SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO ZAMBIA AND ANOTHER AWARD FOR EDUCATION

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

It is over five weeks since I returned from Zambia, so much more is happening that it looks as if we are in for another good year. I am overwhelmed by the offer of further support from existing and new donors, and delighted to report that The Butterfly Tree has won another award: The London & South East England Prestige Awards – ‘Youth Education Non-profit Organisation of the Year.’

In addition to this we have been selected as a finalist for the WATER AIR AND FOOD AWARDS in Denmark. The winner will receive a monetary prize, however we need to gather votes. We would be grateful if you could vote for us in the ‘FOOD‘ category by using this link: https://www.wafaward.org/vote/

After opening the link you will see ‘Voting is open‘ and underneath ‘Click here to register your Vote!’ You need to enter your email or mobile number and register, after which you will be able to vote for The Butterfly Tree! The request for your email or phone number is simply to prove you are a genuine voter.

The link below is a video of the project we submitted, produced and narrated by WAFA organisation:

Since writing April’s newsletter more progress has been made. A borehole at N’gandu Junior Secondary School in Mukuni Chiefdom was drilled though we had to drill to 140 meters to find water! This will provide 560 pupils with easy access to safe drinking water and for their vegetable gardens. This week one will be drilled at Malombe Primary School, where we have just started work on a 1×2 classroom block. Two further boreholes will follow.

During my visit to Zambia I was joined by the Murphy Family who has generously donated to the charity for several years. It was wonderful to be able to show them the projects they have funded at River View and Musokotwane Secondary Schools. The pupils, teachers and community, most especially at Musokotwane, gave them a memorable welcome. The family has kindly offered further support for the two schools. These advanced education facilities cater for over 2,000 pupils.

At the end of April, two of our Zambian NGO trustees were invited to visit the Blackpool Cup, an International Youth Football Tournament, for which The Butterfly Tree was selected as an official charity partner. Mupotola and Martin attended matches, presented trophies and gave interviews. They were taken to see the local sites, a tour of Liverpool Stadium and to watch a match between Blackburn and Luton, by one of our donors, Pepe’s Zambia-Football Foundation. The Blackpool Cup organisers asked teams if they would donate unwanted kit for school teams in Zambia, and all the footballs used at the tournament were donated to the charity.

BLACKPOOL INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

A new health post, including a clinic, two staff houses, three toilets and a biodigester for waste, will be completed next week, thanks to a substantial grant from the Overseas Aid and Development Commission, Guernsey. The communities in Boombwe, a remote area of Mosokotwane, do not have access to a medical facility during the rainy season. The clinic will be used for general practice, antenatal and post natal, births, and for treament and prevention of HIV, and malaria. Funds for medical equipment and furniture are included in the grant, and The Butterfly Tree has added a solar-powered water reticulation system with a water storage tank.

As you can see we have a made a promising start to our new financial year. As always we are extremely grateful to all our donors, volunteers and fundraisers for their tremendous support.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

THE BUTTERFLY TREE REPORTS ITS SEVENTEENTH SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Posted on April 14, 2023 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

On Tuesday I returned to the UK after spending three weeks in Zambia checking on our many projects and sourcing new ones. I find it hard to believe it is now over seventeen years since I first visited Mukuni Village. Starting with an orphan sponsorship programme The Butterfly Tree branches have grown significantly. We have projects throughout the Kazungula District as well as Livingstone and Zimba Districts.

SPONSORED ORPHANS – N’GANDU JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

Today we are building entire schools, health posts and community houses. We install boreholes and water reticulation systems, and sanitation for remote schools and communities. We provide support for HIV prevention and Girls’ Empowerment, and initiate sustainable income-generating enterprises for women and youths. We help the global fight against malaria.

NEW BOREHOLE – JAMES SIATCHEMA PRIMARY SCHOOL, NYAWA

None of this could have been achieved without the generous support of our donors, some have been donating since 2006. The money we raise comes from grant aid, trusts, individuals, corporate, schools, clubs and other organisations. Every donation we receive, whether it be big or small counts, and helps to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable children on the planet.

SIMONGA MATERNITY WARD – LIVINGSTONE DISTRICT

We have a wonderful team of volunteers both in the UK and Zambia who are committed to our grass root cause and have been paramount in the charity’s success. Working alongside our Zambian team gives me an incite into how much time is needed to initiate, manage and monitor the projects on the ground. I drove over 1,200 km while in Zambia to visits schools, communities and health posts. To access these remote areas, the tracks are often hazardous, during the rainy season – some become impassable.

