Category Archives: Food

post

WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT IN KAZUNGULA

Posted on by

The past year has been challenging for everyone not least for the charity sector. Though our funding was down on previous years I am delighted to say that we have made a great start to the new financial year. Since the first of April we have received a substantial boost for our health, education, and community projects.

BUNSANGA JUNIOR SCHOOL RECEIVE TEXTBOOKS

The support we are getting from both existing donors and new ones is quite remarkable. As always our aim is to better the lives and opportunities for orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia. Thanks to a substantial donation from The Murphy Family Foundation, further education is to be offered to many more pupils. Those that have been on The Butterfly Tree’s sponsorship programme and completed school in 2020, are being offered an opportunity to go to university or college to gain an academic degree, or a skilled-based diploma. In addition, The Foundation has donated some of the funding for the purchase much needed textbooks.

TEXTBOOKS DONATED TO SINGWAMBA JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

This year we are supporting 9 students at university and college, studying the following topics: teaching, biomedicine, nursing, forward and clearing, and hotel management. Musenga, who was head boy at River View School, has just commenced a three-year nursing course. Owen from Mukuni, was recently awarded a good degree in biomedicine. We are also sponsoring 227 pupils at Mukuni, Ngandu, Kamwi, Ndele, River View and Kazungula Boarding School. So many of you have kindly supported orphans since 2006, for which we are grateful.

MUSENGA (LEFT) WAS HEAD BOY AT RIVER VIEW

Kamwi Junior School is under a development after receiving two private donations. Currently the school goes up to grade 7, after which pupils must walk a distance of 9 km, each way, to join grades 8 to 12 at Mukuni Secondary School. This will make a huge difference, especially for girls, who are vulnerable when walking alone. Expansion is also taking place at Muchambila and Muyunda Primary Schools, after receiving funds from a private donor who previously funded the school’s two classroom blocks.

KAMWI JUNIOR SCHOOL

On the health front, funding received for our malaria prevention programmes, in Zambia, has been significant. The Association of Inner Wheel Clubs have given us overwhelming support with so many of their individual Clubs and Districts donating to this vital cause. Fundraising has not been easy during the coronavirus pandemic, but what they have achieved is commendable. Stratford-upon-Avon Rotary Club recently gave the charity a donation for 300 mosquito nets to help eliminate malaria.

MOSQUITO NETS FOR 609 PUPILS AND TEACHERS – SINGWAMBA SCHOOL

One fundraiser tripled her target to raise money for mosquito nets. The founder of 52 Stitched Stories came up with a wonderful initiative, selecting butterflies as the theme, to raise money for mosquito nets. After gaining a global audience during 2020’s lockdown Fiona, the Founder, recently held a virtual Stitching Festival. Her committment  resulted in raising enough money to purchase 500 mosquito nets.

‘MOSQUITO NETS FOR SCHOOLS’ HELPING TO ELIMINATE MALARIA

After receiving further support from the Sacred Heart Foundation, London, two mother’s shelters are being built at Siakachapa and Manyemuyemu health centres. These are a great benefit for rural women enabling them to stay close to the clinic prior to the onset of labour. Additional support from this Foundation is funding HIV prevention peer education workshops, which are vital in preventing new case of HIV, teenage pregnancies and alcohol abuse. The Butterfly Tree has added mother’s shelters to the following health centres: Mukuni, Musokotwane, Kasiya, Mahalulu, Mambova, Sikaunzwe and Singwamba.

MOTHER’S SHELTER – SIKAUNZWE RURAL HEALTH CENTRE

After a reduction in COVID-19 Zambia are experiencing an increase in cases this month. We have supplied 13 schools and 10 rural health posts with PPE thanks to a generous donations from Blooms the Chemist, Australia. We continue to be mindful of our local Zambian team that they are taking care to prevent contracting coronavirus, while waiting to receive the vaccination. Currently, it is being rolled out to health workers.

