Curriculum

Training program

The envisioned training program takes place over three years and is inspired by the professional training of trekking guides in France (BE and DE Accompagnateur en Montagne). The pedagogy and the training standards are nevertheless adapted to the local context: how to manage remoteness, high altitude, lack of rescue services, waste management, and valorizing the local culture. The curriculum is specifically adapted to Tajikistan, thanks to the field experience of the trainers and trainees and with the support of local guides and tourism stakeholders.

The training combines field practice, with treks during training and internship periods, and theory. Participatory learning tools and methods of active pedagogy are used to promote exchanges and the active engagement of each trainee in the course.

Trainees are evaluated individually and in groups. The training sessions are designed to adapt to the needs of trainees by offering them appropriate professional development tools (work experience in particular).

Year 1 - Introduction and selection

• Individual and collective equipment
• 3 days – 2 nights – trek
• Introduction of the training curriculum and the required internships
• Group management and specific needs of international clients
• Self reflection about their commitment in the training, their professional project and their family and social context

At the end of these 5 days, a time for self reflection is proposed to validate the professional project and decide to commit or not in the 2-year training.

Year 2 - Basic knowledge for group leadership in the mountains

• Using a map and compass / Orienteering concepts / Route selection

Trek organization

Anticipation of risks, planning

• First aid in a hostile environment

First aid and specific pathologies

Itineraries in varied terrain, boulders, river crossing techniques

• Sports nutrition / Personal hygiene while on trek
  

Anatomy, physiology and sports nutrition

• Natural and human environment / Meteo / Fauna / Flora / Geology / History / Local culture

Group animation specific to the local culture: fables, legends, traditions …

• Law / Administration / Communication – marketing / Responsibility

Insurance, pricing and legislation

Development of a tourist product

• Combining the professional project, the personal life and the life as a woman all together

Development of an individual professional project

• Field experience during a trek

Leading the trek, rhythm, breaks …

Using a map and compass, route selection

• Evaluation

This 2 weeks training has to be validated et followed by internships (treks with local and international agencies with foreign clienteles).

Year 3 - Strenghtening one's abilities

• Using a map and compass / Orienteering concepts / Route selection

Strengthening of orienteering at night time and in difficult weather conditions

Use of satellite phone, GPS, mapping software

• First aid in a hostile environment / Itineraries in varied terrain

Glacier-crossing and introduction to the basic techniques of mountaineering to develop confidence-building

Ascent of an easy summit in snow

Hike with a strong level of commitment

Setting up a camp in unexpected conditions

First aid at high altitude and use of the hyperbaric chamber

• Group management, leadership skills

Exchanges on (pre) professional practices of recent years

• Natural and human environment / Meteo / Fauna / Flora / Geology / History / Local culture

Hiking and respect for the environment

Reflection on solidarity tourism

• Field experience during a trek
• Individualized research (orienteering, group management…)
• Evaluation

This 2 weeks training has to be validated.

These training sessions need to be fully completed. They are inseparable from the compulsory internships, which allows trainees to work in a real-life setting where they can gain experience with various clienteles.

Some of the women who have already been trained by Women Rockin’ Pamirs are welcome to join some of the training units to improve their skills.