CROSSING THE NGWEZI RIVER ON ROUTE TO NYAWA

These journeys give me the opportunity to meet pupils, teachers, and medical staff and to engage with the local communities. I see first hand the need but always ask the people what is required rather than telling the people what they should have. The difference a school borehole or classroom can make is remarkable. The difference a rural health post makes can be life-saving. Below are some of the main objectives we achieved during the past year.

PROJECTS FROM MARCH 31ST 2022 TO 1ST APRIL 2023

Health Post – Katondo including a clinic, two teacher’s houses, borehole and toilets
Health Post – Boombwe including a clinic, two teacher’s houses, borehole and toilets
Completion of classrooms – Mukuni, Kamwi and Sichifulo schools
Two teacher’s houses – Musokotwane Secondary School
Restoration of a primary school classroom and one for special education – Mukuni
Boreholes – Mambwa, James Siachema, Simukombo and Ngandu schools. Namyola and Hamoomba communities
Sustainable community project for women in Sekute
Donation of seeds and fertilizer – 50 schools in the Kazungula District
Distribution of ground maize to 2,500 households in four Chiefdoms
Distribution of mosquito nets to schools in Sekute and Nyawa
Donation of textbooks, materials, and desks – primary, special education and secondary schools
Donation of medical supplies – Simango, Mambova, Bunsanga and Mukuni clinics.
Sponsorship for orphans at seven schools, and for university and college students.
Sports sponsorship and football tournaments – selected charity for the Blackpool Cup

AWARDS 2022-23

Scotland Prestige Awards ‘Education Charity of the Year‘ – winner.
Central England Prestige Awards ‘HIV Support NPO of the Year’ – winner.
WAFA AWARDS shortlisted for the ‘FOOD’ Category – winner to be announced.

The Butterfly Tree has grown considerably since the founding. Consequently we have recently converted the charity from a trust to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation as recommended by the Charity Commission, and a criteria for some grant funding applications. ‘A CIO has its own legal identity, and is liable for its own debts as opposed to a trust, which holds assets for its beneficiaries.’ The CIO will give donors more security.

The Butterfly Tree will not change its aims or the way we operate. The same trustees and volunteers will continue to raise funds and awareness to help those most in need and as always no salaries, office rent nor personal fees will be deducted from donations. The new charity number is 1202390 and can be seen on the Charity Commission’s website, as it is newly registered there is no financial history listed. However, all the financial records for The Butterfly Tree trust can still be viewed on the Charity Commission website, using this link 1118084.

Our Annual Report and Accounts for 2022-23, which will shortly be audited, and will be available to view in the next couple of months.

Many thanks to all our global donors, fundraisers, trustees and volunteers, both in the UK and Zambia, for making this another outstanding year for The Butterfly Tree, and most importantly for its beneficiaries.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 8th March 2023

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The Theme for International Women’s Day 2023 – ‘Embrace Equity.’

Today we are celebrating all the girls who have been sponsored by The Butterfly Tree and rose to the challenge. Hundreds of young women have completed high school education and college, many have sought employment. One of them is a volunteer for the charity and manages our orphan sponsorship and girls’ empowerment programmes.

Young woman from Mukuni Village manages The Butterfly Tree orphan sponsorship programme. — Natasha manages The Butterfly Tree Orphan Sponsorship Programme

There are 1.2 million orphans in Zambia. Since 2006 The Butterfly Tree has sponsored orphaned and vulnerable boys and girls from rural villages in the Kazungula District. Girls traditionally marry at a young age and have children in their teens. Those living in extreme poverty can easily fall pregnant through lack of knowledge or be enticed into early marriages, putting them at risk of contracting HIV. Educating girls can help to prevent this from happening.

Girls and young women at Ngandu School learning about HIV prevention and Girls' Empowerment through The Butterfly Tree peer education programme. — HIV PREVENTION WORKSHOP – NGANDU SCHOOL

Our orphan support programmes give girls an opportunity to be educated, to have choices and to learn about girl empowerment. Training peer educators is the best way to educate girls about the dangers of HIV, teenage pregnancies, and drug and alcohol abuse. We have role models who have completed high school and giving back to their communities.

