Volunteers & Fundraisers Galore!

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

For the past few years the number of volunteers we receive in Zambia has increased considerably. During the next eight weeks some fifty people will be volunteering at Mukuni, N’gandu and Kamwi Schools in the Mukuni Chiefdom. Recently Chris and Kiara, two HandsUpHoliday clients, staying at The Royal Livingstone Hotel, have funded and built a community house for a widow with orphans.

Volunteers build a community house at Mukunui

This month will see four schools groups partaking in volunteering. Tring School, through World Challenge, has generously donated funds to build a school shop and restore the old classrooms at Kamwi. While Outlook Expeditions are sending school groups from Gyfum Emlyn and Longbridge in Wales, to build four community houses at Mukuni, they will also assist in the classrooms.

Pupils at Kamwi School

In August we welcome the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission Community Works volunteers. A Grant has been given by the commission to expand N’gandu School, which will benefit greatly fwith the addition of a 1×3 classroom block, two teacher’s house and latrines. The groups will be staying for three weeks and will camp at the school. Also in August Muze Trust will send two volunteers to offer music workshops for young people in Mukuni.

N’gandu school built in 1947 undergoing expansion

We also have a number of fundraisers who are currently supporting our cause – Alison Adams, a Scottish teacher, is raising funds for a much needed special education unit at Kauwe School. On August 1st Alison will be undertaking the National Three Peakes Challenge. Faris Alwan and Rebecca Hodgson aim to raise a substantial amount of funds for housing projects. Claudia Emmanuel is raising funds on her birthday for a community house. Errina Foley-Fisher is raising money for a bore hole and will volunteer later in the year. Several medical students will be helping at the clinics and once again we welcome Sydney University students at the end of the year.

Kauwe School in need of special education unit

The Butterfly Tree teams both in the UK and Zambia are made up entirely by volunteers, having these extra volunteers not only offers financial support but expertise as well. We are so grateful to all these generous people, who give up their free time to offer invaluable support to both The Butterfly Tree and the local Zambian communities. In return this can be a life-changing experience for all participants. If you would like to volunteer, fundraise or donate to one of our causes click on this link or contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk or carolyn@thebutterflytree.org.uk for volunteer work.

Education and Health Advancements

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

With continual news on the launch of The Butterfly Tree’s malaria prevention project in Zambia I would like to reassure our donors and supporters that we have not neglected our grass root projects. These are so vital to the development of any community whether it be for health or education.

THOUSANDS OF RURAL CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING A BASIC EDUCATION

The most essential of all our projects is to provide safe clean water. This year the Southern areas of Zambia have experienced a poor rainy season. Reports are coming in of streams and rivers that would normally be full having very little water, and maize crops have perished. Adding a bore hole to a school or community helps to reduce diarrhoeal diseases and provides water to irrigate vegetables – one is shortly to be installed at Bunsanga, thanks to joint funding from the Cayman Islands Rotary Club, the Parishes of Abbots Wood and Leigh Woods and Nick Bousliman.

LOW RAINFALL IN SOUTHERN ZAMBIA

Several educational advancements are being made – a 1×2 classroom block and latrines is almost complete at N’dele Primary School using further grant aid from the British and Foreign School Society. N’gandu School is undergoing extensive expansion through JOAC’s Community Works Projects. Muchambile is to receive a boost from private donors who have ‘adopted’ the school and village, adding a much needed clinic. Kasiya Community School has new latrines thanks to Robert & Cindy Orr.

NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK FOR N’DELE PRIMARY SCHOOL

On health matters funding is now in place to build a women’s shelter for the Singwamba community. Currently women are sleeping in the open when they come to the clinic prior to delivery. The Besom has once again supported our work, along with Hannah Leon who took part in the Tough Mudder competition, and Ursula Reinheimer who raised money making cards and jewellery.

SINGWAMBA WOMEN’S SHELTER TO BE REPLACED BY A PERMANENT STRUCTURE

Both our malaria prevention project and HIV prevention through peer education are advancing, invaluable for future development of these rural communities who desperately need your support.

