Africa Day 2011

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Africa – love it or hate it there is no in between The heat, dust, poverty, corruption, violence that is how many sceptics describe this vast, parched continent, but have they ever actually visited the real Africa? The second largest and second most populated continent, Africa has huge geographical diversity and a mixture of many different cultures. In the middle of some of the most volatile countries on the planet is a haven called Zambia, totally land-locked yet boasting some of the best wildlife in Africa and the magnificent Victoria Falls. It borders eight other countries including Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.

The breathtaking Victoria Falls – Zambia

Today marks Africa Day and the one thing that unites all Africans is their love of music – they are born with rhythm! From their very first steps to adulthood they are natural dances and love performing at schools, in churches and at community gatherings – song and dance are part off their traditional heritage. Surrounded by such extreme cases of poverty and deprivation music can bring a light relief and is a great way to spread awareness of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. The Butterfly Tree is working with a number of volunteers who are helping to raise funds to help the fight against these devastating diseases. Basement Entertainment supports our malaria prevention program. Brendan Mission, through Music Earth Rise is currently raising funds to build a music centre in Mukuni Village. The pupils will be able to use it to hold concerts, drama and workshops.

Africa Day: Mukuni Basic School performing a tradtional dance

To make any lasting progress the HIV/AIDS situation has to be addressed. In Mukuni alone almost 50% of the children are orphaned, whereas one in six adults are HIV positive. We have a number of programs to help tackle this enormous problem but more funds are needed. As always education is the key and this coming year we are fortunate to have several volunteers, including Mutsa Murau, who want to work with the orphans to help reduce the number of new cases of HIV. Mutsa will assist our HIV/AIDS prevention program by training peer educators in some of the schools supported by The Butterfly Tree.

Orphans at Simasimbi Basic School

Although there is vast wealth among some Africans the majority of people native to countries like Zambia live in extreme poverty and rely on international aid. However we feel that it is vital to bring about sustainability in areas where we operate once the education and health facilities have been improved. We are developing a number of enterprises at both the school and community in Mukuni. Perhaps one day the children on our orphan sponsorship program can be supporting their own families.

Success of orphan sponsorship

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Peter Liyungu was the first orphan to be accepted on The Butterfly Tree orphan sponsorship program, some five years ago, when we first started operating in Mukuni Village back in 2006. At the time despite being very intelligent, Peter had lost interest in his education after loosing both parents and having no funds to continue. A sponsor was sought and this transformed his life; as there was no high school at Mukuni Peter wanted to go to boarding school and subsequently attended Zimba High. We are also sponsoring his younger brother Mishek.

Orphan Sponsorship: Peter with brother Mishek – February 2007

I am delighted to say that after four years Peter has completed grade twelve and did exceedingly well in his exams. In his own words Peter wished to thank his sponsors.

‘It is my pleasure to show my gratitude and say thank you for opening up my life to a dream come true. You are my father and my mother who would have done the same if they were alive. It takes a strong sole to take up the work of someone else.

I must let you know that I have made it through my senior secondary with 16 points which gives me the opportunity to apply for university. It is because of you that I have achieved this, your contribution to my education and my life in all was not in vain and once more thank you for making my dream come true.’

Peter after completing high school – February 2011

To date The Butterfly Tree has sponsored over 400 idividual orphans in addition to providing nutritional feeding programs, classrooms, teachers’ houses and bore holes holes. Our healthcare projects including HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention, boosted by a recent donation from Viking River Cruises, are all for the benefit of these vulnerable children. One of the great things about working in these rural communities is that when we can assist with the orphans’ education, there is always someone who will offer to be a guardian, whether it be a family member, a friend or even a teacher. This is by far more preferable than having to leave their village and be placed in an orphange in town.

Sponsored daily feeding program at Mukuni Village Schools

There are over 700,000 orphans in Zambia alone and they desperately need your support. Education is the only way they can get out of the cycle of poverty to enable them to better their situation. For as little as £110 per annum or just £10 per month a child’s life can be transformed. The money is used to pay for school and exam fees, books, shoes, uniform and school bag. In addition to this the children receive a daily nutritional meal, such as the one at Mukuni, sponsored by Cunninghams. The Butterfly Tree provides educational workshops, using interactive DVD’s donated by TME, teaching the pupils about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, malaria, teenage pregnancy, drugs and alcohol.