The Butterfly Tree Girls' Empowerment Programme educates orphans and vulnerable young women about HIV prevention, teenage pregancies and early marriages. — GIRLS’ EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP – SENKOBO SCHOOL

After completing high school girls have gone to university or college studying a variety of subjects, including teaching, business and hotel management, catering, nursing, and journalism. Situated close to Livingstone, the capital of tourism, and the Victoria Falls young women from the rural areas have been able to engage in employment in hotels, businesses, and at the border.

Young woman's successful after being sponsored by The Butterfly Tree has a career with a clearing agent. — PRECIOUS HAS A CAREER IN FORWARD AND CLEARING

As we celebrate this day The Butterfly Tree aims to support more vulnerable girls from remote villages who would not normally have an opportunity to complete their education. With our support their lives can change for the better.

FURTHER HEALTH AND EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN REMOTE ZAMBIA

Posted on February 21, 2023 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

As the rainy season in Zambia continues crops are growing and boreholes, rivers and streams are filling up. However, during this period some rural schools, clinics and villages become inacessible as tracks become flooded. This is why The Butterfly Tree continues to source remote areas in need of health and education facilities. The following feedback, received this weekend, from a nurse at Katondo health post, confirms how vital these projects are:

‘An elderly woman had collapsed with BP. In the past she would have been taken to Kauwe Health Centre a distance of 15km, but with the rains the roads are currently impassable. She was treated in Katondo and went home the following morning. The next day an expectant mother was in an emergency situation, nurses safely delivered the baby at the facility.’ These rural health posts are vital – this mother and elderly women would not have been unable to travel to Kauwe Health Centre due to the rains.

Thanks to the tremendous support from the Overseas Aid and Development Commission in Guernsey we have developed health posts at Sikaunzwe, Bunsanga and Katondo with one currently under construction at Boombwe. We have also built health posts at Mahalulu and Mambova and added maternity wards and mother’s shelters in ten other areas. With readily available access to medical care in the West it is diffilcult to comprehend the need for improved healthcare in countries like Zambia.

This month we were delighted to receive a substantial donation from one of our private donors to build more classrooms. We are still finding mud and pole schools built by the community, in the Kazungula District, and though it is better than having no school the buildings are totally inadequate especially when it is raining. The pictures below show Bunsanga before and after our support, it can now take pupils from grade one to seven. We aim to develop three more schools this year.

Education is the key to overcoming poverty and its related issues. Following the United Nations Development Goal 4 – ‘Quality Education’ thousands of children in rural areas are in education. We were delighted to learn that out of eleven pupils on sponsorship at Mukuni High School, ten have gained their final certificates. More orphans from Mukuni, Ng’andu, Kamwi and Senkobo have joined the orphan sponsorship programme this year, having recently lost one or both parents.

Further support has been received from the Blackpool Cup organisers after selecting The Butterfly Tree as their charity partner for 2023. Two of our trustees from The Butterfly Tree, Zambia have been invited to the Blackpool Cup, an International Youth Football Tournament. The organisers will host and accommodate the trustees, and footballs from the event will be donated to the charity. Teams are are also being asked to donate football strips for our youth football teams in Zambia.

ONE OF FOUR FOOTBALL TOURNAMENTS SPONSORED BY THE BLACKPOOL CUP

The Butterfly Tree has been shortlisted for the Water Air Food Awards in Denmark. Our comprehensive application was on Food Security and how we provided emergency relief for thousands of children and communities, suffering from severe hunger and famine, during the 2019-20 drought. We need votes and would be grateful if you would consider voting for our initiative, which will shortly be published on the WAFA Award website.

HEALTH, EDUCATION & FOOD SECURITY

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The new school year in Zambia is now underway. I am pleased to report that most pupils on our orphan sponsorship programme have passed their grade 7 and 9 exams, with some gaining very good results. A further six pupils from Mukuni and three from River View completed high school in December. Their grade 12 results will be announced next month. Eight students are currently attending universities and college, while those who took skills courses last year, are doing work experience. The Murphy Family Foundation and the Mukuni Village Trust, Australia, have given considerable support to help orphans and vulnerable youths.