WORLD MALARIA DAY 2015

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The theme for World Malaria Day 2015 is ‘Many Voices, a single Theme‘. All over the world governments and organizations are helping the fight against malaria. Half the world’s population (3.2 billion) are at risk of contracting malaria,most especially in poor countries such as Zambia.

Malaria Protection is vital for young children

Malaria is the biggest killer of man. 198 million cases and a staggering 584,000 deaths were recorded in 2013.

The Butterfly Tree is about to launch our most ambitious project to date. A new innovative malaria prevention method will shortly be available in Zambia and beyond, which will initiated by our organisation.

Working alongside Vectorcide, the UK corporate who has funded the development of the products, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Vectorcide products are reputed to be superior products for malaria prevention. These products have now been approved in Zambia by the Ministry of Health, the Zambian Malaria Control Centre and the Environmental Management Agency.

We have been granted the Licence to import the products into Zambia. Our aim is to distribute these interventions into remote communities and also make them available to the tourism, agriculture, mining and other industries to prevent absenteeism from work as well as saving lives. One of our major donors, Saga Charitable Trust, is supporting this project.

Mosquito nets will continue to be used as an effective method for malaria prevention. The new products will provide further protection, Mozzimort being an alternative to Indoor Residual Spraying.

The Butterfly Tree provides mosquito nets for rural communities

Please support our fight against malaria – your donation could help to save a child’s life. Click donate.

Water and Food

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

March sees the start of The Butterfly Tree’s tenth year working to improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia. We have made significant strides in education and healthcare in the Kazungula and Livingstone Districts adding new schools and clinics in remote communities. Thousands of children are receiving a sound education and healthcare facilities have improved considerably.

Restored classroom blocks – Nampuyani Primary School

Our aim is to continue this vital work, but first we have to address two fundamental projects, Water and Food, to avoid a major crisis currently threatening the lives and livelihoods of numerous people living in these districts.

Water – the essence of life

The rainy season in Zambia starts in November and ends in April. Some parts of Zambia have recorded good rains, sadly this is not the case in the Southern Province, where very little rain has fallen. Now the peak growing season is coming to an end and for many villages and schools there is no maize. Crops have failed to grow, resulting in a shortage of food, hunger is already apparent which will get worse over the coming months.

Maize crops destroyed due to lack of rain

Water, so essential for all forms of life, is in short supply. Rivers and streams, normally flowing at this time of year, are dry. Many remote communities still have no access to safe water and have to rely on streams. We need to identify these areas and raise funds to provide additional bore holes. Fortunately all the schools we work in now have bore holes to provide safe drinking water.

Dry stream – Nyawe Chiefdom

If the crisis continues it is hoped that the Zambian government will send maize from the north of Zambia to the affected southern region. In the meantime The Butterfly Tree will provide further seeds and fertilizer for school feeding programmes, to enable them to grow beans, rape and cabbages using bore whole water for irrigation.

Ground nuts provide a source of protein

Our educational development projects with continue as normal. A 1×2 classroom block and latrines will shortly be completed at N’dele Primary School, thanks to a generous grant from the British and Foreign School Society. This month work will commence on a 1×3 classroom block, two teachers’ houses and latrines at N’gandu School, using a substantial grant from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission as a Community Works Project.

N’dele pupils assist with classroom construction

All of our work has had a big impact in these rural villages, but none more so than water projects. We need to provide more bore holes to improve health issues, reduce the number of diarrhoeal cases and to deliver a supply of water to irrigate for school gardens.

News from Zambia

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I have just returned from Zambia after checking on our latest developments and sourcing new projects for 2015. It was wonderful to be back, despite it being the middle of the rainy season I was able to access most of the villages. As always it was extremely rewarding to see so much progress being made.

Thanks to a private donor Muchambile school has undergone vast improvements. The addition of a bore hole, classroom block, teacher’s house, latrines and a school shop has encouraged more children to enrol at school. The Head Teacher has introduced an adult class, as many of the older generation are uneducated. Later this year four parents will be sitting grade seven exams with their children. The donor also funded a health post for this community.

New classroom for Muchambile pupils

In March 2014 a group of employees from Attraction Tickets Direct visited Nampuyani School after donating a bore hole through our partner organisation, Just a Drop. Seeing first hand the need for support, the company gave a generous donation to improve the facilities. Two classrooms blocks and a store room have undergone restoration, a teacher’s house has been added along with two double latrines.

