FUNDRAISING AND ONLINE DONATIONS

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

After seven years of excellent service Mydonate is closing on the 30th June. Since 2012 British Telecom has provided us with a free platform to facilitate our online donations. We have recently conducted extensive research and pleased to announce Kindlink a new platform that has similar values and tools, and is easy to use. In addition we have registered with PayPal Giving Fund, which is 100% free or you can use the normal PayPal method – charities are given a reduced rate of 1.4%.

STUNNING MURAL, WITH CHILDREN ADDING THEIR ‘BUTTERFLY’ HANDPRINTS PAINTED BY LUCY MACHIN

For those donors and sponsors that pay monthly through Mydonate, you can either switch to Kindlink or the simplest way is to set up a monthly standing order through your bank. Should you prefer this method please contact us for our bank details. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and hope that you will continue to support our worthy cause.

MONTHLY DONATIONS CAN HELP AN ORPHAN TO BE EDUCATED

The continuing severity of the food crisis is taking up a great deal of our time, fortunately, the first quarter of our new financial year has got off to an amazing start, which has enabled us to reach areas in much need. A huge thank you to everyone who has sent in donations, we are distributing over 4,000 bags of maize in Mukuni, Sekute and Nyawa Chiefdoms. Sadly, we appear to be the only charity offering assistance and people are desparate. As yet, nothing has been forthcoming from my continual pleas to the big organisations.

MAIZE BEING STORED READY TO TAKE TO OUTREACH VILLAGES AND SCHOOLS

Schools and individuals have helped us by setting up their own Facebook pages to raise funds. All you need to do is add a donation button to your page and support The Butterfly Tree, this is a totally free service. Lucy, who recently volunteered in Zambia, raised a considerable amount of money using this method, as well as painting the stunning mural, pictured above. Our thanks to Tring School for their successful fundraiser for the food crisis.

THE CHARITY IS DAILY DISTRIBUTING BAGS OF MAIZE

We are looking forward to receiving more volunteers and visitors this year. These include pupils from Arnewood School in Hampsire who raised money for a boarding shelter, Daemon College, New York to volunteer with medical staff at Mukuni, and Blooms Pharmacist, Australia, who are generously donating a maternity ward for Simango Health Post. In addition Margaret and Casey, long standing donors, are to visit with their family, who have donated latrines and a borehole.

SIMONGA HEALTH POST TO HAVE A MATERNITY WARD

There are so many ways to fundraise and one of the easiest is to get your schools and communities involved. I was recently contacted by a passionate football fan from Scotland who has set up Pepe’s Zambia Football Foundation. Scott, the founder, is collecting football strips and raising funds to advance football for rural schools and local teams in Zambia. We are delighted to form a partnership, which will help to boost our ‘Butterfly Sport‘ project to tackle HIV, teenage pregnancies and other social issues.

SCOTT’S SON PICTURED WITH ANDY ROBERTSON, SCOTLAND’S CAPTAIN & LIVERPOOL PLAYER, WHO SIGNED MEMORABILIA TO AUCTION

If you require further information about using the new donation platform, need our bank details or would like to do some fundraising for The Butterfly Tree, please contact me via email: jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Travel Philanthropy

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

From its concept in 2006 one of my aims was that The Butterfly Tree would to attract Travel Philanthropists from all over the world. The area where we are based in Zambia is close to one of the most magnificent sites, not just in Africa, but on the planet. Discovered by David Livingstone in 1855, the Victoria Falls, know locally as the Mosi-oa-Tunya (‘the smoke that thunders’) is the world’s largest sheet of falling water.

The Mighty Victoria Falls in March

The Victoria Falls is 1708 metres wide with a maximum drop of 108 metres. 50 million litres of water per minute drops from the Zambezi River, the fourth longest river in Africa, crossing through Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique before reaching the Indian Ocean. This spectacular site attracts tourists from around the globe and it is largely due to this phenomenon that we have enticed a number of travel philanthropists and volunteers to work with us on our projects.

The Zambezi River at the edge of the Victoria Falls

Last month I was in Zambia to host a group from Canada and Australia, led by Marilee and Grant Gibson, who I met when they were visiting the area in 2012. Ever since the couple have been regular fundraisers for our cause. In March this year they brought with them a team of retired doctors, nurses and teachers to volunteer at Mukuni School and Health Centre, as well as donating funds for mosquito nets, school desks and text books. After this experience they pledged further support.