PPE DONATION – BUNSANGA HEALTH POST

Last but by no means least I am delighted to be initiating a further project for 200 women funded by Give a Hand, our Canadian partner. The organisation has previously funded a beekeeping project for 200 women in Muyunda and a mango project, entitled ‘Mangoes of Hope’ for 200 women in Muyunda. Now women in Sekute Chiefdom will be given a chance to have a food producton project, rearing chickens and growing vegetables. These community projects are an invaluable way of providing a sustainable income-generating enterprises for vulnerable women. Besides empowering them it gives them an opportunity to better their lives and to educate their children.

SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION PROJECT FOR 200 SEKUTE WOMEN

We are delighted to be able to develop more schools and health centres in the Kazungula District and would like thank everyone who has supported The Butterfly Tree during these difficult times.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

 

 

 

post

12 STORIES OF HOPE – DAY 11

Posted on by
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
If you educate a woman she will educate her entire family. For women in rural areas of Zambia life can be harsh, toiling in their vegetable gardens, looking after children, and walking long distances to fetch water, leaves them little time to pursue anything else. Thanks to receiving two substantial donations we are currently implementing two community projects for women. One is Muyunda Village in Nyawa Chiefdom, where wild honey can be found, for 200 women to produce raw honey and products from wax, in the form of soap and candles. The other project, ‘Mangoes of Hope’ is for 200 women in Musokotwane Chiefdom. They will be producing dried mangos, and produce made from mangoes including jam and chutney with the aim of supplying both the local and international markets. ‘Mostly we relied on farming where we grow maize for three months and did nothing for nine months. The project teaches us about beekeeping, soap, candle, and crayon making. These can be done throughout the year to reduce poverty. This will enable us to educate our children.’
To make a donation to any of our projects please use these links:
post

12 STORIES OF HOPE DAY 5

Posted on by

BOREHOLES AND WATER RETICULTATION SYTEMS

According to the World Health Organization access to safe drinking-water is a basic human right, and yet a third of Zambia’s population do not have safe drinking water. In 2019 Zambia experienced the worst drought for 30 years, rivers and streams were completely dry, crops perished, hunger was widespread and livestock died. In some areas people were walking 26km daily to draw water from the nearest borehole. The Butterfly Tree has installed over 40 boreholes in schools, health centres, and for communities. The boreholes provide safe clean water, reducing diarrhoeal disease cases and the hours women and children must walk to draw water. In addition, boreholes and water reticulation systems provide water for vegetable gardens and food production units during the dry season from April to November.

‘The solar powered water supply system provides flowing water to our school at all times. Readily available water makes the food production unit viable, hence the production of vegetables and fruits for a sustainable school feeding programme.’  lloyd Kasela – Deputy Head Teacher, Singwamba School.

Please use either of these links if you would like to make a donation, 100% will go directly to the cause:
post

12 STORIES OF HOPE – DAY 4

Posted on by

FOOD SHORTAGES

Maize is the staple diet of Zambians. In 2019 the worst drought in 30 years hit the Southern and Western Provinces of Zambia. Severe hunger and in some areas famine was widespread. Crops perished and farmers resorted to selling their livestock and burning charcoal to raise money to feed their families. Some were only able to feed their children on wild roots and berries from the bush, going two, months without a proper meal. One old lady said ‘she was boiling soil to fill her grandchildren’s bellies.’  

Another woman with four young children, after hearing we were distributing maize in Muyunda, walked 15km – unfortunately, she was too late. Not to be deterred she visited one of our volunteers who was able to give her a bag of maize. Happily, she placed it on top of her head then walked the 15km back to her village, with her offspring! The Butterfly Tree continually donated bags of maize to some 10,000 households and gave regular donations of food to orphans and vulnerable children in Mukuni, Nyawa, Sekute and Musokotwane Chiefdoms, helping to prevent a severe famine.

