Creating Sustainability for Health and Education

Posted on August 6, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

With several projects in outreach communities currently being developed I must again acknowledge our amazing team in Zambia for their continued dedication and commitment. As you are aware all of them are volunteers, which has created sustainability for The Butterfly Tree. Community driven projects are the best solution to help overcome dependency, which is always a challenge when working with international aid.

STAIN VOLUNTEER SINCE 2006 – MALARIA PREVENTION

MARTIN, MUPTOLA AND PRESLEY – FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE BUTTERFLY TREE, ZAMBIA

Twelve years down the line and our projects expand from Mukuni to Sekute, Musokotwane, Nyawa and Moomba Chiefdoms in the Kazungula District, a vast area in the Southern Province with over 70,000 population. We are currently developing five schools and a health centre, located in remote areas, each can take several hours to reach. Since the introduction of mobile network we can now communicate with teachers and PTA members who can oversee some of our projects and report back to us.

Once we have completed a school project, it is handed over to the Ministry of Education and community. Trained teachers are funded by the government and the community forms a PTA committee to create sustainability. We still offer support in terms of HIV and malaria prevention, and donations of school materials and clothing for orphans, but it is vital that the local people run the facility. With our help thousands more children are receiving a sound education.

NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK FOR SINGWAMBA PUPILS – NYAWA CHIEFDOM

The same applies when we build a health centre, like the new one at Sikaunzwe, thanks to grant aid from GOAC. Once the clinic, maternity ward, women’s shelter and latrines are completed then the facility will be run by skilled government medical staff and trained community workers. This way there is no ongoing cost to the charity and we can move on to new locations. We are also installing five boreholes in schools and villages in Nyawa and Sekute Chiefdoms, where WASH commitees will be formed to maintain the amenities.

NEW BOREHOLE FOR ZALU SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY

This month our young peer educators will help to build twelve community houses for widows and the elderly looking after orphans, eleven of these have been donated by Motive Real Estate, Texas. For every house the company sells, they donate one to the charity at a cost of £415 per house. The youth group will shortly be on a break from college and will earn a small income to help support their upkeep.

12 COMMUNITY HOUSES TO BE BUILT FOR WIDOWS AND ELDERLY LOOKING AFTER ORPHANS

Much of The Butterfly Tree’s success is because we use volunteers, which save us having to pay salaries. Our UK team all operate from their homes and rarely incur any expenses. I am delighted to say that during this past financial year we raised £226,773 and only 1.86% was deducted for expenses!

Jane Kaye-Bailey

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Safe Water for Schools and Communities

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

2018 is heading towards the UK’s hottest and driest summer on record. A lower than usual amount of rain fell in May, followed by what appears to be the hottest and driest June since records started. Now in July, a further two weeks of hot, dry weather has been forecast for the UK, water levels are dropping, so we are asked to conserve water. These high temperatures and conservation of water are alien to many people living on our islands.

HIGH TEMERATURES AND LOW HUMIIDY FOR THE UK

In comparison, Zambia experienced an unprecedented amount of rainfall earlier this year, but the last drop fell in April and it is not expected to rain again until the end of November. Six months without any rain causes the streams and small rivers to run dry, resulting in people living in rural areas having to travel further to source drinking water. One such community is Luzila, in Sekute Chiefdom. During the wet season people draw drinking water from a polluted swamp, then during the dry months they must walk two miles to use a local school’s borehole, The demand then becomes too much, which can result in a low water supply for the school.

WATER SUPPLY – LUZILA COMMUNITY

There are numerous schools throughout the whole of Zambia that do not have access to safe clean drinking water. To date we have installed twenty-eight boreholes for schools, clinics and communities. This month we are adding three more school boreholes and one for Luzila community. Munyundu and Zalu schools, in Nyawa Chiefdom, rely on bacteria-infested streams to draw water from. However, these streams run dry around July/August, which means the pupils must walk three to four kilometers to the reach the river. A further borehole has already been drilled at Nakawa pre-school, thanks to a donation from Attraction Tickets Direct. International Peace Projects are kindly funding Luzila and Zalu and Muyundu’s donation comes from one of our generous private donors.