Thanks to a substantial donation from Nick Bousliman fifty rural schools received bags of seeds and fertilizer for their school gardens, to create sustainable feeding programmes. This generous donation also included 2,000 bags of ground maize for the elderly and vulnerable families, and five boreholes. In addition to this, donations from our successful Christmas Appeal enabled us to distribute more bags of ground maize in Mukuni, Sekute, Musokotwane and Nyawa. One grateful beneficiary from Nyawa sent the following message to The Butterfly Tree.

‘Food is scarce to us elderly especially at this time of year. I am a diabetic and having no food is a danger. Last week I collapsed and a good Samaritan took me to hospital where they put me on a drip of glucose. I didn’t have any food since the morning. Now that I have this bag of maize I will be moving with a bowl of nsima and eat whenever I feel weak. Thank you Butterfly Tree for saving lives.’

The second phase of the new health post at Boombwe is underway. The development, funded by the Overseas Aid and Development Commission, Guernsey, includes a clinic, two staff houses, toilets and biodigester. Mosquito nets were donated to Boombwe school children as there is a high prevalence of malaria. Blooms the Pharmacy, Australia continue to provide medical supplies for Bunsanga, Simonga and Mambova health posts.

The three women’s projects in partnership with Give a Hand, Canada are going well. Muyunda women are busy collecting honey from wild bees to earn an income by selling honey and beeswax. The Musokotwane ‘Mangoes of Hope’ women sold all the jam they made during the mango season and will again grow tomatoes until the next season. The ‘Hope for a Better Future’, which includes rearing chicken and growing vegetables for women in Sekute, is doing exceptionally well. The women have sought good markets for the chicken and vegetables’ sales, which are proving to be highly lucrative.

During the Christmas holidays three football tournaments took place for U-17 girls in Mukuni, Senkobo and Nyawa, and one for U-17 boys in Mukuni. The aim is to help prevent HIV, early pregnancies, alcohol and drug abuse by encouraging youths to engage in sport. All participants must attend The Butterfly Tree HIV prevention workshops. This was sponsored by Blackpool Cup who have chosen The Butterfly Tree as their charity partner for their 2023 tournament.

MUKUNI UNDER-SEVENTEEN’S FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT WINNERS

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

On behalf of The Butterfly Tree trustees in the UK and Zambia we would like to wish all our donors, supporters, volunteers and fundraisers a very happy Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year.

As another year closes the charity shortly enters its seventeenth year and once again I am pleased to report that we’ve had a very succussful year. Below are some of the highlights:

Completion of a health post with staff houses – Katondo
Completion of a classroom – Mubuyu community school
Completion of a classroom – Kamwi junior school
Completion of a classroom – Chabalanda junior
Completion of a classroom – Mukuni junior school
Expansion of Sichifulo junior secondary school
Donation of desks – Mukuni and Kamwi junior schools
Donations of textbooks to 20 schools
Installation of seven boreholes for schools and communities
Two mother’s shelters – Manyemuyemu and Siakachapa
Support to health centres – Mambova, Simonga, Bunsanga and Mukuni
Donation of mosquito nets to school children and insecticidal coating of houses – Moomba
20 community houses for orphans and widows
‘Mangoes of Hope’ – sustainable community project for women – Musokotwane
‘Hope for the Future’ – sustainable community project for women – Sekute
Sponsorship of 7 university students and 14 college students
Sponsorship of 250 orphans and vulnerable children
Donation of seeds and fertilizer to 50 schools for sustainable feeding programmes
Distribution of 2,500 bags of ground maize to orphans and vulnerable families
Two staff houses soon to be completed – Musokotwane high school
Health post currently under construction – Boombwe

Thanks to your tremendous support we have enabled thousands more vulnerable children to have access to safe water, feeding programmes, improved health and education facilities, malaria and HIV prevention and better houses. In addition, women have sustainable income-generating enterprises and communites have boreholes and accessible health posts and no longer have to walk long distances for these essential services.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER AND SUCCESS FOR ORPHANS

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

With less than a month to go until Christmas Day The Butterfly Tree is appealing for donations to purchase bags of maize for vulnerable children and families, and the elderly. At this time of year food is in short supply as there has been no rain for six months. Communities and schools are busy ploughing their land, but it will be another few months before crops are ready. There is a great deal of hunger, and many people are surviving on just one meal a day.