Please use either of these links if you would like to make a donation:
post

12 STORIES OF HOPE – DAY 3

Posted on by
ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP
Zambia has 1.2 million orphans. Since 2006 The Butterfly Tree has sponsored the education of hundreds of individual orphans and vulnerable children at #Mukuni, N’gandu, Kamwi, Ndele and River View Schools from pre-school to completion of high school. The area has a high prevalence of HIV and many of the children have lost one or both parents, living with elderly grandparents or guardians in extreme poverty. Our aim is to keep the children within their village community rather than go into an orphanage in town. Two young boys from Kamwi Village have been on our sponsorship programme since 2011, when sadly their mother and baby sister died during childbirth. Elvis and Vincent weighed just 1.3kg and were not expected to live. Thanks to their wonderful grandmother and the support from The Butterfly Tree the boys are now nine years of age.
Over forty college and university students have achieved degrees and diplomas in teaching, journalism, bio-medicine, hotel management and catering, agriculture and information technology. The charity has trained former sponsored orphans to become peer educators, teaching pupils about the dangers of HIV, early pregnancies and alcohol and drug abuse. Two of them are now main members of The Butterfly Tree team.
Help us to provide maize and mosquito nets for orphans this holiday season! 100% will go to the cause.
Please use either of these links if you would like to make a donation:
post

12 STORIES OF HOPE – CHRISTMAS 2020

Posted on by

With all the sadness and distress caused as a result of COVID-19, I would like to bring you some positive news. Despite everything that 2020 has thrown at us, The Butterfly Tree continues to serve those most in need in Zambia and has been able to implement new projects, deliver vital services, and distribute food to orphans and vulnerable people suffering from food shortages.

CHILDREN FROM MUSOKOTWANE VILLAGE

The combination of the tremendous support we have received from existing and new donors, and the dedication and commitment of our wonderful team of local volunteers has produced an entire new health post and staff house at Bunsanga, extensive expansion at River View and Musotowane Schools. In addition, we have installed boreholes for 7 schools and communities, and six solar-powered water reticulation systems for school production units, and two community projects for 400 women.

Malimba, Chilaba, Moomba, Siamasimbi, Ndele and Chuunga. Moomba Chiefdom has also been supplied with insecticidal coating and larvicide. Orphans, widows, and the elderly have received new homes and hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children have been sponsored at schools, colleges, and universities.

This holiday season we’re excited to kick off “12 Stories of Hope” – 12 days of fundraising to provide rural communities in Zambia with much-needed resources of ground maize and mosquito nets. We aim to address food security needs of families and help to save children’s lives from malaria. Each day we will share an impactful story from a local community in Zambia along with ways you can give back during this season of gratitude. 100% of all donations will go directly to the cause.

DAY 1 

Welcome to the River View School! Prior to expansion, the school had limited facilities and classroom space for 700 pupils from early learning to grade 9. Conditions made it difficult to teach students and limited the student enrollment size. Starting work in 2015, we were able to add 1×4 and 1×2 classroom blocks, a science lab, two boarding houses and a special education unit. Additionally, we created a borehole to gain access to safe water to build toilets, a water reticulation system and a school kitchen. We continue to support this amazing community and have added a satellite school with a 1×3 classroom block just this year. With these improvements, the student population has more than doubled in size to 1,500 pupils.

RIVER VIEW SCHOOL HAS AN ENROLMENT OF 1,500 PUPILS

Head Teacher, Rev. Presley Mulenga shares “Many children now have access to secondary education, the literacy levels have increased, pass rate is high and orphans and vulnerable children are being sponsored.”
Click the link to donate to 12 Stories of Hope to help communities like the River View School: https://www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/20638 or https://donate.kindlink.com/the-butterfly-tree/1598.
  • A donation of $25 / £19 covers the cost of 4 bags of maize or 3 mosquito nets. 
  • A donation of $50 / £38 covers the cost of 8 bags of maize or 6 mosquito nets.
  • A donation of $100 / £75 covers the cost of 16 bags of maize or 12 mosquito nets. 