DRILLING COMPANY ARRIVE AT NAKAWA PRE-SCHOOL

The dry season does have advantages, rural tracks are accessible! This is the cooler season when malaria cases start to reduce and communities can relax a little. During this period we raise funds to purchase mosquito nets, safe insecticidal coating and larvicide granules. Reports will shortly be sent to us with updated data on how well our interventions are helping to reduce the number of malaria cases. Recent donations from Inner Wheel Clubs will enable us to expand this project into new areas.

CHILDREN IN MOOMBA CHIEFDOM ARE PROTECTED AGAINST MALARIA

One project, which we pioneered at River View School, has proved to be highly successful. In October 2017, using grant aid from Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission, 1,400 mosquito nets were given to every pupil and teacher at the school – to date ZERO cases of absenteeism from malaria have been recorded.

1,350 PUPILS AT RIVER VIEW SCHOOL OWN A MOSQUITO NET

Our water and malaria prevention programmes are essential in helping vulnerable children in outreach villages to live a healthy life. Thank you for all your generous donations towards these worthwile projects.

Success for Orphans

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I first met Johan and Austine, two of our sponsored orphans, in 2012 when they came to Mukuni in search of help for their education. They were both attending N’gandu Junior School and had lived with their grandmothers since losing their parents. They were struggling to pay their school fees. We found them sponsors to continue their education and after passing grade 9, they went on to Mukuni High.

AUSTINE AND JOHAN – 2012

For the past three years, every day during term time, Johan and Austine have walked 6 miles each way to go to school. They would leave home at 5am to start school at 7am, and return home in the late afternoon. Their village has no electricity, so any extra studying had to be done at school. In December last year they completed their grade twelve exams, gaining very good marks and received their certificates in March.

JOHAN – SPONSORED BY THE CHARITY SINCE 2011

As a result, both Johan’s and Austine’s sponsors generously offered to fund their further education. I asked the young men to each find a suitable college course. Expecting this to be a local institution in Livingstone, it came as a great surprise to learn that they have been offered University degree courses to study Secondary Education in Lusaka. Both offers came with bursaries and their sponsors are paying the balance. Their course started today!

AUSTINE – JOINED OUR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME IN 2012

This is an outstanding achievement and an inspiration for other orphans who live in extreme poverty. It also stresses how necessary it is to have a sound education to be able to improve your situation in life. Supporting these vulnerable children, from outreach communities, is the core of The Butterfly Tree’s work. We will continue to develop more rural schools in Zambia to accommodate orphans such as Johan and Austine.

LONG WALK FROM MUKUNI TO CHIBULE VILLAGE

The Hilary and Neil Charitable Trust recently funded a science lab for River View School, this will assist 1,400 pupils with their education. In March I visited Nyawa Secondary School and learnt that pupils must travel up to 90 miles to sit grade 12 exams due to lack of facilities. Without a Science laboratory the school cannot be passed as an examination centre. I am delighted to announce that the same Trust has offered to fund a lab for this school.

NYAWA SECONDARY SCHOOL TO HAVE A SCIENCE LABORATORY

Once again Attraction Tickets Direct are helping us to expand rural schools in Nyawa with the addition of a classroom block for Kauwe, as well as the recently completed teacher’s house for Bunsanga Community School. We will also be developing Nakawa pre-school in Sekute Chiefdom for the same donor.

TEACHER’S HOUSE – BUNSANGA COMMUNITY SCHOOL

We have just started a pilot scheme at River View School with Leap Learning from Norway. Leap Learning has developed a new educational method using technology to enable children to learn, where and whoever they are in the world. This is an wonderful opportuntiy and suitable for grades 1 to 4 pupils.