Canadian and Australian volunteers watch the National Youth Day performances

John Staab, from Motive Real Estate, Texas also arrived to see the construction of the community houses, which his company is funding. For every house that is sold John donates a community house for the elderly or widows, looking after orphans. In the past nine months John has donated funds for seven houses with two more on the way.

John Staab lending a hand to the thatchers – Mukuni Village

For young people in Mukuni and other rural villages the challenges are abundant. Lack of education, disease, unemployment and poverty are some of the main issues. We have sponsored hundreds or orphans in education, a number of them are now in college or employment. For those who have left school and aim to seek further education volunteering is vital in helping them to gain confidence and experience. We now have a very powerful group, formerly trained under Meet Mutsa’s ‘Catch me I’m a Butterfly’ project, actively involved in helping to make a difference.

Mukuni Youth Empowerment Group

Now known as the Mukuni Youth Empowerment Group the members recently received tremendous support from donor/volunteer Leah Black. An experienced youth worker, Leah, spent two months further training this dedicated group of young people, to become mentors and coaches in matters concerning HIV prevention, risk taking, menstrual hygiene and alcohol abuse. Now the group can confidently mentor the orphans and advance the workshops they perform in schools.

Leah Black directed an event for National Youth Day

From Dubai we welcomed Katie Bezou and Katerina Player, who raised a considerable amount of funds to purchase school supplies and equipment for Mukuni Primary Section. Katie is currently teaching in the pre-school, while Katerina is helping out in the special education class, which we built in 2011.

Mukuni Special Education Unit constructed in 2011

This week Tracy and Charlie Flavell arrived in Mukuni. Charlie’s wish, for his 18th birthday, was to paint a classroom for orphans. His mother Tracey offered Charlie the chance to travel to Zambia to fulfil his wish – instead of receiving presents his family and friends donated funds to paint the classroom and to purchase school text books. Tracey will be working with bereaved children and Charlie will be teaching and painting!

Young Orphans Sponsored by The Butterfly Tree

These travellers have donated not only their time, but a considerable amount of money. This has given a huge boost to the local schools and clinics at Mukuni, Kamwi, River View and Singwamba. Travel philanthropy is a two-way objective, it not only gives you an opportunity to visit a developing country, but it can offer an incite into the lives of indigenous people, which can be a rewarding and often a life-changing experience. In 2006 I was a traveller to the Victoria Falls and became a philanthropist. I would like to thank all those who have followed in my footsteps!

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Travel to Zambia

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

This is the time of year when people are seeking travel options and looking for warmer climates to escape the long British winter. As always we have received a number of volunteer requests to assist our projects in Zambia. Most recently from The TeamWorks who are raising funds to build community houses in Mukuni. Not everyone can spare the time to participate in volunteering, a much easier and less time consuming option is to be a travel philanthroper. This means adding a couple of hours to your itinerary to visit a charity project in the area of your travels.

Travel to Zambia: Victoria Falls – during the dry season

Where we work is close to the mighty Victoria Falls and Botswana’s Chobe National Park. There is an abundance of things to do in the region with a good selection of hotels, including Sun International’s The Royal Livingstone and the Zambezi Sun, as well as accommodation for backpackers like JollyBoys in Livingstone. Many tourists have visited our projects in Mukuni Village and said it was the highlight of their entire trip. Zambia is rapidly developing in tourism, which we hope will benefit the rural communities and most especially the orphans seeking employment on completion of school or college. We aim to involve these young people in sustainable Ecotourism so that they can protect their environment as well as earn an income to support their families.

Visiting a rural village can result in a life-changing experience

We have generated a vast amount of income through our travel philanthropy program, most especially through Saga Travel. Others have sponsored an orphan, donated money or funded a bore hole after visiting our projects. Business incentive groups have offered ongoing support, most mentionable is Brady Italia and Cunninghams. We engage our donors and give regular feedback, showing that the money has gone directly into grass roots projects with no administration costs being deducted. We have a number of options, whereby individuals, groups or businesses can sponsor a specific project, these include constructing houses, building classrooms or funding school feeding programs and of course visiting our work in Zambia.

Traveller’s funds have built classrooms for this pre-school at Mukuni

Thank you to many of our existing donors who have offered to sponsor another orphan or increase their funding after reading my last post on this website.

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.

Mukuni Village Tourists

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and one of the most stunning sites in Africa. Mukuni Village is just seven kilometres from this World Heritage site, a place of worship for the local Leya people. The forthcoming Lwiindi ceremony is celebrated by these indiginous people who call the falls ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit this wondrous site, staying at luxury hotels such as the Royal Livingstone and the Zambezi Sun, both owned by Sun International and for a taste of Africa, Stanley Safari Lodge or the Tongabezi Lodge. All of these companies are supporting the charityand the village.