If you would like to sponsor an orphan like Peter or Mishek and make another child’s dream come true, please complete the online form or contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Listen to the orphans singing with the Mukuni Basic Choir on Youtube

Follow our progress on Facebook

Fundraising for Zambian Orphans

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Today we celebrate the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton and wish them a long an happy life together. Between them they will no doubt be able to help numerous charitable causes. Earlier this month I felt very privileged to represent The Butterfly Tree at a celebration for his HRH Prince Phillip’s 90th birthday at Windsor Castle. The event was hosted by the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club with Windsor and Eton Rotary Club. This was followed by a dinner hosted by St James’s House, the London publishing company. The Butterfly Tree has been selected to be featured in the 2012 Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Year Book in their new philanthropy section. We are hoping that this will bring about some new philanthropic travellers to visit our projects in Mukuni Village.

Another great fundraising opportunity came about last week after winning a free place to participate in Cyclothon UK. Initiated by Victor Umbogo, the former England rugby player, the event should enable us to raise substantial funds for the orphans in Zambia. We have three volunteers who have offered to participate – we are hoping to add a sporting celebrity to gain publicity for our team. The Paris marathon also took place and local girls Vicky and Rachel Sampson raised over £800 for the charity’s orphan support program.

Fundraising: Items donated for Machenje pre-school from South African tourists

Several groups and individuals have recently visited Mukuni – not only have they been humbled by the plight of these vulnerable people, but also impressed by the work the charity has done to improve the lives of these rural communities. The Brady Corporation, hosted by Incentivise UK kindly donated $2000 worth of stationery and blankets and Canon Australia have offered support after meeting the Mukuni school children. All our projects centre around the orphans, which includes orphan sponsorship, providing improved healthcare and education as well as safe water and feeding programs. Being able to improve their basic needs gives them a chance to move forward.

Mukuni Basic School

There are numerous ways to fundraise besides sporting events – hosting small events like Mutsa Murau who has organised a Swap Shop on the 8th May. Alex Weatherley’s parents set up a Just Giving page to invite guests attending Alex’s Christening to donate to the under five’s feeding program instead of giving presents. This can also be done for birthdays, anniversaries or any celebration. We have a number of church groups, schools and clubs as well as individuals and corporates who enable us to continue our vital grassroots projects in Zambia, through fundraising activities, donations and sponsorship.

If you would like to some fundraising for The Butterfly Tree and need any further details or advertising materials please email jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

World Malaria Day

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Today is World Malaria Day. The Butterfly Tree is committed to continue helping the fight to reduce the burden of malaria, the biggest killer of man. Although the number of deaths have declined over the last decade 75% of deaths caused by malaria are children under the age of five in sub-Sahara Africa. Zambia is no exception.

Malaria disease caused by P. falciparum may result in death within hours or a few days of infection especially in those with a low immunity such as children, pregnant women, people with AIDS and travelers with little or no malaria. It can also result in the miscarriage of pregnant women, low birth-weight infants, developmental disabilities and other complications.

World Malaria Day: help prevent Paddington from contracting malaria

Until a cure is found prevention is the only way to avert this dehabilatating disease, which is the leading cause of school absenteeism. Providing mosquito nets, malaria tests and educational workshops effectively reduces the number of new cases. Saga Charitable Trust donates annually to our malaria prevention program, enabling us to provide this vital aid. The Zambian government’s aim is to distribute mosquito nets every child under five as well as pregnant women. Sadly the supplies are insufficient and there is a massive shortfall. UCL GDI members recently hel fund-raising events during One World Week and donated the money to our program.

Just £5 ($8) will buy a mosquito net and could save a child’s life. The Butterfly Tree has produced a charity CD, called ‘Change for the Better’ this can be downloaded for £2 or £3 for a CD – all proceeds go to the malaria prevention program.