RIVER VIEW JUNIOR SCHOOL PUPILS

Our orphan sponsorship continues to grow. Currently we are sponsoring almost 300 school pupils and 14 further education students. Without our sponsors, most especially the Mukuni Village Fund, Australia who sponsor 50 orphans, none of this could happen. This vital programme entails a great deal of administration both in the UK and Zambia so please understand that it is not always possible to give regular updates, we will always do our best for both donors and beneficiaries.

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Keeping in Touch

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

On the 25th May changes to the UK data protection laws are taking place.

To keep you up to date on charity news we would like to continue sending you our newsletters.

In order to keep receiving our updates please resubscribe here.

The EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) allows you to have more transparency in how your personal data is collected and used.

Data Protection is extremely important to The Butterfly Tree:

We only the data we collect to contact our donors, supporters and volunteers
We have never sold data to third parties.
We hold limited information on the orphans we are sponsoring for Child Protection and Safeguarding
To ensure compliance with GDPR we are asking that all our subscribers who receive our secure electronic newsletters resubscribe

The following have been updated in advance of the 25th May

Thanks for your continued support.

WORLD MALARIA DAY 2018 – MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

According to the World Health Organisation in 2016, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries, an increase of 5 million cases over 2015.

Malaria deaths reached 445 000 in 2016, a similar number (446 000) to 2015.

With the above statistics it’s hardly surprising that global organisations and drug companies have stepped up their efforts to find a cure and a vaccination to fight malaria.

Working in some of the remotest communities in Africa it is easy to see how a case of malaria can spread, and quickly turn into an outbreak. With poor medical facilities, combined with the lack of malaria testing kits and antimalarial drugs, the nurses and medical officers have a constant battle in trying to control malaria.

NEW HEALTH CENTRE FOR SIKAUNSWE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Until a cure is found, or a vaccination is offered on a mass scale, malaria prevention is crucial to avoid contracting this potentially deadly disease. Mosquito nets are the most essential form of protection and a must for infants and pregnant women. Sadly, people in developing countries cannot afford to buy them and their governments largely rely on International Aid.

DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – CHUUNGA VILLAGE

Over the past 12 years we have distributed thousands of mosquito nets as well as funding malaria prevention workshops, throughout the Kazungula District of Zambia. In addition to the nets, in 2015 we started using Vectorcide’ s safe insecticidal coating and larvicide granules. The results have been quite remarkable, with the number of malaria cases being considerably reduced.

RELEASING SAFE LARVICIDE GRANULES INTO MOSQUITO BREEDING GROUNDS

After much success in Mukuni Chiefdom, in 2017 we ventured into Moomba Chiefdom, some 300 km from our base. We were told that no other charity had ever offered support, and that there was a high prevalence of malaria, with 46% of the population being infected. Following a distribution of mosquito nets in July we applied the insecticidal coating and larvicide granules in December last year.

MOSQUITO NETS DISTRIBUTED IN MOOMBA CHIEFDOM

In January and February 2018 only 51 cases of malaria were recorded, compared to 502 in 2017. The number shows a reduction of 90%. We were recently told by the Ministry of Health that a record had been broken – ‘Moomba has recorded the lowest ever number of malaria cases.’ Our aim this month is to ensure that the entire Moomba population is protected.

MOOMBA CHIEFDOM – INFANTS MUST BE PROTECTED AGAINST MALARIA

By offering communities mosquito nets, applying safe insecticidal coating on the walls of their homes, and dispersing larvicide granules in ponds and streams, universal coverage is provided. We have proved that this is one of the most effective and advanced ways of helping to eradicate malaria. The coating works far better and lasts much longer (up to two years) than indoor residual spraying, which is effective only for 3 to 6 months.

SAFE INSECTICIDAL COATING IS PAINTED ON THE WALLS OF DWELLINGS

None of this can be achieved without donor funding and experts on the ground. We are extremely lucky to have Sibeso Maseka, an Environmental Health Technician, on our team of volunteers in Zambia. She continually trains and motivates community health workers to be aware of the importance of early testing and administering treatment to prevent complications. These local people play a crucial role in the success of this programme.