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

post

The Butterfly Tree Annual Report and Accounts 2019-2020

Posted on by

I am pleased to present to you our Annual Report and Accounts, covering the period from the 1st April 2019 to the 31st March 2020. The full report with pictures of our many benefiaries, and accounts can be viewed by clicking on this link.

Throughout the year only 2.64% of total expenditure was spent on expenses, therefore 97.36% went to charitable causes.

Chairman’s Report 

In our 2018-19 Annual Report I stated that the year was one of the best we have ever had. Little did I know that 2019-20, though the most challenging of all years, surpassed anything we have ever done before. The funding we received doubled any previous year thanks to increased donations from both existing and new supporters, and a substantial grant award. More new schools and clinics have been developed, additional boreholes in remote areas have been installed, many more orphans have been supported both at school and college, and for the first time the charity responded to a widespread food crisis to alleviate severe hunger.

JANE WITH VOLUNTEERS EDWIN, PETER, NATASHA, DENNIS AND JAFTER

The worse drought in Zambia for thirty years resulted in dry rivers and streams, and withered crops, leading to famine in some areas. For many years I have worked with communities effected by malaria, HIV and AIDS, but meeting distraught parents who were unable to feed their children was absolutely heart breaking. Thanks to the tremendous response from our donors, grant aid, and fundraising efforts, we supplied ground maize, the staple diet of Zambians, to people in Nyawa, Mukuni, Musokowane and Sekute Chiefdoms. Over 10,000 households were helped and the supply chain continued for an entire year. I am told by our team in Zambia that we saved many lives.

EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF OCTOBER 2019 – MAMBOVA VILLAGE

I have been totally overwhelmed by the tremendous support we received and the efforts made by fundraisers. These include a Great South Run participant who raised money for a borehole, a mother who donated a borehole for her daughter’s first birthday, Inner Wheel and Rotary Clubs raising money for malaria prevention, and a young man who while walking from Porto in Portugal to Santiago in Spain raised funds and awareness of malaria. Churches and schools held fundraisers for education projects, and for bags of maize for the food crisis.

MARTIN WHILE WALKING FROM SPAIN TO PORTUGAL RAISED FUNDS FOR MALARIA PREVENTION

The picture of the young lady on the front cover of the Annual Report is one of the three girls who inspired the founding of The Butterfly Tree. I met Esnart in 2006 when I first visited Mukuni Village. She and her two friends showed me inside their home and it was evident that they lived in extreme poverty. Having sponsored Esnart for the past fourteen years, she completed Mukuni High School, where she was head girl, in December 2019. She gained good results and now aims to train with the Zambian police force.

ANGELA, ESNART AND CYNTHIA WHO INSPIRED THE FOUNDING OF THE CHARITY – MARCH 2006

Education is the key in helping orphans and vulnerable children to overcome poverty in rural areas, where children, especially girls, need to be empowered. This helps them to avoid early marriages and pregnancies. We received a substantial amount of support to enable us to develop and expand schools for children who would not have been able to access education due to distance. River View Secondary School is now our flagship school, after constructing a 1×4 classroom block, science lab, and, most recently, a 1×2 classroom block and two boarding shelters. Due to the location of the school, near to the town of Kazungula, places are in high demand and by the end of 2019 it had an intake of almost 1,600 pupils. A new satellite school has been built to take pupils who were unable to attend and to reduce the class numbers at River View. Kawewa Junior School, also in Sekute Chiefdom, received a 1 x 2 classroom block, desks and toilets.

OUR FLAGSHIP SCHOOL – RIVER VIEW SECONDARY

We continue to sponsor as many orphans as funds permit, in five schools. In addition, seven students are currently attending universities and colleges. Topics include bio-medicine, teaching, journalism and information technology. One student graduated as a teacher this year. Two of our former sponsored orphans are now on The Butterfly Tree team and five others are earning an income building our schools, clinics and houses.