As the rainy season approaches this is also the time of year when children are in need of protection from malaria. Our ‘mosquito nets for schools‘ programme is proving to be highly effective. Each pupil and teacher are given a mosquito net to prevent contracting malaria. According to the World Health Organisation ‘in 2020, nearly half of the world’s population was at risk of malaria. Most cases and deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa.’

For just £6 ($7) we can purchase a 25kg of ground maize or a mosquito net. 100% of all donations will be used for this purpose, nothing will be deducted for admin or personal fees. If you would like to make a donation, please use this link to see the different payment options: DONATE

The Zambian school year is about to close and all the sponsored orphans and vulnerable children are being given a bag of ground maize. Now in its sixteenth year the orphan sponsorship programme has helped hundreds of individual children. A further twelve pupils have just completed high school, some of them have been on the programme from grade one through to grade twelve. This opportunity is life-changing and gives children, who live in extreme poverty, hope and a chance of a better future.

MULIMA HEAD BOY AT MUKUNI HIGH SCHOOL IN 2022

In addition, ten students participating in skills courses at Libes college in Livingstone, have also completed and waiting for their certificates. The courses included building, carpentry, plumbing, catering, and forward and clearing. Seven students are currently on degree courses, thanks to The Murphy Family Foundation.

DAVID, ALICE, THABO, ALICE AND AUGUSTINE COMPLETE COLLEGE

We are delighted to welcome John Staab a long-term sponsor and volunteer, to Mukuni. His company, Motive Real Estate, Texas donates a community house to orphans and widows for every house he sells. John has also funded the restoration of a classroom, which he is currently working on with our local team. Volunteering is a great way to experience local culture and to see a traditional way of life. Past volunteers, like John, loved this life-changing experience and continue to support The Butterfly Tree.

It’s mango season in Zambia and women in Musokotwane are busy drying mangoes, and producing jam and fresh juice. ‘Mangoes of Hope’ initiated by The Butterfly Tree and generously funded by our Canadian partner, Give a Hand, will not only provide food security for the women but also give them a sustainable income to support their families.

With focus on the World Cup taking place in Qatar we are delighted to have been chosen as the nominated charity partner for the 2023 Blackpool Cup. The Butterfly Tree supports football for youths as well as empowering girls to help prevent them being enticed into early marriages, teenage pregnancies, and drug and alcohol abuse. Blackpool Cup has given a generous donation to fund a tournament in Zambia and will promote our work at their International Youth Football tournament next year.

A donation, however small, to our Christmas Appeal can really make a difference to a protect a child against malaria or to feed a family. Please click on this link if you would like to make a donation: DONATE

BOOST FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Posted on November 4, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

First of all I would like to apologise for the issues we have recently experienced with our website and emailing. We are currently in the process of updating the entire system, which will include a new website, with support from Steven Waller, an IT volunteer. We also welcome Anthony O’Neill, a long-term donor of The Butterfly Tree, to our board of Trustees. Anthony has supported our education projects for several years and is keen to find ways of providing solar power to clinics and schools in Zambia.

The Butterfly Tree also has a new address: 6 Walnut Tree Close, Banstead SM7 1QT. The telephone numer remains the same 0203 161 5877 and will be in operation once BT connect it on the 18th November! In the meantime if you wish to contact the charity please call 07535 424416 or email jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Last month we were delighted to learn that we are this year’s winner of the Central England Prestige Awards for 2022/23 for the category – ‘HIV Support Non-profit Organisation of the Year’.

‘Truly congratulations Jane, yourself & all involved within the organisation have certainly dedicated a lot of time and effort. A great acheivement as we rarely have winners recognised consistently.’ Last year the charity was the winner of the Central England Prestige Awards – ‘Orphan Charity of the Year.’

After the completion of the health post at Katondo we are thrilled to have be awarded further grant aid from the Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission to construct a health facility at Boombwe, a remote area in Musokotwane where currently people must walk 24km to seek medical attention. The area becomes inaccessible during the rainy season when women must deliver their babies at home. One senior headman’s comment after hearing the news – ‘this will be a first in my lifetime’, he is 65 years old. The project will include a clinic, two staff houses, a biodigester and equipment. The Butterfly Tree will fund a borehole. This will be the fourth health post funded by the Commission, others we have developed are at Sikaunzwe, Bunsanga and Katondo.