We recently moved into Nyawa Chiefdom to target new areas that are recording high numbers of malaria cases. 650 mosquito nets have been donated and three villages are receiving the new intervention.

DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – NYAWA CHIEFDOM

The Butterfly Tree is making a small, but significant difference in the fight against malaria, but we need more funds to be able to reach out to the most vulnerable areas.

A mosquito nets costs just £4 and a house can be coated for £15. Please donate to this vital cause: https://thebutterflytree.org.uk/get-involved/online-donations

Challenging Journeys to Visit Health and Education Programmes

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

My recent trip to Zambia was probably the most challenging to date mainly due to the continued rainy season. Global warming seems to be taking its toll on the nation, most especially in the Southern Province. After barely no rainfall in December and January, February and March certainly made up for it, though it came too late to salvage the withered crops. Later planting also suffered after the heavy rains caused severe flooding.

CROPS PERISHED THROUGH LACK OF RAIN IN JANUARY

Driving off road can often be hazardous at best, but more so when you are heading out to schools where bridges and streams must be crossed. Every time I drive to Nyawa more of the notorious bridge has been washed away, but on one occasion a whole section of it had disappeared after a heavy downpour the night before, making the 100 km trek a waste of time! Not to be defeated, I returned the following week and pleased to see that the community had attempted to reconstruct the bridge, we only made it to Bunsanga and Nyawa as the streams on the track to Muchambila and other schools were too high to cross!

THE BRIDGE ON THE ROAD TO NYAWA COLLAPSED AFTER HEAVY RAINS

It’s always a joy to visit this area and know that the projects we are funding are really appreciated and making a lasting change. The Nyawa people are hardworking and encourage their children to be educated. We always receive a warm welcome and the people readily offer free labour for our constructions. Currently we are further developing Muchambila Junior School with the addition of a teacher’s house, Singwamba with a classroom block, using funds donated by George Spencer Academy, and for Bunsanga, the community now has a new school thanks to Attraction Tickets Direct offering further support.

BOREHOLE AT THE NEWLY BUILT BUNSANGA SCHOOL

In Mukuni Chiefdom Chaba School has a new classroom block and latrines after another grant was approved by the British and Foreign School Society. The Science laboratory at River View School is taking shape enabling this the school to become an examination centre, which save the pupils the 60 km journey to sit their exams. River View and Chaba as well as Mambova Schools were given texts books donated by the Dawson Group.

CHABA SCHOOL – NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK AND TEXT BOOKS

On the further education front it was great to catch up with our young peer educators who are all engaged in skill-based courses. Besides learning to become builders, electricians, plumbers and tailors the group continue to volunteer for The Butterfly Tree, Mafian and Natasha taking leading roles within the charity. This talented group have really impressed me with their compassion and commitment to helping the cause.

THE BUTTERFLY TREE YOUTH GROUP ATTENDING COLLEGE COURSES

For the communities four more houses were donated by Motive Real Estate. It was great to again meet up with John Staab, the company founder, who is as keen as ever to improve the lives of widows and orphans. His partner, Jessica participated in a workshop for rural women. One of our UK volunteers, Valerie Redfern, joined me for part of the trip and together we distributed hundreds of Inner Wheel Club’s knitted blankets, jumpers and toys to villages throughout the District. A wonderful donation from Stratford-upon-Avon Reformed Church paid for further blankets and maize, handing these out to the elderly people was a humbling experience.

MAIZE AND BLANKET DONATION TO THE ELDERLY – MUKUNI, MACHENJE AND KAMWI

Despite all the challenges, as always, the trip was so worthwhile. Seeing first-hand how The Butterfly Tree’s work continues to improve the lives of some of the poorest people on the planet makes me want to do so much more. Funds are now in place for more classrooms, boreholes, and the new clinic at Sikaunswe, funded by GOAC, is underway after a delay caused by the rains. What made the trip even more rewarding was hearing that a record had been broken in Moomba Chiefdom. After implementing our malaria prevention programme ‘the lowest ever number of malaria cases had been recorded for the past three months!’