MAFIAN WAS SPONSORED AT SCHOOL AND COLLEGE EARNS AN INCOME BUILDING HOUSES

As always we endeavour to drill boreholes for schools and communities, though water projects almost always come with challenges. Unfortunately, most of the drilling companies will not attempt to go to remote areas where the tracks are uneven and sandy. There is also the risk of hitting dry boreholes. Sadly, after three attempts, no water could be found in Dundumwezi area. However, five were drilled successfully before the rains came with eight more to follow after the rainy season.

BOREHOLE AND HANDPUMP – SENKOBO VILLAGE 2019

Boreholes are not only vital for safe drinking, but in times of drought they are life-saving. During the 2019 drought where streams and, in some areas, rivers, were completely dry, people were travelling up to twenty six kilometres to fetch water. The substantial grant award we received will provide five boreholes for schools, one for a community, and five water systems for school food production units. The new government directive is that all schools must now provide sustainable school gardens to support feeding programmes.

FOOD PRODUCTION UNITS – 10 SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE BOREHOLES AND WATER SYSTEMS

When I visit Zambia it is always so rewarding to see the developments taking shape. A new maternity ward and women’s shelter was added to Simonga Rural Health Centre and I had the pleasure of taking 150 delegates from Blooms the Chemist, Australia, to visit the new buildings which they had funded. It always has more impact when donors can actually see what they have funded, as was the case with the three Belgian lawyers who spent several days with us after raising money for boreholes and food security.

NEW MATERNITY WARD AND WOMEN’S SHELTER – SIMONGA RURAL HEALTH POST

Malaria is still one of the biggest challenges but our mosquito nets for schools is proving to substantially reduce the number of new cases of malaria. Children over the age of five often get left out as priority is given to under-fives. Working with the Ministry of Health helps us to locate areas of high malaria prevalence. We also applied insecticide coating and larvicide in Moomba, Nyawa and Mukuni Chiefdom.

DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – KAMWI JUNIOR SCHOOL

As always we continue to source new areas of need, taking an holistic approach and assessing the most essential basic needs – WATER, FOOD, HEALTH AND EDUCATION. Though education is the way forward and can change a person’s life, when people, through no fault of their own, are suffering from severe water and food shortages, it is not a priority. Fundamental needs for survival are paramount.

BOREHOLE AT SIAZIBOLA VILLAGE PROVIDES SAFE CLEAN WATER

I cannot praise enough our incredible team of Trustees and volunteers both in the UK and Zambia. In the UK, Ann Sutton (Treasurer), Miranda de Freston and Jackie Brown have been instrumental in supporting me, and offering their expertise to the Board. David, Carolyn, Valerie and Leah
are our main volunteers who freely give up their time to help with administration, fundraising and safeguarding. All are invaluable. Our oversees volunteers must not be forgotten – Frank Maiolo (US), Marilee Gibson and Katie Kung (Canada).

THE BUTTERFLY TREE NGO TRUSTEES – PRESLEY, MARTIN AND MUPOTOLA IMPLEMENT AND MANAGE OUR PROJECTS

As for our Zambian team, the four Trustees have been with us since 2006 – Mupotola Siloka (Secretary), Presley Mulenga (education), Martin Mushabati (ground operations), Stain Musungaila (malaria and community projects). Volunteers – Sibeso Maseka (Environmental Technician), Natasha Mufuya and Mafian Sitali (orphan sponsorship and community housing), Lloyd Kasela (community projects). I am humbled by the work they have done to implement, monitor and manage the projects on the ground. This past year they were given what seemed to be an impossible task, but they went beyond the call of duty to dleiver emergency food relief, covering a vast area, to prevent a famine.