BOOMBWE COMMUNITY BRIEFED ON THE NEW HEALTH POST

The rainy season is about to start in Zambia so we are currently busy working with the Ministry of Heath to get malaria prevention interventions in place. Moomba, with the highest prevalence of malaria, is our priority. Houses are to be painted with a safe insecticidal coating. Larvacide will be applied to streams and ponds to prevent the larva developing into mosquitos. The schools in Boombwe area, the location for the new health post, are to receive mosquito nets. Every pupil and teacher will be given a net. Our ‘mosquito nets for schools‘ project is proving to be highly effective in helping to prevent new cases of malaria.

After a receiving a further donation from the Murphy Family Foundation two teachers’ houses are under construction at Musokotwane high school. Our trained youth builders are being paid to do this work. The Murphy Family are also supporting seven university students who are studying accountancy, pharmacy, engineering, teaching, and journalism. More students are participating in skills, including five girls sponsored by Their World, another three are studying nursing and carpentry. A classroom has also been built at Mukuni Primary school.

NEW CLASSROOM – MUKUNI PRIMARY SCHOOL

We have an exciting project underway for some of our former sponsored students, funded by the Murphy Family Foundation. In May, Jonathan Sedo, a toursim consultant who has volunteered for The Butterfly Tree since 2013 flew to Zambia to initiate a youth project at Mukuni Village and the Victoria Falls. Every year around one million tourists visit this magnificent World Heritage site, known locally as the Mosi-Oa-Tunya Falls.

The aim of the project is for the youths to take visitors on a tour of Mukuni Village and the Victoria Falls. Tourists can gain an insight into the traditional culture of the Leya people from youths who were born in Mukuni, and learn about their culture.

SIX FORMER SPONSORED YOUTHS AND MANAGER OF THE TOUR GUIDES

The latest community project for women entitled ‘Hope for a Better Future’ has taken off and proving to be lucrative. Funded by our Canadian partner, Give a Hand, women in Sekute grow maize and vegetables, and rear chickens. Situated close to the town of Kazungula and the Botswana border these enterprising women have found a demand for rape, a vegetable high in calcium and phosphorus, and chickens. The project includes a grinding mill for maize which can be used by other communities for a small charge to add to the women’s income. Previously the nearest grinding mill was a distance of 8 kilometres. These women are now able to support their families and have ‘hope for a better future!’

As always we are grateful to everyone who has supported our grass root projects, which are impacting the lives of thousands of vulnerable children and communities.

2021-22 HIGHLIGHTS GIVE HOPE TO THOUSANDS

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Despite all the challenges and the increase in demand for charity donations, I am delighted to report that 2021-22 was the second-best year since the founding of The Butterfly Tree. The only other year when we raised more money was in 2019-20, though almost a quarter of the donations was to assist with emergency food relief when The Southern and Western Provinces suffered the worst drought in over 30 years. This past year has been exceptional and thanks to our local team in Zambia numerous projects have been successfully initiated, managed and monitored.

There were many highlights during the past year – the main one being the development of a rural health post in the remote area of Katondo in Nyawa Chiefdom. Once again we received a generous grant award from Guernsey Overseas Aid and Development Commission to fund this. The project included a clinic, two staff houses, toilets, a borehole and a biodigester, as well as equipment and mosquito nets. This is a great assett to the area as the nearest clinic was in excess of 20km. We are also grateful to Blooms the Chemist, Australia, who sent regular donations to support Simonga, Bunsanga and Mambova Rural Health Centres.

NEW HEALTH POST – KANTONDO

As always we continue to support malaria prevention. According to The World Health Organisation’s latest malaria report 2020 saw an increase of 14,000,000 on the previous year and 627,000 deaths. This increase was partly due to the disruptions in distributions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to further donations from the Association of Inner Wheel and Stratford Rotary Club we have donated insecticidal coating to Moomba Chiefdom, and several thousand mosquito nets to schools in Moomba and Ngwezi areas.

‘MOSQUITO NETS FOR SCHOOLS’ – MALIMBA

The Murphy Family Foundation gave a substantial donation towards our education programmes. This donation provided textbooks, shared amongst primary and secondary schools throughout the Kazungula District, but the majority of the Foundation’s funding paid for further education. Five students who completed school after being on The Butterfly Tree’s orphan sponsorship programme are currently attending university reading the following courses: pharmacy, engineering, accountancy (2) and teaching. In addition, eight students are learning skills at college. A further six young women are being funded to go to college by Theirworld and two private donors are sponsoring two nurses.