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Sourcing Education, Health and Water Projects and Reviews

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

As we approach our year end I find it hard to believe that it is now over twelve years since I first went to Zambia. It’s even harder to believe that The Butterfly Tree has grown from sponsoring a hand full of orphans to building schools, clinics, installing bore holes and initiating an advanced malaria prevention programme. Today I am heading back to this special part of the world to check on current projects and to source new ones.

DRIVING OFF ROAD TO RURAL COMMUNITIES

I am delighted to report that our recent distribution of mosquito nets, insecticidal coasting and larvicide granules in Moobma Chiefdom is having quite an impact. In January and February last year the number of malaria cases were 302 and 215 respectively. The total number of cases reported in the same months for 2018 are 27 in January and 38 in February. At the time of reporting two zones had not been covered, but now that the rains are abating we can include the areas that were not covered.

PREVENTION FROM MALARIA FOR MOOMBA CHILDREN

More funding is in place to start a malaria prevention programme in Nyawa Chiefdom. Mosquito nets have already been given out, but due to the rainy season the project had to be put on hold. Sadly, Southern Zambia has experienced unprecedented rainfall this season, which has destroyed crops and infrastructure. Once we know that these areas are accessible we will move ahead.

SWAMPS ARE BREEDING GROUNDS FOR MALARIA

Seeing how we have developed so many rural schools is very rewarding, access to education for children in remote areas is essential. We have just completed a classroom block and latrines at Chaba School, classroom blocks are currenly being constructed at Singwamba, a teacher’s house at Bunsanga and a Science Laboratory at River View, keeping our team in Zambia very busy! A special thanks to the British and Foreign School Society, Attraction Tickets Direct, George Spencer Academy and the Hilary and Neil Charitable Trust for supporting our education programmes this year.

BUNSANGA SCHOOL GETS NEW CLASSROOM AND TEACHER’S HOUSE

I will also be distributing much needed text books to Chaba, Mambova and River View Schools, thanks to a donation from Dawson Group and former volunteers. Far too often I see one text book to be shared amongst of class of sixty pupils. Our evaluation shows that exam results are much improved if each pupil has a text book. I will be checking up on all our orphans and as always sourcing new ones and appreciate all the support on this invaluable programme.

OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS – MAMBOVA SCHOOL

Despite the heavy rains many schools and villages have no access to safe clean water, therefore I shall be looking for new sites after receiving donations for bore holes. Here we take water for granted, but when you see women and children carrying water from bacteria infected streams and swamps it makes you realise how lucky we are. Next to malaria diarrohoeal disease is the greatest cause of deaths in infants.

SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR 560 PUPILS – NGANDU SCHOOL

To further improve health in rural areas a new clinic is under construction at Sikaunswe thanks to grant aid from GOAC. The site will have a main clinic, maternity ward, women’s shelter and latrines. For the Mukuni community I am looking forward to seeing the new houses for widows and the elderly looking after orphans, which have been donated by Motive Real Estate.

nEW HOME FOR WIDOW AND ORPHAN

I shall look forward to giving you updates on my return, in the meantime you can follow my daily posts and see photos from Zambia on Facebook.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Orphan Sponsorship and Child Protection

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

As many of you know The Butterfly Tree has successfully run an orphan sponsorship programme since 2006. Thousands of orphans have benefitted from our support, which includes better education and health facilities, access to safe water and school feeding programmes. All our work revolves around vulnerable children in rural areas of Zambia.

RIVER VIEW SCHOOL – 1,250 PUPILS HAVE ADVANCED EDUCATION FACILITIES

Due to the recent allegations that have come to light concerning Oxfam volunteers, we would like to assure you that we take Child Protection very seriously and do everything in our power to ensure that the children we support are safe. Because of these issues we are currently updating our Child Protection Policy, which will shortly be published.