Mukuni Village tourists: 3 young girls from the Leya tribe of the Mukuni Chiefdom

While visiting the area there is an option to take a cultural tour to Mukuni, to see the tribal people in their natural surroundings. Over the past four years The Butterfly Tree has received a substantial number of donations from tourists who have been moved by the plight of these people and inspired by the work of the charity. The Butterfly Tree team are able to give a guidied tour of Mukuni, showing them our many projects, the school children at work and the clinic in action, ending with a chance to purchase curios from the market.

Mukuni orphans receive tourists’ donations

After visiting the village there are many ways in which the tourist can get involved and become a philanthropic traveller. Either by a giving a one off donation towards a project, offering on going support or the most popular choice is to sponsor an orphan. Many of the orphans are on the orphan sponsorship program thanks to the generosity of tourists who have visited Mukuni. There is also the opportunity to return as a volunteer, something that several people have experienced and many wish to return. Saga guests include a visit to our projects as part of their itinerary and these tours have been extremely fruitful. For our American philanthropers there is now an opportunity to donate through GlobalGiving US, an organisation that helps non-profits to obtain US donations using a 501 (c) 3 certificate.

Summit’s Official Charity

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Once again we are delighted that Eye for Travel has chosen The Butterfly Tree as the official charity for the Travel Distribution Summit Europe 2009, the world’s biggest event for travel marketing, pricing and technology executives. This is being held on 19th-20th May at the Business Design Centre, London. Helping to reduce world poverty through the tourist industry is one of the charity’s key aims and we have gained a number of suppoters as a result of this.

The tourist industry has a huge market in developing countries and must be prepared to give something back to the communities they are operating in. Besides providing jobs for local people, safe clean water and medical care is also extremely important. Many community bore holes have been drained as a result of golf courses being watered! Over sixty per cent of hoteliers worldwide do not participate is social corporate initiatives. The Butterfly Tree has partnered with Sun International Zambia where their community programs support orphanges, a hospice and sustainable businesses for vulnerable people.

Philanthropic Travel: Mukuni Pre-school funded by a tourist

Zambia’s tourism is rapidly developing, Livingstone is the capitol of tourism and The Butterfly Tree is working with tour operators and local lodges such as Stanley Safari Lodge who through their clients raise funds for Mukuni Basic School. If you are a tour operator or hotelier working in the area ensure that you are helping the community and if you are visiting the Victoria Falls spare a couple of hours to go to Mukuni Village and see a cultural way of life, for many it is the highlight of their entire trip. Giving something back is both rewarding and beneficial to those in need, join our cause to reduce world poverty by making a donation.

Mukuni Philanthropic Travel

Posted on April 22, 2009 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The Butterfly Tree is delighted to have a mention in an article featured in Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Last June I took the Donlins from New York up to Mukuni Village to show them around the school and The Butterfly Tree projects, they were very impressed with our work, donated virtually all their clothes to a poor community at Dumwa and have recently given a $2500 donation.. They have since said that it was the most memorable moment of their trip.

Another family who I took to Mukuni during the same month gave a donation to the health centre, funded a bore hole, sponsor five orphans and offering on going support to the charity. All the visitors to Mukuni are touched by the people and their enduring hardships and are endeared to see that they still manage to smile. The importance of giving back to a community is invaluable, sitting round the pool of a five star hotel or playing on a golf course gives employment to local people but donating a bore hole gives their families safe clean water, a chance to improve their health, grow vegetables and gives them a chance to become sustainable.

In March we had great fun distributing the 2000 t-shirts and shorts donated by a group of tourists, through Nakker International, who visited Mukuni earlier in the year.

New T-shirts for Mukuni children

It is a mutual benefit for both the traveller and the people in these developing countries. Anyone visiting the Victoria Falls can visit Mukuni Village and see The Buttefly Tree at work, many have said it was the highlight of their travels to Southern Africa. Philanthropic travel can make a difference to someone’s life, through our orphan sponsorship program you can make a difference to their entire community.

Special Orphan Sponsorship

Posted on April 18, 2009 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Two weeks ago Paul from Blackpool contacted me to say that he was going out to Zambia for a holiday and that he’d like to get involved with a charity working at Mukuni Village; by the end of the conversation Paul generously offered to fund a bore hole. Little did I realise that this was just his first donation. After several subsequent phone calls Paul told me that he was so inspired by the work of The Butterfly Tree that he would like to donate further funds.