Charity Newsletter April 2011

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

My recent trip to Zambia proved to be both fruitful and challenging. With persistent heavy showers throughout the month, driving to some to the outreach villages was difficult to say the least. The six major projects initiated in 2010 are now complete – a 1×3 classroom block for Mukuni, upgrading of Siamasimbi and Kamwi schools with new classrooms, teachers’ houses and latrines, an entire new school for Mandandi, a pre-school for Machenje and a staff house for N’songwe clinic. This was achieved by substantial grant aid from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission.

Sadly in the mainstream school many children who had passed to go into the next grade failed to do so due to lack of funds and have not been able to attend school this term. The Butterfly Tree has offered to support a further thirty pupils in addition to the four hundred who have received orphan sponsorship. Fifty of these orphans are being supported by a group of people from Australia.

The most rewarding part of my time in Zambia was to see the Special Education classroom, funded by The Besom, in full use. Stanley Safari Lodge provided the equipments and furnishings. To see these children with impaired hearing and learning difficulties is a humbling experience and a rare opportunity for children in remote villages. Fountaindale School in Nottinghamshire organised a teacher exchange to assist this program, both parties benefitted from this experience – it was a pleasure to welcome Reverend Presley Mulenga and Thomas Chanda to England in February and to join the UK teachers during their visit to Mukuni.

Special Education Class – Mukuni

Some of you may remember the plight of the premature baby boys who lost their mother and triplet sister in childbirth. I am delighted to say that after five months of providing powdered milk, clothing and equipment the twins are strong and healthy. Funding healthcare continues to be one of our main priorities – the invaluable under-fives feeding program, the provision of mosquito nets, and treatment for sick children and most importantly HIV/AIDS prevention support.

On the 8th March I hosted a lunch and workshop in recognition of World Women’s Day. Many of the key issues were discussed, predominantly the need to empower women. We have initiated a number of sustainable income-generating enterprises through micro-financing. One of these is a goats’ milking project funded by Margaret Bax and Casey Short.

Twins Boys – Vincent & Elvis World Women’s Day

Once again I was able to escort a couple of Saga groups to see our projects. Saga Charitable Trust continues to generously support our malaria program and in addition they are donating $5 for every Saga tourist to visit Mukuni Village. Many of these visitors have given individual donations or sponsor an orphan.

We are being inundated by requests for people who want to volunteer in Zambia. Most recently two medical students from Sydney worked in the clinic and Charlotte and Alissa from London who spent four weeks teaching at Kamwi School. This month they are walking to the top of Kilimanjaro to raise funds for The Butterfly Tree. Brendan Poynton, who is raising funds for a Music Centre at Mukuni, is holding monthly music events in London – there are many others who are working hard to support our cause.

We have a number of local volunteers helping The Butterfly Tree in Zambia and one that I am extremely proud of is Jacob Siatubitu. Jacob was sponsored by The Butterfly Tree to attend High School. After receiving good grades in all subjects he has applied to go into nursing. To gain experience while he is awaiting his interview, Jacob volunteers daily at Mukuni Health Centre cycling from his home in Kamwi Village, where he looks after his elderly grandmother.

Charlotte teaching netball – Kamwi Jacob registering patients – Mukuni clinic

Thanks to another generous donation from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission 2011 has some exciting prospects in store – three new schools are to be constructed; a bore hole and a number of latrines in the Mukuni and Musokatwane Chiefdoms. A further bore hole and latrines have been donated by Just a Drop. Thank you to all of our donors, supporters and volunteers who has helped us to reach out to more orphaned and vulnerable children in these remote villages of Zambia.

Warmest regards,

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Caring for twins in Zambia

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I have many stories to tell from my recent trip to Zambia, no doubt the one which many of our supporters have been waiting to hear is the plight of the twin baby boys, whose mother died in childbirth with their triplet sister. For the past five months The Butterfly Tree has provided support for Elvis and Vincent after hearing about their premature birth and the loss of their mother. Each weighing barely three pounds (1.3 kgs) the twins were discharged from Livingstone in late November to be cared for by their grandmother in the remote village of Kamwi.

