis can give presentations to all of them suitable location for all information sessions and trainings, including ice and glacier related trainings Terrain allows for more advanced trainings to be delivered This is a high profile area that will be good for raising awareness of khurpas issues and khurpa advocacy. o Paiyu: 1-2 months Benefits: Good access to khurpas working with most Baltoro trekking and climbing expeditions Environment is less harsh than Concordia; Paiyu is more conducive to information sessions and non-glacier trainings o Askole: Flexible duration Benefits: Lots of khurpas waiting for employment there Ideal location for khurpa registration Good environment for trainings KCP presence at Askole will help avoid or manage conflicts at early stages (example: 2013 saw more mules being used on the Baltoro, which is often against the law. When these issues are not dealt with in Askole, they often result in a variety of disputes further up the Baltoro.) Equipment needs KCP has all of the basic equipment required for their trainings in But they could use more mountaineering boots and rock climbing shoes. US size 9 and 10 are the best sizes, but surrounding sizes are also usable. KCP needs a new laptop the existing one has no functional battery and no DVD/CD disc drive KCP is looking for a new digital camera; their primary camera stopped functioning. One of KCP s two video cameras also no longer works. They had problems taking adequate photos documenting their activities because of these problems.. Items related to potential PPUK clothing lending program: o Most useful items (per discussions from Baltoro this summer): Sleeping pads Sleeping bags Shoes (normal plastic shoes work well for them because the leather ones get wet and won t dry; they would use 2 pairs of shoes with extra warm socks) Jackets (rain coats) o Providing Rs for rental of equipment was perceived as an appropriate amount by most khurpas (per discussions this summer) 10

11 Porters shelter at Ghoro and Paiyu Publicizing the PPUK KCP Baltoro Glacier Training Project At the end of the 2013 Pilot, KCP held a public exhibition of the 2013 PPUK-KCP Pilot activities at the K2 Motel in Skardu that was attended by all heads of the primary government departments in Baltistan. Radio and local media outlets were also involved with publicizing these activities. These successful public connections continue to raise awareness and elevate the profile of all mountain workers in Baltistan. 11

12 Exhibition at K2 Motel in Skardu. 12

13 First Aid Training 13

14 Awareness lectures and conflict resolving mechanism Prussiking and Rappelling 14

15 Glacier traveling safety and preparedness with emergency harness 15

16 Self Rescue Training: Khurpas and foreign trekkers 16

17 Safe glacier travel, basic ice climbing, rappelling, Ghondoghoro La crossing system with safety, at Ghoro II and Concordia 17

18 After very hard work porters singing and enjoying, at Paiyu. 18

19 Participant Certificate 19

20 Training evaluation form (400 have been completed, compiled, and are on file at KCP office) 20

21 Khurpa (porter) registration form 21