ZAMBIAN TRUSTEE STAIN MUSUNGAILA – MALARIA PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

A special thank you to each and every donor that has supported us during this past year. We are especially grateful for the continued support of so many loyal contributors and delighted to welcome new ones who have funded a variety of projects, as well as sponsoring orphans. It is impossible to name everyone, but every donation is equally important to us. Fundraising enables us to sustain the ongoing projects in Zambia, and to initiate new ones with the aim of improvingthe lives of some of the most vulnerable children on the planet.

Once again we are extremely grateful to Grenfell James, Stratford-upon-Avon for freely verifying the charity accounts, which can be viewed on the full Annual Report and Accounts.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

If you wish for further details about The Butterfly Tree or would like to sign up for our secure newsletter please contact me via email: jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Follow us on Facebook

post

SCHOOLS REOPEN AND MORE ORPHANS SPONSORED

Posted on by

After months of staying at home due the coronavirus pandemic, with no laptops or computers to access online education, Zambian children are back in school. From June to late August only examination grades were allowed to attend education facilities, but now under strict safety guidelines schools are operating and the children are eager to learn.

1,500 PUPILS BEING TAUGHT AT RIVER VIEW SCHOOL

The Butterfly Tree continues to donate soap, hand sanitising gel and disinfectant to schools and clinics. The Zambian government stated that masks are compulsory, and that parents and guardians must provide them. Though they cost only 30p for many parents this is not possible. After a year of drought, followed by COVID-19, which has resulted in the international tourist industry for Livingstone, Victoria Falls and Kazungula, coming to standstill, poverty levels have increased.

MUKUNI PUPILS BEING TAUGHT OUTSIDE TO ALLOW SPACING IN CLASSROOMS

River View, our flagship school has opened its doors to 1,500 pupils and has been highly commended by the Ministries of Health and Education thanks to our support. The new satellite school, opened this year, has enabled more children to access education in Kazungula. Being close to the border to Botswana this area has a high prevalence of HIV – it is imperative that children are education to prevent them being enticed into prostitution and trafficking. It is hoped that the new bridge linking Zambia to Botswana will prevent truck drivers having to stay overnight in Kazungula.

YOUNG GIRLS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE IF NOT EDUCATED

Hunger continues to be an issue therefore we are providing pupils that are boarding at both River View and Mukuni with food. Throughout this challenging year we have ensured that all orphans and vulnerable children, under The Butterfly Tree sponsorship, receive regular bags of maize. Due to the weak economy we can now purchase a bag of maize for just £6.

GIRLS FROM REMOTE VILLAGES BOARDING AT RIVER VIEW SCHOOL

ORPHAN AT N’GANDU WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER RECEIVES FOOD

I am pleased to say that we are sponsoring more orphans this term, thanks to new sponsors offering support. In addition to Mukuni, children at N’gandu, Kamwi, Ndele, River View and Kazungula Boarding School are being helped. The Mukuni Village Trust, Australia provides funds for 45 children. A further 6 students are being sponsored at universities and colleges and a grant from Theirworld has enabled five girls to do a one-year diploma course in Livingstone. Thousands more vulnerable children are gaining a sound education.

ELINA COMPLETED MUKUNI HIGH SCHOOL AND NOW ATTENDS COLLEGE

The Butterfly Tree is currently expanded Musokotwane Secondary School with the addition of a 1×3 classroom block, a science lab, boarding houses, and toilets, generously funded by the Hilary and Neil Murphy Charitable Foundation. A new water system for their garden, will provide a sustainable feeding programme for the school.

NEW SOLAR WATER SYSTEM – MUSOKOTWANE SCHOOL

A further five are being funded from a grant award, which we received from Corteva Agriscience, USA. The grant has also helped with food distribution and the installation of six boreholes. Our aim is to help more schools as the food they provide is often the only meal a child will receive.

BOREHOLE DRILLING – MANGA COMMUNITY SCHOOL, NYAWA

Mindful that the demand for donations is escalating everyway I cannot thank enough everyone of our donors who continue to support The Butterfly Tree and some of Zambia’s 1.2 million orphans. Numerous lives have been transformed and these vulnerable children have hope!