With no available money the grandmother was struggling to cope, relying solely on gifts from well wishes. After hearing that the twins would not survive without powdered milk The Butterfly Tree stepped in. Three and a half tins of formula are consumed a week by these hungry boys. At seven pounds ($11) per tin this was an impossibility for most Zambians with an income let alone someone from one of the poorest villages on the planet.

Vincent with his grandmother

Elvis with his aunt

I was moved to tears when I returned to Kamwi and saw two plump, healthy and happy babies. The grandmother, with the help of her sister, has taken great care of them and the staff at Mukuni clinic informed me that apart from a common cold they had rarely been sick. They have had two tests for HIV, both were clear and need only one more which we pray will be negative. Besides milk we have provided clothing, equipment and healthcare. Funding these helpless infants shows that it is vital to continue our support to improve the lives of these vulnerable people.

Fundraising boost for Mukuni

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I am just about to leave for Zambia and could not go without posting our exciting news. I am delighted to announce that for this financial year our fundraising efforts have passed the quarter of a million pounds (US400,000) mark – our most successful year to date! This has mainly been achieved by the enormous grant awarded from Jersey Overseas Aid Commission to build three new schools in Matengu, Silelo and Malima villages – all some fifty miles from Mukuni.

A further donation from Just a Drop will enable us to build a bore hole at Libala Basic School which was was closed last year, by the education authorities, due to lack of safe drinking water. It is sad to think that these pupils have been deprived of education for almost six months. Water is an essential part of life, one of our aims is to provide safe clean drinking water for all the schools and villages we operate in. This donation also includes two additional double pit-latrines for Mukuni Basic School. Sanitation is a huge problem in rual communities where many people rely on the bushes. Schools that have insufficient latrines can be closed down.

Fundraising: Water is life – dried stream Mukuni Chiefdom

We have a number of current fundraisers who deserve recognition: Brendan Mission is raising £10,000 to build a music centre at Mukuni to create awareness of orphans and HIV/AIDS prevention which will be used for concerts, drama and worshops. On the 1st March Brendan is hosting a Music Earth Rise event in London; if you live in the area please go along. Margaret and Casey from Oregon have raised funds for a goats’ milk project to support our under fives’ feeding program, which replaces breastmilk in HIV positive mothers. Next month will see University College London supporting our orphan sponsorship and malaria prevention programs. Members of their Global Development Initiatives Society have selected The Butterfly Tree to be recipients of their annual ‘One World Week’ fundraiser.

Recipient of the orphan sponosrship program – Mukuni Village

We are delighted that so many people are giving up their time to provide vital funds for our work in Zambia and are grateful to everyone for donating time and funds to help us. Without this support we could not have achieved so much. Thousands of orphaned and vulnerable children are now receiving an education, have access to safe clean drinking water and improved health facilites. If you would like to get involved, sponsor an orphan or fundraise for The Butterfly Tree all the details are on the website or for further information contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk Last year Facebook featured ‘our story’ to go out to their 500,000 million users – please join The Butterfly Tree community page so that we can get further recognition from Facebook.

Mukuni Teachers Visit UK

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

This past week we have had the pleasure of two visitors from Mukuni – Reverend Presley Mulenga, Head Teacher of Mukuni Basic School and member of The Butterfly Tree and Thomas Chanda, their Special Education teacher. Hosted by Fountaindale Special Education School in Nottinghamshire the teachers attended classes, church meetings and social events. The school obtained a local grant to fund an exchange with the two schools and gave them an insight to education in the UK. Presley said ‘everything is so much more advanced than Zambian education’.

Mukuni teachers – Thomas & Presley visiting the Tower of London

Last year thanks to a grant from The Besom we were able to build a classroom for children needing Special Education. Prior to this there was very little hope for these vulnerable children. Stanley Safari Lodge have donated equipment, learning materials, furniture and toys to assist with the development of this class. Children with learning difficulties, ones who are partially sighted and ones with impaired hearing can now be taught in a happy and colourful enviroment. Thomas is an excellent teacher dedicated to improving the lives of these special pupils.