TEXTBOOK DONATIONS – KAZUNGULA RURAL SCHOOLS

The Butterfly Tree has been sponsoring orphans since 2006. Every year more sponsors come on board and this year Senkobo Primary School was added to this list. The other schools where orphans and vulnerable children are being sponsored are: Mukuni, Kamwi, Ngandu, Ndele and River View and Kazungula Boarding School. Nine pupils completed school in December 2021 – the girls at River View gained exceptionally good results. Standards at River View, situated next to Botswana border, have improved considerably since we built the high school, rarely do girls fall pregnant or enter into early marriages.

ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP – SENKOBO PRIMARY SCHOOL

There are still far too many pupils still learning in mud and pole buildings and overcrowded rooms. We constructed a classroom block at Kamwi Primary School to enrol grades 8 and 9 pupils, which will save them having to walk the long journey to Mukuni. A classroom block in Chabalanda, Musokotwane Chiefdom, was completed at the end of last year, and one is currently being built at Mubuyu in Nyawa. The community at Sichifulo had attempted to build a classroom block and science lab but this would have taken years. Using money left to The Butterfly Tree by the late Richard Reid, a retired teacher who volunteered in Zambia after which he supported the sponsorship of orphans for many years, this project will shortly be completed.

NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK – CHABALANDA

As always there is a need for boreholes. Last year we were fortunate to have been awarded a substantial grant from Fedex. This enabled us to install boreholes in remote areas where the communities relay on drawing drinking water from streams and rivers. The rainy season is about to end, therefore we will shortly resume this vital programme and add the remainder of the boreholes from the grant aid as well as others. One of our donors will be running the Vitality London 10k race on May 2nd to raise money for a borehole for Haboomba, which will supply 1,558 people with safe clean water.

SUCCESSFUL DRILLING FOR A BOREHOLE – NAMPAKA

Give a Hand, our Canadian partner, who had previously funded a beekeeping project for 200 women in Mubuyu gave a further donation to progress with the ‘Mangoes of Hope’ project for 200 women in Musokotwane. The women have received extensive training in the production of dried mangoes, mango juice, mango jam and mango chutney. Give a Hand also funded a chicken and vegetable growing project for 200 Sekute, which will shortly up and running. Each of these projects will provide sustainable income-generating enterprices for women living in remote areas.

MANGO PRODUCTION – MUSOKOTWANE

Several of the orphans on our sponsorship programme were given new homes thanks to Motive Real Estate, Texas, In addition, a private donor sent a donation to fund four more houses for widows and orphans. These will be finished once the dried grasses are available for the thatched roofs. No one is permitted to cut the grasses until June when they should be completely dry. Women in Manyemuyemu and Sikachapa have welcomed the addition of mother’s shelters in their communities. Women who live a long distance from the health centre will no longer opt to deliver their babies at home, instead they can stay at the shelters a week prior to the onset of labour. These were kindly funded by the Society of the Sacred Heart who also funded a Girls’ Empowerment project, which is proving to be invaluable.

GIRLS’ EMPOWERMENT – MUKUNI VILLAGE

Towards the end of this financial year youths in Mukuni Chiefdom had a major highlight. We have been working with Pepe’s Zambia-Football Foundation for the past two years. Founder, Scott McClure, after donating a vast amount of football strips and equipment and two new goal posts for Mukuni pitches, arrived in Zambia. Organised by The Butterfly Tree a tournament with twelve teams taking place was scheduled for early April. We use football and netball as a means to creating awareness of the dangers of HIV, teenage pregnancies, and alcohol and drug abuse.

MUKUNI UNITED FOOTBALL TEAM

The new financial year for 2022-23 has got off to a good start and we hope the support will continue during the next 12 months. If you would like to support a specific project please contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk or if you would like to help Zahid raise money for a borehole at Haboomba please click on this link

Many, many thanks to all our generous donors and fundraisers for making this such a successful year, and to all our volunteers in the UK and Zambia for their committment and dedication in helping to improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable people. A full Annual Report will be published once our accounts have been audited.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN HEALTHCARE

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

My sincere apologies for the delay in sending a newsletter. The reason is not because there wasn’t anything to report last month, quite the contrary, as we are about to complete one of our most successful years since the founding of The Butterfly Tree in 2006. The reason is because we are relocating!