Follow us on Facebook

post

CLEAN WATER AND SCHOOL FOOD PRODUCTION

Posted on by

Despite the turmoil surrounding us all, The Butterfly Tree continues to initiate and implement new projects in Zambia. I cannot thank enough all the donors that are supporting us through COVID-19, and the trustees and volunteers working tirelessly to help those who are less fortunate than we are.

CHISE WOMEN TAKING VEGETABLES TO SELL AT A MARKET

Last month we successfully drilled four boreholes for remote schools and communities in Nyawa Chiefdom, with seven more scheduled in the next two weeks. The grant award, received earlier this year from Corteva Agriscience, for our Seeds for Life project listed on GlobalGiving, has given a tremendous boost to our food and water projects. The boreholes will be invaluable for school food production and during periods of drought.

BOREHOLE DRILLING FOR CHILEBE SCHOOL & COMMUNITY

The grant is being used to fund a community borehole for a new rural settlement and five for remote schools, which will enable them to advance their vegetable gardens. In the past the World Food Programme has provided daily meals for Zambian schools. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case, and now schools must provide their own sustainable feeding programmes, which is difficult as many pupils are unable to pay school fees due to the high poverty levels.

NGANDU SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME

Five secondary schools, that already have boreholes, are to be given submersible water pump systems from the grant award funds. The schools can then water their gardens during the dry season, which lasts from April until November. The aim is to provide sufficient food for the pupils with any surplus vegetables being sold to the community. This will generate an income to support orphans and purchase school supplies. The same grant will also pay for seeds and fertiliser for 30 rural schools, creating further sustainability. A submersible pump and water tank for Bunsanga Health Post are also included in the grant funding.

BUNSANGA HEALTH POST BUILD IN 2020

Development is well underway at Musokotwane Secondary School. A substantial donation for the Hilary and Neil Murphy Charitable Foundation includes the construction of a 1×3 classroom block, a science laboratory, two boarding shelters and toilets, as well as a water system for their school garden. Once complete this school will accommodate over 1,000 pupils.

MUSOKOTWANE SECONDARY SCHOOL EXPANSION WILL PROVIDE IMPROVED FACILITIES

A new directive, which puts a further burden on schools, is that they must provide their own text books. With classes ranging from 50 to 110 pupils I frequently see entire groups sharing as few as two textbooks. Thanks to recent donations five schools are to receive textbooks this month.

NGANDU SCHOOL HAS A SHORTAGE OF TEXT BOOKS

We will shortly be distributing mosquito nets in three schools, where there is a high prelavence of malaria, thanks to a generous donation from Nick Bousliman. According to a study ‘Imperial College London’s Covid-19 Response Team estimates that malaria deaths could more than double in 2020 compared with 2019 if the distribution of 228 million mosquito nets, for sub-Sahara Africa, is disrupted.’ Again we will target Moomba Chiefdom, where we aim to provide a universal coverage, funded by the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs. In addition to mosquito nets insecticidal coating will be applied to each dwelling, and larvicide granules will be placed in ponds and streams to prevent the larvae developing into mosquitos.

PUPILS AT KAMWI JUNIOR SCHOOL RECEIVE MOSQUITO NETS

Food shortages continue to effect communities, such as Mukuni Village, that are dependent on the tourism industry. A successful fundraiser, held by the Choirs of Pembroke College, Cambridge, has provided 1,000 bags of maize. A further 300 bags have been given to the orphans and vulnerable children that are being sponsored by The Butterfly Tree.

1,000 BAGS OF MAIZE FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE – MUKUNI VILLAGE

As always we are mindful of the coronavirus pandemic and will ensure that our volunteers and beneficiaries are being protected and not taking any unnecessary risks. Some of the above photographs were taken prior to COVID-19.