Lillian Mwandila has lost both her parents and is eleven years old. She lives with her grandmother and four other orphans in a tiny mud hut in the middle of Mukuni Village. She was on our orphan sponsorship list awaiting a donor along with 59 orphans who I met last month. Now she has been offered an amazing opportunity thanks to Paul who will shortly be visiting Zambia, to not only obtain a full education at Mukuni but the rare opportunity to go on to University. Why was Lillian selected from such a long list when they are all vulnerable? The Butterfly Tree team in Zambia spent two days talking to teachers, visiting homes and scrutinising the orphans before they made their selection. Lillian proved to be the most needy with a clever mind, someone who hopefully will prosper from this wonderful offer and gain knowledge to assist her community in the future.

Lillian Mwandila from Mukuni Village

My new donor didn’t stop there after further conversations Paul wanted to fund five community houses, one of which I suggested went to Lillian’s family and he also offered extra funds for the other orphans living with her. After talking about the shortage of food and our successful feeding program at Mukuni Paul has also offered to start one at Siamasimbi School. Overnight Paul realised the importance of philanthropic travel, giving something back to the community he is visiting.

In the midst of all our doom and gloom due to the global crisis, do we stop and think just how much all the developing countries are suffering? Now one man’s kindness has given a boost to the charity funds and hope for a young Zambian girl. You too can get involved with our orphan sponsorship program and help Zambian children like Lillian.

Philanthropic Travelers to Mukuni

Posted on January 1, 2009 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Mukuni Village lies just seven kilometres from Victoria Falls, accessible by a good gravel road and home to the Leya people. For a site-seeing tour with a difference a visit to Mukuni Village is a popular choice for toursits traveling in the Southern Province of Zambia. Sadly most of the children from Mukuni have not seen the Victoria Falls.

We have partnered with Exquisite Safaris who promote Philanthropic Travel by sending their clients to visit a humanitarian project while on holiday. Exquisite Safaris donate some of their profits to The Butterfly Tree and our team on the ground meet the guests and give them a private tour of our projects. They get to meet the school children, visit the health centre and are able to interact with the people.

First visit to the Victoria Falls for Cynthia, Angela and Esnat, sponsored by Jane – philanthropic traveler

Feedbacks from these philanthropic travelers has been extremely worthwhile. Without exception everyone is completely moved and humbled by the sites the experience and many have said the visit was the highlight of their entire tour of Southern Africa. We now have many of them from the UK, Europe and the US offering on going support to the charity with over thirty tourists sponsoring orphans after meeting the children of Mukuni Village. More on Philanthropic Travel.

Responsible Tourists visit Mukuni

Posted on August 16, 2008 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

When I first visited Mukuni Village in March 2006 as a tourist wanting to gain a cultural experience I never dreamed that the village and its people would become such an important part of my life. Now Mukuni is like a second home to me and the friends I have made are more like family.

I am not the only person to be touched by these warm and gently people, who always manage to have a smile on their face and a welcome greeting for visitors, despite living in such extreme poverty. Every week now I am being contacted by tourists who have visited Mukuni and want to give something back, either in the form of a donation, getting involved with a project or sponsoring an orphan. The Butterfly Tree is fortunate to have this website, donated by Juggle Frogs, which has drawn an audience from many parts of the globe and enabled these philanthropic travellers to track us down.

Along with our partner Exquisite Safaris, who have promoted the charity in the US, we encourage tourists to take time out and visit our projects at Mukuni. Many of these trips have resulted in generous donations of gifts, books, stationary and clothing for the orphans. Although going on safari is an exhilarating and memorable experience, travellers who have been to Mukuni say it is a touching and unforgetable highlight of their trip.

Mukuni volunteer Volunteer in Mukuni
Alex from UK volunteering at Mukuni / Kelly from US donated clothes to orphans

In addition to these philanthropic travellers we have had a number of volunteers, who have generously donated their time and skills to work at Mukuni. Funding all their own expenses, they have helped at the Mukuni Schools and Mukuni Health Centre passing on their invaluable experience in both health and education.

Any visitors to Mukuni who are unsure about giving a donation to a local community member can donate securely through The Butterfly Tree. We will give 100% to the cause and no administration fees will be deducted. If you are interested in volunteering at the Mukuni school or Mukuni Health Centre please contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk