No doubt many of you are suffering from the extreme heat we are currently experiencing in the UK. Fortunately, I can cope with these temperatures. When I visit Zambia in March and October when it can reach over 40 degrees. Children walk several kilometres to and from school. Women carry water from streams and shallow wells some distance to their homes. Health workers are operating in clinics where there is no air conditioning.
PUPILS FROM NGANDU SCHOOL WALKING HOME
Zambia is now in the ‘dry’ season which lasts from April to November. Water is essential to irrigate vegetables gardens and boreholes are vital when streams and rivers run dry. Funds permitting, we continue to install boreholes and water systems. One school has benefitted from a fundraising campaign organised by Alissa, a former volunteer of The Butterfly Tree who helped at Kamwi Primary School.
ALISSA AND HER, HUSBAND ANDY, VISITING KAMWI PRIMARY SCHOOL
The school is now providing a sustainable feeding programme for school children after an area was cleared and fenced, and an irrigation system was put in place. The school shop also received support and profits raised from the sale of goods will help to fund extra activities for the pupils.
KAMWI SCHOOL VEGETABLE GARDEN
Another successful fundraiser was initiated by former England Rugby player, Victor Ubogu, who wanted to build a new school for Simukumbwa. In early 2025 a 1×2 classroom block was constructed. A second 1×2 classroom, a staff flat for two teachers, and another house for the head teacher followed. Toilets, a solar-powered water system and a feeding shelter added further development and to complete the project, plus desks and textbooks. Finally, five orphans received sponsorship. The school is now complete and will shortly be upgraded to a primary school.
SUMIKUMBWA COMMUNITY SCHOOL
The two classroom blocks at Mukwela Primary school will be in use next month. One for the special education class funded by Give a Hand, Canada, as well as toilets. A recent donation from St James’s Place Foundation will pay for the equipment and educational materials. The second one is for Mukwela’s primary section, funded by one of The Butterfly tree’s private UK donors who is a Professor, and former university lecturer in Zambia. His generosity has enabled us to build classrooms for Chabalanda, Kamwi, Malombe, Katubya, Mukuni, Namachele, Nguba and Mukwela schools.
MUKWELA SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM BLOCK
Mosquito net distributions have been taking place in Mulobezi District for the past two weeks. A further 2,550 mosquito nets were handed out to school children to protect them from contracting malaria. In this remote district in Western Province malaria is endemic. Every year medical officers record high numbers of malaria cases and loss of life. The Agnus Lawson Memorial Trust approved a three-year grant to support our ‘Mosquito Nets for Schools’ programme.
MOSQUITO NETS FOR SCHOOLS – MULOBEZI DISTRICT
I am delighted to announce that The Butterfly Tree has received two awards this year. Firstly, from Acquisition International after being voted as the best ‘Education Non-Profit Organisation of the Year 2026’ – UK. Secondly, we received a British Business Excellence Award for the second year running along with this encouraging message: ‘This prestigious recognition highlights the charity’s dedication to quality, innovation, and outstanding service within the industry.’
None of the above progress would have been made nor would we have won any awards had it not been for the generosity of our donors and the dedication and commitment of our trustees and volunteers in the UK and Zambia.
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Jane Kaye-Bailey
Founder
