Porters’ Progress offers free daily language classes to porters from our offices in Kathmandu and Lukla. These classes focus on simple language lessons that allow porters to approach foreigners for assistance during an emergency, negotiate wages, get work at the trailhead and engage in basic conversation. These classes are typically run by foreign volunteers. To date, we have given thousands of classes in six different languages. Weekly trainings are also given on topics relevant to the issues porters face on the trail and at home, such as altitude sickness prevention, environmental awareness, basic health and hygiene, and community building. All of our programs are determined and evaluated by porters themselves. We run frequent ‘empowerment meetings’ for porters where we encourage them to focus upon the positive aspects of their lives and livelihoods, and to determine their own means of bringing about change.