Follow us on Facebook

post

VOLUNTEERING ABROAD SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD

Posted on by

I am thrilled to announce that The Butterfly Tree is the winner for ‘Volunteering Abroad Specialist of the year 2020‘ for United Kingdom, at the Travel & Hospitality Awards. Every year the charity attracts volunteers, donors and visitors from all over the world to help with our fundamental projects in Zambia.

JANE WITH KATIE, FOUNDER OF COPPER ROOT COLLECTIVES

This is an amazing accolade to receive and I would like to dedicate this award to our local team, without them none of this could happen. If I am not in Zambia Mupotola, Martin, Presley and Natasha look after the volunteers and visitors, and organise volunteering experiences for them.

PRESLEY, MARTIN AND MUPOTOLA – OUR ZAMBIAN TRUSTEES

The activities range from helping to build or restore classroom blocks, community houses or health centres. Nurses, doctors and medical personnel work alongside local health practitioners, and teachers and students volunteer in rural schools. For many this is a life-changing experience. Two of our UK trustees and two volunteers joined The Butterfly Tree after visiting and volunteering in Zambia.

BELGIAN LAWYERS FOR AFRICA DONATING MAIZE AND BOREHOLES – OCTOBER 2019

I am currently working with tourism consultants to see how we can improve the tourism experiences to Mukuni Village and the Victoria Falls, looking at ways to attract more tourists and generate employment once the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.

THE MIGHTY ZAMBEZI RIVER AS IT APPROACHES THE VICTORIA FALLS

With all the news surrounding COVID-19 I am pleased to say that the charity is doing really well. Our Canadian partner, Give a Hand, has approved a grant application for an ambitious project for 200 women in Musokotwane and surrounding villages. This will be based on products from mango trees, that grow profusely in rural areas. It will provide extra nutrition during the dry season and a sustainable income-generating activity for these women to support their families.

200 WOMEN IN MUSOKOTWANE HAVE A NEW PROJECT TO LOOK FORWARD TO

Copper Root Collective, another Canadian partner, has donated funds for a borehole to be installed for the above women’s project. We are currently engaging drilling companies for a further 7 boreholes for schools and communities.

BOREHOLE AT MUKALAHANI VILLAGE – DONATED BY COPPER ROOT COLLECTIVES

The maternity ward and mother’s shelter built last year in Simonga Village will receive further donations from Blooms The Chemist, Australia. This will include water improvements, more equipment and a monthly allowance for supplies. Posworks, Australia, recently donated an ultra-sound scanning system – an invaluable addition to this facility.

MATERNITY WARD – SIMONGA VILLAGE

On the 22nd June The Choirs of Pembroke College, Cambridge held a spectacular 24-hour fundraiser for Mukuni Village, entitled Bach-for-Zambia. The organiser, Anna Lapwood, staged amazing virtual organ recitals with world-class organists participating from around the globe. The videos can be seen on the YouTube Channel. The funds will provide maize for the Mukuni people who have no income due to the impact of COVID-19 on tourism.

VIRTUAL BACH FOR ZAMBIA FUNDRAISER 60 PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING SOME OF THE TOP ORGANISTS

Due to the food shortages we have donated a further 300 bags for all the orphans and vulnerable children on our orphan sponsorship programme. Grades 7, 9 and 12 are now attending school after we donated the required protection. My apologies for the delay in sending out details of new orphans and updates on existing ones on the programme. Our priority is to ensure they have food and safety during these challenging times.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO ORPHANS – MUKUNI VILLAGE

More donations have come in from Inner Wheels Clubs from all over Great Britain and Ireland, for our vital malaria prevention prgramme. We are grateful to have been chosen to work with the Association, along with Medical Aids Films, for a second year.

Thank you to everyone who has continued to support our vital projects in Zambia and all the new offers recently received. The support has been both humbling and overwhelming.

Jane Kaye-Bailey (Founder)