YOUNG RURAL CHILDREN – MUKUNI CHIEFDOM

Our volunteers in Zambia are made up of local people, most of them have been with us since the founding of The Butterfly Tree. The orphan sponsorship programme is overseen by local women and school teachers, with the exception of Kamwi School, where Mafian, a former beneficiary, checks on the welfare of orphans and sources new ones that need support. The peer education programme for HIV prevention is organised by former sponsored orphans.

MAFIAN – FORMER SPONSORED PUPIL OVERSEERS ORPHANS IN KAMWI

Most of our UK volunteers help with administration and fundraising only, and do not work ‘hands on’ in Zambia. All of us that do visit Zambia, and other volunteers, including international ones, have to produce a DBS or the equivalent from their country, and must be dedicated to helping the cause rather than using it as a holiday.

LEAH – FORMER VOLUNTEER IN ZAMBIA NOW A MEMBER OF THE UK TEAM

For the past ten years we’ve welcomed an array of teachers, nurses, social workers and business people who have provided invaluable assistance within the communities, schools and clinics. They are accompanied by members of The Butterfly Tree, school teachers or medical officers. To strengthen our aim to protect children and vulnerable people we are also updating our criteria and selection process, and will only accept those volunteers who have something worthwhile to offer.

VOLUNTEERS – CANADIAN & AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEERS REFURBISHING MUKUNI CLINC

On a positive note – at the start of this new school year in Zambia we have offered sponsorship to many more needy children thanks to gaining new sponsors, as well as existing donors, including the Mukuni Village Trust, Australia, and others that have agreed to support an orphan after their original pupil completed school. Though the orphan’s results are not always the best, many of these young people have gained a sound basic education, progressed to further education or sought employment.

MUKUNI HIGH SCHOOL – PUPILS ON THE ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME

We apologise to those of you who are awaiting updates and details of new orphans, and will be in touch as soon as the Child Protection Policy has been approved. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Malaria Prevention – Moomba Chiefdom

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Moomba Chiefdom, a remote area in the Southern Province, is 300 km from Livingstone. Moomba Rural Health Centre is 125 km from the main road, tracks are mainly sandy, others are clay, which makes the area inaccessible during the rainy season.

There is a high prevalence of malaria in the region, last year 46% of the population contracted malaria, the highest figures in the Kazungula District. In 2017, a request for assistance was made to The Butterfly Tree by the Zambian Ministry of Health.

The following activities took place:

July 2017 – four members from The Butterfly Tree drove to Moomba Rural Health Centre to access the situation and to distribute mosquito nets to meet the government’s shortfall.

DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – MOOMBA HEALTH CENTRE

November 2017 – six days training of volunteers, application of paint using an insecticidal coating, dispersal of larvicide granules.

PROTECTION AGAINST MALARIA

The team comprised of two Environmental Technologists, one is also a volunteer for The Butterfly Tree, ten community volunteers and two further volunteers from The Butterfly Tree.

A total of 600 structures were painted with insecticidal coating, in six out of fourteen zones. All health posts throughout the Chiefdom were covered. Once a mosquito lands on the surface it will fly off and die. Larvicide granules were placed in all areas where there is stagnant water, pools and streams. These were identified as breeding grounds for mosquitos. The larvicide is used to prohibit the larva from developing into mosquitos. It is not harmful to the environment, and both products are harmless to humans, animals and fish.

The Ministry of Health are closely monitoring the project.

December 2017 – five days were spent coating an additional 631 structures in six further zones. Granules had been previously distributed in all fourtenn zones.

DISPERSING LARVICIDE GRANULES

We are pleased to announce that we now have a donation to do a further distribution in the two remaining zones. It is hoped that this will be done in the next week, subject to accessibility. Once this has been implemented Moomba Chiefdom will be in a unique position, with universal coverage, aiming to prevent new cases of malaria and helping to save lives.