Pupils drawing safe clean water – Nampuyani School

A new classroom block for N’dele Primary School is currently being constructed kindly funded by the British and Foreign School Society. Development at N’gandu School will shortly commence with the addition of a 1×3 classroom block, two teachers’ houses and four double latrines. This is funded by the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission through their Community Works Programme.

N’dele School pupils carrying water to the building site

There are many more rural schools that need support. A new roof has been added to a classroom at Manyemuyemu, but this 1937 school needs further funding. Children at Bunsanga Community School are being taught in a mud hut while pupils at River View School are using tents! Reverend Presley Mulenga has recently been posted to River View School after serving as an impressive Head Teacher at Mukuni for the past twelve years. Presley will remain a full member of The Butterfly Tree.

River View pupils using tents for classrooms

Malaria prevention remains a major priority. We are in the final stages of getting the full licenses for the new malaria products from Biotech International. I was saddened to learn that malaria is again on the increase in the Southern Province. We will step up our programmes, my team reported that the repellent t-shirts donated by New Textiles have really helped. Horwich Rotary Club kindly donated a motorcycle and kit for Mrs Meseke, our Environmental Officer, which will enable her to reach remote malaria ‘hot spots’. A private donor funded her training with Riders for Health.

Mrs Meseke, Environmental Officer and member of The Butterfly Tree

More orphans have been added to our orphan sponsorship programme. A number of school leavers have been successful in seeking employment, some now doing teacher’s practice at our schools and others are volunteering for The Butterfly Tree.

N’gandu School pupils on our orphan sponsorship programme

We are making substantial advancements with education in rural areas. With your help we have sponsored several hundred individual orphans, built five new schools, expanded a further twenty schools and added four special education units with a fifth one scheduled for this year. We will endeavour to raise funds to help these vulnerable children – education is the key to alleviating poverty!

Jane Kaye-Bailey

January 2015 Newsletter

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Happy New Year to everyone of our donors, supporters and volunteers! Please accept our apologies for the delay in sending the 2015 calendars, which are still available to purchase at a cost of £4 each plus postage. A special thanks to all the companies who sponsored a page of the calendar, this money covers all printing costs, with the balance providing funds for our projects.

2015 is a significant year for the United Nations, governments and the charitable sector, as it is 15 years since a target was set in September 2000 to reduce global poverty and its related issues.

‘At the Millennium Summit in September 2000 the largest gathering of world leaders in history adopted the UN Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty and setting out a series of time-bound targets, with a deadline of 2015, that have become known as the Millennium Development Goals’.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the world’s time-bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions-income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion-while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability. They are also basic human rights-the rights of each person on the planet to health, education, shelter, and security’.

Poverty in rural Zambia

Since 2006 The Butterfly Tree has been working to help Zambia meet its targets. This year we hope to advance our support in all areas, most especially in education and malaria prevention. Our Christmas matched funding campaign, with a target of £8,000, proved to be hugely successful. The money we raised is being used to sponsor orphans, to buy books and uniforms for the start of the new school year and to support our new malaria prevention programme.

Education For All

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The Butterfly Tree has a great opportunity to boost funds for our education and malaria prevention projects. A private donor who has offered to match funds up to the value of £8,000, has extended the closing date. Anyone who would like to make a donation between now and the 15th December has a strong chance of getting their donation matched.

These Simango Special Education Children Receive a Sound Education

Please click on DONATE to make a donation on our special fundraising page. If you would prefer to make a bank transfer, send a cheque or require further details please contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

WORLD AIDS DAY 2014

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Today marks WORLD AIDS DAY, ‘an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. More than 35 million people have died from the virus, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history‘. An estimated 34 million people are believed to have HIV.

Though much has been done and many advances made, more people need to know the facts about HIV, prevention and protection. There is still a great deal of stigma and discrimination, increased awareness is needed, not just in developing countries, but also in developed countries, where complacency occurs. Zambia is one the countries that has been devastated by the pandemic, leaving 710,000 orphaned.

