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

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

Sponsor an orphan in Zambia

Posted on September 6, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Children don’t ask to be born and when you are born into a Zambian family the chances of losing your parents at an early sage are very high. The HIV and AIDS in Zambia pandemic has infected or affected almost every family. One in six adults have the HIV virus and 710,000 children have been left orphaned. What happens to these orphans? The luckier ones have family members who look after them, others have guardians, while the unlucky ones who have lost everyone close to them, have to fend for themselves. Many of the have to drop out of school as they can no longer afford the school fees and need to earn money to buy food.

Sponsor an orphan: Elena Malala lives in Kamwi Village with her elderly grandmother

The Butterfly Tree orphan sponsorship program has given hope to almost 400 children and the numbers are rising. Last month an association in Australia – the Mukuni Village Inc. Generously offered to sponsor twenty orphans in addition to the 30 they sponsored last year. This has given the program a huge boost. We have many donors sponsoring between one and ten orphans, some have been with us since 2006 coming from several different countries. We are extremely grateful for this support and hope that this continues as we need many more people to sponsor an orphan.

One man who was so touched by the plight of the orphans after volunteering at Mukuni is doing a fundrasing event to build a music centre for the school. Brendan Poynton, a musician, will cycle from London to Devon to perform a gig to raise additional funds. Chiswick TV are filming the story and event which is to take place on 30th September.

Mukuni pupils on the orphan sponsorship program using the guitar donated by Brendan

Virtually all of our projects in health, education and community work are for the benefit of these vulnerable children. By offering them a chance to go to school, eat a nutritous meal and drink safe, clean water they have a chance in life. Education is the most important aspect of an orphan’s life. Our aim is to get as many of these orphans back into education as possible and to build classrooms in areas where there are no schools. Ten schools in the Mukuni Chiefdom are receiving our support and it is hoped, funds permitting, that we can develop schools in the Musokotwane Chiefdom in 2011.

Victor Simango securing a job after being sponsored by the charity

In December we had our first school leavers after completing their A levels at the high school built by the charity. Although umemployment is extermely high one young man who had been on ourorphan sponsorship program secured a job with Sun International. Victor Simango works as a security officer at the Zambezi Sun Hotel alongside the Victoria Falls and is very grateful to his sponsor who gave him the chance to improve his situation. Help us to help more of these vulnerable children.

Philanthropy in Schools

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

In a recent program the Big Give set up a scheme in schools to inspire the next generation of philanthropers, using the Dragon School in Oxford as a pilot. After researching 6000 charities on the site three were selectecd as the finalists. This is the email we received from the school ‘We have been engaged in a project to encourage philanthropy in schools via the Big Give, of all the 6000 charities on their site, I choose The Butterfly Tree because I really like the work that you are doing and I believe that you will spend the money in the right way’.

Philanthropy in Schools: Machenje pre-school children

This is just one of the many schools offering support to the charity. I recently spoke to my local village school, Wolverton Primary, for the fourth consecutive year. The interest they have shown in our projects and desire to learn about the orphans effected by HIV and Aids in Zambia is truly inspiring, the school also sponsor an orphan from Mukuni Village. Other schools to offer support are Fountaindale Special Education School, Farlingaye High School, Arden School, Marston Green Primary School, Monikie Primary School and Cromwell Junior School to name but a few.

Jube Musonda on The Butterfly Tree orphan sponsorship program

Education is not free in Zambia and it is important for children in western countries to realise how fortunate they are. Education is the key to improving the lives of African children without it there is little hope. There are a number of ways for schools to support The Butterfly Tree – by fundraising for a specific project, sponsor an orphan or through social networking such as Facebook. I recently submitted a story to Facebook, after learning that they are creating a new page, to highlight causes that have been enhanced through Social networking: ‘We liked your story so much that we’d like to feature it on a new page on Facebook we’re creating from people like you around the world’.

Join The Butterfly Tree Facebook Group

Special Education for Mukuni

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Life in Zambia is tough for a school child, especially if you an orphan and have little financial support to pursue your education. Life is is even tougher if you are a child with physical or mental disabilities. The Butterfly Tree has been working on a number of ways that we can help these disadvanteged children. Now thanks to some amazing offers we are able to set up a Special Education department.

The Besom has generously donated funds to buy the materials for a classoom block to be built at Mukuni Basic School. The charity and community will supply the labour costs. We have also received a grant from St James Place Foundation Newbury Office, which will pay for materials and uniforms for the pupils. Fountaindale Special School in Mansfield, who caters for children with severe disabilities are offering on going support through fundraising and the provison of materials. They have held a number of events to raise funds for these African children who they believe to be worse off than they are. I am so touched by the genorosity of this school as their pupils need so much care and yet their selflessness will improve the lives of children who need special education in Mukuni Village.

Special Education for Mukuni: Siabajene has learning difficulties

This will be a great advancement for Mukuni and Zambia education as very little is available from the government who will only provide a teacher. To further enhance this project you can donate a donkey to transport a disabled child to school or sponsor an orphan.

Improving Education in Mukuni

Posted on January 26, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The British and Foreign School Society gave us a grant in 2007 to provide materials and equipment for the new high school we had built at Mukuni, without this we would not have been able to open. This grant also included funds to buy stationery and equipment for Mukuni, Ngandu and Kamwi Basic Schools and gave us a great start in developing these teaching facilities. At the end of last year we had school leavers who were the first to complete a full education within Mukuni Village. This generous support helped to advance the education in these remote villages, giving the pupils access to materials that are not normally provided by the government.

