Support Peruvian Porters during Covid-19
Donation protected
Since the Peruvian borders were closed last March 16, Enigma's 64 porters have not received any income. This campaign is to request donations for our porters' living expenses while they can't work.
Enigma is based in Cusco / Peru, and has been operating treks in the Andes for almost 18 years. Anyone who has trekked the Inca Trail to Machupicchu with us may have had the chance of experiencing the hard labour of our porters, carrying all items from camp to camp, setting them up, preparing food and doing all with a big smile, gratitude and appreciation for their work. They are family to us.
Porters come from neighbouring communities and receive a wage for every trip they do. A porter with Enigma earns US$ 90.00 for his services on an Inca Trail of 4 days and 3 nights and has an average of 4 departures per month in the high season --> this gives an average monthly income of US$ 360.00, which supports his whole family. Enigma Works with a regular base of 64 porters who have seen their wages abruptly interrupted since March 16, when Peruvian borders were closed and quarantine was imposed.
Covid has especially affected Peru, as the pandemic started right at the kick-off of our high season, which lasts from April through October (Dry Season in the Andes). This is the time of the year in which porters make their earnings, to then endure the low season. International travel will possibly not resume in Peru until October, and if it does, it may be at a shy 10% vs last year. There will be less departures to treks, with less need of porters if any. We consider this season will be lost for the travel industry in Peru, and also for them all.
Porters are part of the low SES collectives in Peru (Poor or Extremely Poor) and are not in the capacity to ask for loans. The Government has activated several support schemes for these collectives but these are insufficient while demand is high.
Suffering from a sudden severe lack of funds, our porters are facing the following challenges as heads of their families in highland remote areas:
- Food supplies: scarce due to quarantine and prices of first necessity products have increased as distribution has been reduced
- Service payment (electricity and water)
- School supplies: books, notebooks, folders
- Means for their children to follow online schooling: public schools require that the family has at least a radio to follow classes and homework is sent via WhatsApp in communities where there is coverage --> this requires them to have a cell phone active and with enough credit to download applications and pay for data
- Usual medical supplies and clothing - dry, cold/freezing season
Our proposal is to raise funds to cover the value of ONE Inca Trail departure (US$ 90.00) for each of our 64 porters. This makes a total of US$ 5760 (€ 5150 as we will be using a European bank account to receive funds).
It is just the amount of one trip, and yet it will bring enormous relief to our porters and their families.
Who is this money going to?
The 64 porters in the Enigma census. The list is attached as a photo and we are happy to send the names to you. Please contact us.
How will we handle this?
With the funds received, we will proceed to pay each porter as if they had arrived from another Inca Trail departure.
Our commitment as Enigma
Honesty, transparency and trust. We will share the proof of the funds reception for every porter and for donations above US$ 500 (or € 450
), we will grant a 10% discount on their future Inca Trail with Enigma, whenever that may be but hopefully soon!
This won't be enough to hang on for several months and we may come back to request more funds for the months to come, but if you have 1, 5, 10 dollars or of course more and wish to help, please donate. You will be helping not just the porters but entire families, and you will help make a huge difference to their lives during these months.
With immense appreciation and thanks on behalf of all at Enigma,
Silvia Rico
CEO
Enigma
Enigma is based in Cusco / Peru, and has been operating treks in the Andes for almost 18 years. Anyone who has trekked the Inca Trail to Machupicchu with us may have had the chance of experiencing the hard labour of our porters, carrying all items from camp to camp, setting them up, preparing food and doing all with a big smile, gratitude and appreciation for their work. They are family to us.
Porters come from neighbouring communities and receive a wage for every trip they do. A porter with Enigma earns US$ 90.00 for his services on an Inca Trail of 4 days and 3 nights and has an average of 4 departures per month in the high season --> this gives an average monthly income of US$ 360.00, which supports his whole family. Enigma Works with a regular base of 64 porters who have seen their wages abruptly interrupted since March 16, when Peruvian borders were closed and quarantine was imposed.
Covid has especially affected Peru, as the pandemic started right at the kick-off of our high season, which lasts from April through October (Dry Season in the Andes). This is the time of the year in which porters make their earnings, to then endure the low season. International travel will possibly not resume in Peru until October, and if it does, it may be at a shy 10% vs last year. There will be less departures to treks, with less need of porters if any. We consider this season will be lost for the travel industry in Peru, and also for them all.
Porters are part of the low SES collectives in Peru (Poor or Extremely Poor) and are not in the capacity to ask for loans. The Government has activated several support schemes for these collectives but these are insufficient while demand is high.
Suffering from a sudden severe lack of funds, our porters are facing the following challenges as heads of their families in highland remote areas:
- Food supplies: scarce due to quarantine and prices of first necessity products have increased as distribution has been reduced
- Service payment (electricity and water)
- School supplies: books, notebooks, folders
- Means for their children to follow online schooling: public schools require that the family has at least a radio to follow classes and homework is sent via WhatsApp in communities where there is coverage --> this requires them to have a cell phone active and with enough credit to download applications and pay for data
- Usual medical supplies and clothing - dry, cold/freezing season
Our proposal is to raise funds to cover the value of ONE Inca Trail departure (US$ 90.00) for each of our 64 porters. This makes a total of US$ 5760 (€ 5150 as we will be using a European bank account to receive funds).
It is just the amount of one trip, and yet it will bring enormous relief to our porters and their families.
Who is this money going to?
The 64 porters in the Enigma census. The list is attached as a photo and we are happy to send the names to you. Please contact us.
How will we handle this?
With the funds received, we will proceed to pay each porter as if they had arrived from another Inca Trail departure.
Our commitment as Enigma
Honesty, transparency and trust. We will share the proof of the funds reception for every porter and for donations above US$ 500 (or € 450
), we will grant a 10% discount on their future Inca Trail with Enigma, whenever that may be but hopefully soon!
This won't be enough to hang on for several months and we may come back to request more funds for the months to come, but if you have 1, 5, 10 dollars or of course more and wish to help, please donate. You will be helping not just the porters but entire families, and you will help make a huge difference to their lives during these months.
With immense appreciation and thanks on behalf of all at Enigma,
Silvia Rico
CEO
Enigma
Organizer
Silvia Rico
Organizer
