Comments on: JoAnna Haugen co-founds fund for Machu Picchu porters http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/joanna-haugen-co-founds-fund-for-machu-picchu-porters/ travel culture worldwide Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David C http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/joanna-haugen-co-founds-fund-for-machu-picchu-porters/#comment-70494 David C Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:52:50 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1229#comment-70494 Congrats on doing something to help! Yes, the tragedy of the middle class traveler - how to deal with the hired help. Um, helping them make a living wage would certainly help. I suppose health care and paid vacation and sick leave would be next. Perhaps paternity leave would have to wait a bit. Our M-P trip with a dozen others in 2006 had this little dilemma as we pondered and then debated how to split our 'contribution' between the porters (umpteen of them) and the leaders (2). We left the trip dissatisfied because the split left the porters with very little - $5 usd? and the leaders with $25 usd? As I type this, it's almost absurd how little we left them. At least 2 other ideas: 1. Pay them what they what you think is a fair wage; recognize up front that these folks are making peanuts and talk with the others in your group that you want to pay them close to what you think their work is worth. 2. Explore local groups that might be working to improve working conditions of the porters (and other employees that help make our trips vacations). M-P is a great place and hopefully we won't mess it up too much. Happy travels Congrats on doing something to help!

Yes, the tragedy of the middle class traveler – how to deal with the hired help. Um, helping them make a living wage would certainly help. I suppose health care and paid vacation and sick leave would be next. Perhaps paternity leave would have to wait a bit.

Our M-P trip with a dozen others in 2006 had this little dilemma as we pondered and then debated how to split our ‘contribution’ between the porters (umpteen of them) and the leaders (2). We left the trip dissatisfied because the split left the porters with very little – $5 usd? and the leaders with $25 usd? As I type this, it’s almost absurd how little we left them.

At least 2 other ideas:

1. Pay them what they what you think is a fair wage; recognize up front that these folks are making peanuts and talk with the others in your group that you want to pay them close to what you think their work is worth.

2. Explore local groups that might be working to improve working conditions of the porters (and other employees that help make our trips vacations).

M-P is a great place and hopefully we won’t mess it up too much.

Happy travels

]]> By: AdventureRob http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/joanna-haugen-co-founds-fund-for-machu-picchu-porters/#comment-70542 AdventureRob Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:12:20 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1229#comment-70542 Good work JoAnna! I spared a thought for the porters at Mount Kinabalu when I was there, could pay a bit for a porter to take a 10kg bag up for you, I carried my 13kg bag by my own and that was hard enough, what I didn't realise was the porters were taking 4-5bags at a time! That's 80-100lb's ! Backbreaking stuff. Good work JoAnna! I spared a thought for the porters at Mount Kinabalu when I was there, could pay a bit for a porter to take a 10kg bag up for you, I carried my 13kg bag by my own and that was hard enough, what I didn’t realise was the porters were taking 4-5bags at a time! That’s 80-100lb’s ! Backbreaking stuff.

]]> By: Annabelle http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/joanna-haugen-co-founds-fund-for-machu-picchu-porters/#comment-70367 Annabelle Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:02:03 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1229#comment-70367 I think it's great when we find some way to break the heavy chains and carbon footprints we so often leave on our hosts. imho. This is why I'm a Matador fan! Keep on, Truckin folks. Belles I think it’s great when we find some way to break the heavy chains and carbon footprints we so often leave on our hosts. imho. This is why I’m a Matador fan! Keep on, Truckin folks.

Belles

]]> By: JoAnna http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/joanna-haugen-co-founds-fund-for-machu-picchu-porters/#comment-70425 JoAnna Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:10:23 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1229#comment-70425 Thanks for getting the word out about the Karikuy-Haugen Fund! I've received a lot of positive feedback and am excited that we've been able to get this off the ground. Thank you for your support! Thanks for getting the word out about the Karikuy-Haugen Fund! I’ve received a lot of positive feedback and am excited that we’ve been able to get this off the ground. Thank you for your support!

]]> By: neha http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/joanna-haugen-co-founds-fund-for-machu-picchu-porters/#comment-70423 neha Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:20:22 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1229#comment-70423 amazing! amazing!

]]> By: Hal Amen http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/joanna-haugen-co-founds-fund-for-machu-picchu-porters/#comment-70420 Hal Amen Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:39:11 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1229#comment-70420 This is awesome, JoAnna. Hopefully you can also raise awareness about mistreatment of porters. If a tourist on the trail twists an ankle, it's a huge deal, but porters put up with so much abuse--some have literally keeled over and died--and the government/industry does nothing to protect their welfare. This is awesome, JoAnna. Hopefully you can also raise awareness about mistreatment of porters. If a tourist on the trail twists an ankle, it’s a huge deal, but porters put up with so much abuse–some have literally keeled over and died–and the government/industry does nothing to protect their welfare.

]]> By: Nancy http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/joanna-haugen-co-founds-fund-for-machu-picchu-porters/#comment-70419 Nancy Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:38:02 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1229#comment-70419 Way to go JoAnna. I love seeing change like this in the world and Matador reporting on it. Way to go JoAnna. I love seeing change like this in the world and Matador reporting on it.

]]> By: Megan Hill http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/joanna-haugen-co-founds-fund-for-machu-picchu-porters/#comment-70418 Megan Hill Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:25:26 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1229#comment-70418 Wow! How often do we lament a problem and do nothing about it? This is not only a great idea, but inspiring. I also love that Matador is highlighting community members' achievements like this! Wow! How often do we lament a problem and do nothing about it? This is not only a great idea, but inspiring. I also love that Matador is highlighting community members’ achievements like this!

]]> By: Megan Hill http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/joanna-haugen-co-founds-fund-for-machu-picchu-porters/#comment-70417 Megan Hill Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:46:26 +0000 http://matadorpulse.com/?p=1229#comment-70417 Wow! How often do we lament a problem without taking action? Props, JoAnna. This is not only an awesome project, but it's inspiring. I love that Matador has moved towards highlighting impressive accomplishments like this. Wow! How often do we lament a problem without taking action? Props, JoAnna. This is not only an awesome project, but it’s inspiring. I love that Matador has moved towards highlighting impressive accomplishments like this.

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