Trip To Zambia

Posted on by

In a few days time I leave for Zambia. I am really looking forward to seeing all my friends, visiting the remote villages and seeing the progress that has been made since my last visit in May.  

I believe the pre-school is now complete, the maternity block is being built and the new houses for the homeless are underway. However there is still much more to be done and in the past few weeks the fundraising has gone amazingly well and there are good prospects for the future of The Butterfly Tree.  

HIV and AIDS in Zambia

One of the most difficult problems to tackle is the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Zambia and during this trip I hope to be able to look into ways where we can help. One of the concepts is to offer education through interactive DVDS lessons, produce by charity TME, on crucial topics that affect these communities on a daily basis, using portable DVD players.

Zambia Aids Clinic
Photo: David with Barbara Hauma teacher and Presley Mulenga Head Teacher. Mukuni Village School has signs everywhere advertising the dangers of HIV/AIDS

These lessons are in English which is Zambia’s national language but we aim to get them translated to enable the people who only speak tribal languages to understand them.  Read More →

Zambia Housing Project

Posted on by

The Butterfly Tree has a new housing project underway. One of the most noticeable problems I spot when walking around the villages, is that despite having an abundance of land many people are living in over crowded conditions. This is due to the fact that these communities are too poor to build new homes and too many are living in one house, especially families taking in orphans due to the pandemic of HIV and AIDS in Zambia.  

Zambia House
Photo: Angela, Cynthia and Esnat outside Cynthia’s home. Five people have to share this one house. The Butterfly Tree are helping to give this family a sustainable income

Traditionally every rural Zambian homestead should have 3 houses; sleeping quarters for both the males and the females and a kitchen. However I have visited a number of families where there is only one house and as many as six people sleeping in it! Read More →

Ngandu School Project

Posted on by

Last October I visited the remote village of  Ngandu, also in the Mukuni Chiefdom and a ‘feeder’ school to Mukuni Basic and High Schools.

Ngandu School was founded by the Roman Catholics in 1939. The first pupils were taught under a tree, there were no books or boards so they used to write on the ground with their fingers.

  • In 1940 a small hut was erected to accommodate one class while the other remained under the tree.

  • By 1944 a classroom block was made of grass to cater for both classes. The teachers were accommodated by the Headman before two huts were eventually built for them.

  • By 1947 a further classroom block and two teachers’ huts were added and a weekly boarding system was introduced for pupils walking great distances.

  • In 1948-1953 permanent buildings constructed and boarding facilities were provided, with the addition of two classrooms blocks for standards five and six in 1954.

After the government took over the running of Ngandu School in 1966, changing the standards to grades, very little has been done to improve the infrastructure.

Ngandu school classroom before restoration work

Ngandu school classroom before restoration work

Ngandu School has produced notable people including Ministers, Directors and Chiefs and catered for both the Southern and Western Provinces of Zambia. Sadly they all seem to have forgotten about their rural routes as the school is in desperate need of restoration and funding.
Read More →

Luxury Philanthropic Travel

Posted on by

In April 2007 I was invited to speak at The Global Luxury Forum in London, where I introduced the concept of luxury Philanthropic Travel.

Following the forum a number of companies have contacted The Butterfly Tree with offers of support. As a guest speaker introducing the concept of luxury philanthropic travel, I realised that this is the way forward to make people more aware of the environment in the so called ‘exotic’ holiday destinations.

Philanthropic Travel encourage travellers to take ‘time out’ of their holiday to visit an area where charities like The Butterfly Tree, are offering support to a community and give the traveller a chance to either get involved with a project or give a donation.

After staying at Sun International’s Royal Livingstone Hotel situated on the edge of the mighty Zambezi River overlooking the breathtaking Victoria Falls, I was delighted to learn that Sun International encourage philanthropic travellers.

Sun International hotel
Photo: Sun International hotel

They have set up a number of projects to help the community surrounding them by providing orphanages, old people’s homes and projects for the blind among many other things.

I feel privileged to be able to work alongside this company, who have offered tremendous support to our charity and are invaluable with the advice they give us.   Read More →

Victoria Falls

Posted on by

The Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is a World Heritage Site and a must for anyone visiting Zambia. This major tourist attraction has a history that connects the Victoria Falls with Mukuni Village.

Victoria Falls Zambia

Victoria Falls – September 2009 before the rainy season. It is possible to walk the width of the river bed during the dry season

To the western world the Victoria Falls were discovered by David Livingstone in 1855, who named them after Queen Victoria, but long before this date his Makolola escorts and the Leya people called them Mosi-Oa-Tunya interpreted as The Smoke that Thunders.

Read More →

Mukuni Health Centre

Posted on by

The Mukuni Health Centre has to cover for a population in excess of 7,000 people. When I first visited the health centre in March 2006 is was in an appalling state. The clinic had one thermometer and one blood pressure monitor.

Mukuni Health Centre

Mukuni Health Centre

Our first donation included funding restoration work and providing much needed medical supplies for Mukuni Health Centre. We have since provided blankets, sheets and all kinds of medical equipment including vast amounts of bandages, syringes, pregnancy testing kits to name but a few.   Read More →

HIV/AIDS Support Group

Posted on by

The Tusole Lwangunuko Support group was formed by people living with HIV and AIDS in Zambia who came together to join the world community in the fight against HIV/AIDS through sensitisation activities in the Mukuni Chiefdom in a bid to promote VCT and positive living and eliminate stigmatization and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS in Zambia.

HIV AIDS Support Group Zambia

Jane Kaye-Bailey with HIV AIDS Support Group Zambia

The Butterfly Tree is proud to support these brave people who I met during a visit to the area in May 2007. After three meetings with the HIV/AIDS support group learning about the problems these people face on a daily basis, we donated money for the group to register as a society and paid for one member to be transported to hospital and receive physiotherapy.

These people are living in very poor conditions and need a sustainable income generating activities, transport and a better diet as most of them suffer from anaemia. The group need training so that they can provide a community sensitization program throughout the Chiefdom and beyond and to empower women with the knowledge of mother to child transmission.   Read More →

How charity started

Posted on by

A rural community in Zambia has become an important part of my life after visiting the area during a business incentive trip. The contrast of staying at the beautiful Royal Livingstone Hotel on the edge of the Zambezi River overlooking the magnificent Victoria Falls and visiting a rural village has opened my eyes to the world of Philanthropic Travel.

Zambian little girls who inspired The Butterfly Tree

Zambian little girls who inspired The Butterfly Tree

It’s hard to ignore a statistic like the one I was given when I visited the Mukuni Village School, that out of 1,000 pupils nearly half of them have lost one or more parents.

Being driven back to our luxury hotel I couldn’t get the orphans out of my mind and decided that I must do something about it. I rallied round the group we were with and by the end of my trip I had ‘bagged’ over £5,000.

On my return to the UK my husband pointed out that if you send the money out it may never get to the orphans. Three weeks later along with my son David, who was at the time having a ‘gap’ year, I returned to the area laden with medical supplies, stationary and clothing for the orphans. After being given a resounding welcome by the Chieftainess Bedyango, the Prime Minister, the Head Teacher and hundreds of children, it was a very emotional experience, I felt ‘at home’ with these warm and humble people. We had just given the largest donation the village had ever received!   Read More →