A WHO Consultant visited Mukuni Rural Health Centre, where we started using the intervention in November 2015. The Consultant wanted to learn more about the success we have experienced and why such a small charity as The Butterfly Tree has achieved so much in the field of malaria prevention. This is due to continual funding of mosquito nets, malaria prevention workshops and most recently the new initiative. It is also as a result of having a dedicated team of volunteers, most especially Stain Musungaila and Sibeso Maseka, who manage this programme in Zambia, and to our generous donors, without them, none of this could have happened.

Challenges

Accessibility and condition of roads and tracks. Only 100 km is a good road, 75km is on roads with deep potholes, and from the main road Moomba Health Centre it is 125 km and is mostly sand, which is deep in some areas. Several of the outreach villages are a further 45km from the health centre.
Distance between villages and from Moomba Health Centre.
Temperatures soaring 40 degrees in November and December.
Insufficient funds to provide protection for two zones.

Achievements

Every household welcomed the intervention., with 100% acceptance. The normal use of Indoor Residual Spraying, using harmful chemicals, is often refused by a percentage of community members.
Positive feedback is already showing an improvement. January to June is the peak time for malaria. To date no new cases of malaria have been reported in the areas of application.
Cases have been reported in the two zones, which were not covered.

1,231 STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN COATED IN MOOMBA

A further donation, received this week, will be used to cover areas of Mukuni Chiefdom as it is over two years since the first application was made.

Last week the following interview was posted on the website of Crisis-Response, which is great PR for the charity, to read it click this link.

Next month we aim to start the programme in Nyawa Chiefdom by coating structures in two villages and larviciding. We have recently donated funds to purchase 800 mosquito nets for Nyawa Rural Health’s Centre’s shortfall.

Many thanks to everyone, namely St James Place Foundation, North Worcester, Stratford-upon-Avon and North Bournemouth Rotary Clubs, Inner Wheel Clubs, Nick Bou-sliman, and all the individuals who have helped us to make a small, but significant difference in the fight against malaria.

Orphans ‘Spreading their Wings’

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Happy New Year from The Butterfly Tree!

January brings a positive start to the year, after December being one of the best months in the history of the charity, with new donations coming in. As always we strive to raise more funds and source new projects for further development in outreach communities.

BUNSANGA COMMUNITY – NYAWA CHIEFDOM

Besides the construction and advancement taking place in rural schools, many of the orphans we have supported for several years are making good progress. For the ones that have completed school it is now time for these young people to advance their education and seek employment.

SCHOOL LEAVERS EARN AN INCOME BUILDING COMMUNITY HOUSES

We are delighted to learn that Charity, having volunteered at Kamwi Primary School for the past year, will start as a full-time government high school teacher this month. Bridget, Sowe and Lillian will continue being sponsored at teacher’s training colleges. Jacob, recently gained a diploma in Agriculture and is working on a farm in Mazabuka.

CHARITY TO START A FULL-TIME TEACHING POST THIS MONTH

Owen, has been accepted to study Biomedics at a college in Kaloma, kindly sponsored by members of the Australian Mukuni Vilage Trust, who are to increase the number of orphans they sponsor to 50 this year. Their continued support is invaluable and many vulnerable children have benefitted from their generosity.

OWEN TO STUDY A COURSE IN BIOMEDICS

Our group of young volunteers are ready to ‘spread their wings’. Natasha, Edwin, Dennis, Jafter and Mafian are to attend college to learn practical skills including electrics, bricklaying and tailoring, along with Nagama, Donald and Peter. For the past three years they have tirelessly run the HIV peer education programme and mentored our sponsored orphans. Now they have a chance to learn a profession in order to set up their own enterprises, thanks to one of our US donors.

EDWIN, DONALD, JAFTER, PETER, DENNIS, NATASHA AND NAGAMA

Educating orphans is paramount, with your support we have educated many. This year we are offering the sponsorship to more vulnerable children in schools within Mukuni Chiefdom as well as River View School in Sekete Chiefdom. Our aim is to train recent school leavers in volunteering and peer education to create further sustainability.

Wishing you good health and happiness for 2018.