Once again the The British and Foreign School Society has generously given a grant to help six more basic schools. Katapazi, Siamasimbi, N’songwe, Libala, Manayemumyemu and Mulindi Basic Schools will each receive funding to purchase stationery and equipment. We are currently working in Katapazi, Siamasimbi and N’songwe, now this will give The Butterfly Tree an opportuntiy to assist three further schools, enabling us to expand our work within the chiefdom.

Education in Mukuni: Siamasimbi Pupils N’gandu Basic School Pupils

Education is the key and the only way these vulnerable children have a chance of improving their circumstances. With 50 % of the pupils at Mukuni being orphaned through HIV/AIDS in Zambia it is crucial that these children are educated. All our projects revolve around orphan sponsorship and support aiming to enhance their health and education facilities. This month we have been able to extend our feeding programs, thanks to a very generous offer from a volunteer from Arizona who worked with me on the projects last September. Cunninghams continue to support the feeding program for the Mukuni schools; in addition we are providing food for N’gandu, Katapazi, Siamasimbi and Kamwi and the local community have provided the cooks. Another feeding program commenced at Mubiana Community School kindly funded by Placer Nature Centre.

To improve the education these schools need continued support as the government funding for basic schools is minimal. You too can help by giving a donation to one of our projects or you can sponsor an orphan for as little as £8 ($15) per month or £95 ($160) per annum.

Development for Kamwi

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Seeing the heartbreaking pictures coming out of Haiti confirms the importance of international aid work and the need for our support in developing countries. Life is a struggle on a daily basis but when something as catastrophic as an earthquake hits your community where do you turn for help? These people have not only lost everything but have little hope for the future. There is no social welfare or National Health Service and with the inevitable outbreaks of disease, shortages of water and food supplies life becomes unbearable for the survivors.

Working in a country such as Zambia I have seen devastating loss and I know how vital aid work is. However it is essential that the funding and supplies are administered through the correct channels, ensuring that it does not get into the wrong hands. Being registered as a charity in Zambia as well as the UK has given The Butterfly Tree the opportunity to have a reliable and trustworthy team on the ground. They are able to initiate and oversee all our projects giving us regular reports and asking advice when needed.

One of the biggest projects we will be tackling in the next couple of months is the development of Kamwi Basic School, which currently has an intake of 130 pupils. Kamwi is in a particularly poor area of Mukuni with virtually no employment for the people. The older children currently have to walk up to six miles to Mukuni Basic School, hence the addition of a 1×3 classroom block and a teacher’s house the school will be advanced to grades five, six and seven. Four pit-latrine toilets will also be built, this project is being funded by a grant from JOAC.

Twins from Kamwi Basic School

At present the pupils and teachers have to share the community bore hole, a twenty minute walk from the school; shortly they will have a new well thanks to a donation from Just a Drop. The school is now being run by Sylvia Mulenga, wife of Presley Mulenga, Head Teacher of Mukuni Basic School and we have every confidence that the development of Kamwi Basic School will give these children hope for a brighter future.

Sponsor Zambian Orphan

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

With the school holidays under way and the children enjoying their summer break, surprisingly African children actually prefer to be at school. Staying at home in a rural village holds very little appeal. There are no televisions, computer games or toys to occupy them nor theme parks and cinemas to visit; most children do not leave their villages, the cost and distance too great to venture away from their community. Sadly the majority of these children have not seen the Victoria Falls despite this spectacular site lying just seven kilometers from Mukuni Village.

Life for an orphan is tough, having to depend on a guardian or an elderly grandparent to provide accomodation and food is particularly difficult. These children have mainly been orphaned as a result of the HIV/AIDS in Zambia pandemic. School is their only hope, providing an education for these vulnerable children gives them a chance in life. Attending school is much more preferable than staying at home where there is nothing to do other than helping with the daily chores, fetching water, carrying wood and caring for their younger siblings.

Sponsor an Orphan: young children from Mukuni Village

The Butterfly Tree urges everyone to sponsor an orphan; whether you are an individual, company or school – for just £95 per annum or £8 per month a child can receive an educaton. We believe that every child has a right to education, something we take for granted in the west; there are thousands of African children who do not have this privilege. Our orphan sponsorship program is overseen by a group of female volunteers who source the most vulnerable children and oversee their welfare, we are currently sponsoring over 200 orphans who are benefitting from this program. To sponsor an orphan complete the form and donate using our secure online donation page.

Special Needs Help for Mukuni

Posted on July 5, 2009 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

In most western countries children with physical or mental special needs are able to receive an education, African children are less fortunate. Last year the Zambian government provided Mukuni Basic School with a special educational needs teacher and that was all. No materials, no equipment or transportation for children in outreach villages who are physically disabled, life is tough for these special African children.

Special Needs for Mukuni: Idrin Gani is disabled and now rides a donkey to school

Fortunately thanks to two generous offers The Butterfly Tree is now able to set up a new program for these disadvantaged pupils at Mukuni Basic School. St. James’ Place Foundation has given us a generous donation to purchase materials and equipment, after one of their partners and his wife visited Zambia.

Leonnie Mangan who works for Fountaindale School in Mansfield, a Specialist SEN School and the largest in the UK, volunteered to go out to Mukuni with her sister in July 2008. Working on behalf of The Butterfly Tree they assisted at Mukuni Health Centre and school. After seeing how little funding the special education teacher had to run her classes, on her return home Leonnie got her own school involved. Fountaindale have offered to provide some of the essential books and materials and are currently looking into setting up a teachers’ exchange program. The children at this school have also raised funds, one little boy who has to be intranenously fed said that he’d like to raise funds so that the African children could have some nice food.

This is a great boost for Mukuni. The Butterfly Tree is also raising funds to purchase donkeys to transport the disabled children who are unable to walk to school. If anyone would like to donate a donkey the cost is £70.