Orphan sponsorship – Young Mukuni girl

The Butterfly Tree supports orphans, providing improved healthcare and education in rural villages. Unlike townships these communities do not have access to media, books or classes, relying on health workers and non-government organisations to provide vital support. Every family in Zambia is effected or infected with the virus, treatment is free and readily available, however more needs to be done to protect the future generations.

HIV – voluntary testing and treatment is essential

In 2011 one of our volunteers, Mutsa Marau, initiated an HIV prevention programme through peer education, which is proving to be hugely successful. Having trained a group of school pupils, these brave young educators hold workshops in rural schools, delivering a powerful message. Today the group are organising activities in Mukuni Village, funded by The Butterfly Tree. This new generation can make the change!

Meet Mutsa’s ‘Catch Me I’m a Butterfly!’

The theme for WORLD AIDS DAY 2014 is: ‘Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation’

If you would like to offer support we are currently running a matched funding campaign. Any donation received between now and December 8th has a strong chance of being matched. Please click on DONATE to make a donation on our special fundraising page. If you prefer to make a bank transfer, send a cheque or require further details please contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Matched Funding

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

We have got off to a great start with our campaign to raise extra funds for Christmas. A private donor has offered to match funds up to the value of £8,000. Anyone who would like to make a donation between now and the 8th December has a strong chance of getting their donation matched.

EDUCATING ORPHANS & VULNERABLE CHILDREN

The Butterfly Tree is working in four Chiefdoms in the Southern Province of Zambia, assisting several thousand orphaned and vulnerable children. Your donations will help to reach out to more rural communities and orphans who need safe water, health and education facilities as well as protection from malaria.

Malaria remains the biggest killer of man. According to the World Health Organisation ‘ in 2012, 90% of all malaria deaths occurred in the WHO African Region, mostly among children under 5 years of age. Malaria prevention methods are vital.

MALARIA PREVENTION CAN HELP TO SAVE A CHILD’S LIFE

DONATE to The Butterfly Tree knowing that your money will be used where it is most needed, NO administration or personal fees will be deducted. We aim to use the matched funding towards the purchase a much needed vehicle for our amazing team in Zambia.

Boost Education & Malaria Prevention

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The build up to Christmas is truly under way – festive lights illuminating the high streets, TV and radio media advertising the latest computer games and supermarket crammed with treats. With so much turmoil happening around the globe, the raging wars, the natural disasters and the Ebola crisis, to mention but a few, it’s hard to get enthusiastic about Christmas. The unwanted gifts, the over indulgence, the unnecessary stress it all creates is it really worth it? There are so many good causes that need supporting and this is the perfect time for giving.

A recent quote from one of our orphan sponsors sums it up: ‘With all the excess involved in Christmas and even everyday spending on silly things, it is genuinely a delight to give money to people who really need it.’

Sponsor an orphan through The Butterfly Tree

This month The Butterfly Tree has received some amazing donations and grants. The British and Foreign School Society has approved a grant for a 1×2 classroom block and latrines for Ndele Primary School. This is just one of many education projects funded by the BFSS since 2007. Mukuni Special Education unit is to get a boost thanks to a generous donation from Pegnet, Germany and several more children have been added to our orphan sponsorship programme.

Ndele pupils to receive new classroom

November is Zambia is the start of the rainy season, after six months without a drop of rain the farmers and rural communities are rejoicing. This is the time for planting maize and other crops to secure enough food to store through the prolonged dry season. The downside is that the wet season increases the risk of contracting malaria. Chuunga Village has reported four new cases. We are working with Biotech International to bring new innovative methods of prevention to Zambia. Supported by Saga Charitable Foundation who has donated substantial funds to help boost this project, we aim to make the change. In addition New Textiles has donated over 100 protective t-shirts, which have been distributed amongst children at Mahalulu School.

Mahalulu pupils receiving protective t-shirts

This year we are not taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Many people found this very stressful and complained that they could not get the donation on in time. It is highly competitive and time consuming. Instead we have a private donor who has offered to match funds up to the value of £8,000. Anyone who would like to make a donation between now and the 8th December has a strong chance of getting their donation matched. Please click on DONATE to make a donation or contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk if you would like to make a bank transfer, send a cheque or require further details.