For the past 16 years the charity’s head office has been in Warwickshire. All our Trustees and volunteers, throughout the country and internationally, work from their homes. Nothing will change as regards our concept but I am moving to Surrey so that I can live closer to my family. For the next few months the charity will be registered, at no cost, at a temporary address, which will be listed on the website.

THE BUTTERFLY TREE SUPPORTS ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN ZAMBIA

The Butterfly Tree has donors from all of the UK as well as globally. Moving to a new area gives us the opportunity to engage more schools, clubs and organisations. What appeals to donors is that we do not deduct any administration, personal fees not office space, which enables us to give between 96-98% of all money raised to those most in need.

ONE OF THE TWO HOUSES FOR MEDICAL STAFF – KATONDO

One of our most vital projects is that of healthcare. Thanks to a substantial grant from the Guernsey Overseas Aid and Development Commission this month we have completed the construction of a much needed health post at Katondo in a remote area of Nyawa. The main clinic is 53km from Katondo and the only other clinic is in Western Province, a distance of 23km. During the rainy season when tracks become inaccessible people must to one of these clinics to seek medical attention. Consequently most women must deliver their babies at home. This worthwhile project includes a clinic, two staff houses, a borehole, biodigester, toilets, equipment, and a donation of mosquito nets.

ONE OF THE TWO MEDICAL STAFF HOUSES – KATONDO

Sadly, malaria has increased this year, not just in Zambia but globally. The World Health Organisation recently stated that a third of the increase is due to COVID-19, not because there is a lack of interventions but because of the delay in distribution. In Moomba Chiefdom, where is an epidemic, The Butterfly Tree has donated insecticidal coating to paint the inside of dwellings – when a mosquito lands on the paint it flies off and dies. Mosquito nets have also been donated to schools in Nyawa, Moomba, and in the Ngezi area will be next. We are very grateful to the Association of Inner Wheels Clubs for their commitment in helping us to eradicate malaria.

DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – SICHIFULO SCHOOL

Three other health posts at Simonga, Mambova and Bunsanga are being regularly supported thanks to donations from Blooms the Chemist, Australia. We have two school leavers from our orphan sponsorship programme studying nursing. Two young men who recently completed a degree in teaching while waiting for their results are volunteering for The Butterfly Tree. Besides offering extra tuition to pupils who failed exams they are going to hold workshops to help prevent HIV and teenage pregnancies in Kamwi, Ngandu and Mukuni.

JOHN AND AUSTIN, AFTER COMPLETING THEIR DEGREES, VOLUNTEER FOR THE BUTTERFLY TREE

Other education projects currently being developed are a classroom block at Mubuyu, a science and classroom block at Sichifulu, support for Kamwi school and a donation for desks and lab stools for Mukuni Secondary School from Arnewood School. Currently we are sponsoring 21 students at several colleges and universities who are taking the following courses: teaching, accountancy, journalism, engineering, pharmacy, nursing, forward, catering, building and welding. The Murphy Family Foundation and private donors have provided the funds. Other pupils, like Gertrude, opted to seek employment. Out of 200 applicants Gertrude was one of only five to be selected as an administrator on a Hospital Management team. In her own words: ‘Thank you for picking me from being a street child to who I am today, I lost both her parents when I was young and had no hope of going to school. I went on to complete grade 12 with 3 merits and 4 passes because of The Butterfly Tree.’

MATILDA, FROM A REMOTE AREA IN NORTHERN PROVINCE, NOW ATTENDING NURSING COLLEGE

In addtion to our health and education projects more boreholes are to be installed, further development for the women’s mango and chicken and vegetables projects funded by Give a Hand, and additional houses for orphans and the elderly are to be built. After receiving intensive training on the production of mango products the 200 women in Musokotwane are delighted that they will shortly have a sustainable income-generating enterprise.

TRAINING IN MANGO PRODUCE FOR 200 MUSOKOTWANE WOMEN

From the 17th March The Butterfly Tree will no longer be based in Warwickshire, the new address will be listed on our website on Thursday. Everything else will remain the same. As we approach our financial year end I would like to thank everyone for the tremendous support we have received not just for this past year, but since 2006.

Jane Kaye-Bailey