The charity funded physiotherapy for Joseph who has cerebral palsy

The last two days of Thomas and Presley’s visit were spent in Warwickshire and London. A whirlwind sight-seeing trip to the capitol, where my sons and I took them to virtually every major attraction, gave them an insight to a very different world to that of village life in Mukuni. It was a humbling experience for us most especially seeing them enjoy a variety of food so very different to the three meals of ground maize which is all their meagre salaries can afford.

Next month the two Fountaindale teachers are to visit Mukuni Village. Fountaindale also donated many items for the classroon and have vowed to set up an ongoing project to benefit both schools. We are very grateful for this support and found it an absolute pleasure having Presely and Thomas visit us.

More schools for Zambia

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Welcome to the new website! We hope that you will be able to see more of the vital work we carry out in Zambia and find these pages easier to navigate. A special thanks to Miranda at Morphity for freely donating her time and expertise.

2011 has got off to a prosperous start with many more donors offering to sponsor an orphan, fundraisers organising events as well as volunteers planning their trips to Mukuni. There are so many ways that you can get involved without having to break the bank. What has helped us considerably are the number of donors who have offered on going support, which has enabled The Butterfly Tree to continue feeding programs in schools, malaria prevention and HIV/AIDS prevention in clinics and sponsorship for initiatives such as the Mukuni pre-school.

More schools for Zambia – feeding program at Kamwi School

Over the next few months we will start work on three new schools in very remote areas – one in the village of Malima in the Mukuni Chiefdom and the other two in Matengu and Silelo in the Musokotwane Chiefdon, a new area of expansion for the charity. Each community has impressively attempted to create an educational environment for their children using mud hut structures and untrained teachers.To assit them The Butterfly Tree is to build three classrooms, six teachers’ houses, twelve pit-latrines with the addition of a bore hole at Malima. These community schools will then become basic schools with trained teachers provided by the government. Education is the key and without it these vulnerable people will not move forward. Once the rainy season is over in March our work will commence and we look forward to what we hope will be another beneficial year for education in Zambia.

More schools for Zambia – new school coming in 2011 for Silelo children

If you would like to get involved in fundraising, orphan sponsorship or a particular project contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Travel Philanthropy

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Happy New Year! Now is the time when we all start to think about holidays and getting away from the cold weather and grey skies in search of the sun. Perhaps this year you would like to try a holiday of a different kind by becoming a philanthropic traveller or volunteer. This is how my journey started with The Butterfly Tree. I first visited Zambia in February 2006 on an organised trip, which included boat rides on the mighty Zambezi River, micro-lighting over the spectacular Victoria Falls and exhilerating safaris through the African bush. Little did I know that something as simple as visiting a rural village would turn into a life-changing experience.

Many people are unaware that just a few miles from exotic hotels, such as the Royal Livingstone Hotel situated in one of the most stunning locations in Africa, live some of the poorest people on the planet. My visit to Mukuni Village left such an impression that I have spent the past five years raising funds and awareness in an attempt to improve the health and education of thousands of HIV and AIDS orphans in Zambia.

Rural life in Mukuni Village

A trip to Mukuni, although very moving, can be fun and rewarding. The people are humble and friendly and go about the daily chores in a dignified manner. Numerous tourists, after visiting the village, have contacted The Butterfly Tree and donated to one of our local projects or sponsor an orphan. Some of these travellers have returned as volunteers for The Butterfly Tree, where they have had the opportunity to teach at the school, assist at the clinic or work on one of the building projects. We do not run a volunteer organisation as such, therefore travel and accommodation arrangements have to be made by the participant. The charity can give advice on what is available and which projects to work with. Whether it’s just a visit to the village for a couple of hours or a stay of several weeks, becoming a philanthropic traveller or a volunteer can have mutual benefits for all parties concerned. Without exception everyone who has been involved longs to return.

Volunteer – work with the Mukuni children

If you like further information on philanthropic travel or volunteering please contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Join our Facebook page & see how we are making a difference.

I am saddened to announce that Shaun Crystal, one of the singers who donated his time and expertise for our charity song, ‘Change for the Better’ passed away in December. His memory will live on in his great music.