• Home
• About Us
• How Volunteering Works
• Getting Started
• Who Volunteers
• Where You Can Go
• What You Can Do
• Social Programs
• Conservation
• Health & Medicine
• Teaching
• Custom Groups
• Summer 2 Week Programs
• Reading Week 2010
• Summer Youth Programs
• In The Field
• Before You Go
• Travel Planning
• Fundraising & Sponsors
• Prices

FEATURE SPONSOR
	In 1993 a small group of people, who had weathered decades in the outdoor industry, decided to get together and form Mountain Hardwear. With a healthy disrespect for the business types who were saying it couldn't be done, they decided to take a fresh approach to making great gear. Part of that fresh approach can be seen in their support of our past volunteers. This is a company that cares about making great gear but also cares about preserving the areas where people go to use the gear.
VISIT THEIR WEBSITE
This sponsor has generously provided financial support to our volunteers. Their appearance on this website does not indicate a corporate or professional affiliation.

Custom Groups

Group Centred Programs are designed with input from the group or group-leader. Specific goals and objectives of the group are incorporated into the project through a consultative process.

In the Everest Region of Nepal thousands of men and women try to make a living hauling loads for foreign tourists. With loads as large as 130 lbs and altitudes of over 5,000 meters, this work is incredibly difficult. However, the fact that these porters are rarely supplied with jackets, boots, food and shelter make this work not only difficult, but often fatal. Each year, several porters in this area die from illnesses that could easily have been prevented with the provision of basic shelter, food, clothing and access to adequate medical care and training.

In response to the situation of trekking porters in Nepal, Volunteer Abroad has organized several custom groups programs in the region. The latest was with a group of students from Queen's University school of business. This team visited the area and constructed a community toilet and hot shower facility for porters, that is managed by the Health Post in Lukla (a village at the beginning of the main hiking trail in the Everest Region). This facility makes it possible for porters to wash as they wait (often several weeks) in Lukla for work. The hope is that by making these facilities accessible, we can begin to address the various skin infections that are rampant in the porter community due to a lack of facilities health and hygiene education.