After the huge success and excitement of the visit by HRH The Princess Royal it was back to reality and out into the bush. Of all the projects run by The Butterfly Tree nothing is more important than providing safe, clean water. When I first heard that children have to walk several miles to fetch water I found it hard to comprehend, so when I recently visited Sibbulo I clocked the mileage and can now confirm that children from this area had been walking 11 kilometres – almost seven miles!

Children at Sibbulo Community School

A new school for these children of Sibbulo, a remote community some 100 kilometres from Livingstone and 30 kilometres from the main road, is almost complete. The project funded by JOAC, which includes a 1×3 classroom block, two teachers’ houses, latrines and a bore hole, proved to be challenging for our experienced builder and drillers. Building work is usually done in the dry season because of accessibility. However this community depended on swamp water for drinking, washing and everything else and the swamps were dry. Therefore building work was delayed as there was literally no water in the area. The drillers made several attempts before water was found some 60 meters below ground.

New bore hole for Sibbulo – children walked 11kilometers to fetched water

Another community, greatly benefiting from the installation of a bore hole, is Chuunga. Previously the people had to draw water from bacteria-infected streams causing serious health risks, particularly in infants. Thanks to Grant and Marilee Gibson this school now has its own bore hole. Again the school is simply a mud hut construction; 150 children are taught by an untrained teacher in two daily sessions. It has been agreed that we will help to develop this school. The Gibsons have also raised a considerable amount of funds for mosquito nets, which we distributed in the Sekute Chiefdom. This area, adjacent to the Zambezi River, is a breeding ground for mosquito causing an increase in malaria cases when the water is stagnant.

Pupils at Chuunga Community School have a new bore hole

During my travels I came across a young boy called Jordan with a serious eye problem and immediately referred him to Mukuni Health Centre. Aged just 16 months he had a growth under his eyelid that had become infected. After posting this story on Facebook, John McGhee, one of our donors, kindly offered to pay for Jordan’s stay in hospital. The growth has now been removed, Jordan has been discharged and his parents await the pathology report, which can take up to six months! Five other children received funds for various medical conditions, thanks to support from Brady Italia.

Jordan with his father before having an operation on his eyelid

For the first time we have taken on a project in town at Lubasi Orphanage, which is being funded by the Gottlieb family. Each of the 45 children was given trainers, clothing and stationery and extra funds were used to provide much needed food and supplies. A new home for a widow looking after orphans was provided by LCR Rotary Club and many orphans received assistance with their school and exam fees. Aside from the Royal visit the most joyous part of the trip was to catch up with Vincent and Elvis, the Kamwi twins who were two years old this month. We have provided all their needs since they lost their mother in childbirth.

Vincent and Elvis, the Kamwi Twins, are two years old

It was wonderful to see the development in the outreach villages but as always more needs to be done. I would like to say special thanks to all my amazing volunteers in Zambia, without their assistance nothing could have been achieved. More funds need to be raised to enable The Butterfly Tree to continue its vital work.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Over 1000 children, waving a mixture of British and Zambian flags, lined the road leading to Mukuni Basic School to welcome HRH Princess Royal. The excitement reached fever pitch as the cavalcade of cars pulled into the school grounds. The 4×4, bearing the Royal Standard, stopped at the edge of the red carpet, on loan to us from the Ministry. When the Princess stepped out of the vehicle I felt an overwhelming sense of joy as I welcomed her to The Butterfly Tree. Standing close by The Butterfly Tree volunteers were eagerly waiting to meet The Princess, the women looking resplendent in their colourful chitangys; all of them wearing polo shirts adorned with our striking logo.

The Princess Royal Visit – Jane with HRH and Stain Musumgaila

I presented the twenty Zambian volunteers to The Princess along with Emma Soames, a trustee of Saga’s Charitable Trust, who is one of our major donors and Stain Musungaila, from Sun International. After the introductions I escorted The Princess Royal into a mud hut where I was able to tell her about the charity’s work in Zambia. I was so impressed with her knowledge and her interest, The Princess Royal is renowned for her work with Save the Children and many other charitable causes. After the briefing we proceeded to the Special Education Unit, where The Princess Royal was introduced to sixteen children who are now receiving an education for the first time. This is the only one of its kind in a Zambian village, thanks to funding from The Besom. ‘Good morning, Ma’am’ greeted The Princess Royal after she left the unit and entered a grade nine classroom during a Maths lesson.

Before being seated under a tented area, The Princess Royal was to receive gifts from Esnat, Angela and Cynthia, the three young girls who inspired the founding of the charity. Next the rich voices of the Mukuni High School choir followed by the traditional dancers and the beating of the drums entertained The Princess, after which a former recipient of The Butterfly Tree’s orphan sponsorship programme, Mudenda Hazyendo, told a moving story about how the charity had supported him. He had passed to go to university to study law; funds were not available so he had accepted the opportunity to go to teacher’s training college, thanks to funding from one of our donor’s, the BFSS. The Province’s Permanent Secretary also heard this story and Mundenda is to be offered a place a Lusaka University.

Cynthia, Esnat and Angela presenting gifts to The Princess Royal

The performances ended with a powerful poem about orphans, written by Jane Kaye-Bailey and recited by Natasha Mufaya:

Spread Your Wings

 I am a butterfly who has emerged from a tree

My wings are developing so I can be free

I am learning and yearning to break the poverty cycle

In order to help those in need like me

As time passes by The Butterfly Tree

Will nurture many more orphans like me

My life is enriched with the education I receive

Soon I can explore what the world can offer me

Natasha Mufeya reciting a poem to The Princess Royal

Once the performances were over, The Princess RoyaI unveiled a plaque before I escorted her down the sandy track to the Mukuni Health Centre. Here seated on the verandah were several young children who had successfully undergone operations and treatment, funded by the charity. I explained the programme and how we had paid for the restoration of the clinic and provided a huge amount of medical supplies and equipment as well as malaria and HIV/AIDS prevention programmes. Finally we proceeded to The Butterfly Tree maternity clinic and women’s shelter, both invaluable additions to a clinic that serves some 7000 people.

Children, who have received medical support from the charity, meeting HRH

The time passed far too quickly and as I thanked HRH for visiting the charity her parting words still echo in my ears ‘Working with orphans is difficult but you seem to have got it right‘ – a compliment indeed!