OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Amid the alarming, shocking and disturbing daily news due to the COVID-19 global pandemic I would like to bring you some good news. Yesterday we completed another financial year for The Butterfly Tree, and I am delighted to inform you that 2019-20 was by far the best year since the founding of the charity in 2006. We not only doubled last year’s donations but completed more projects than ever before, as well as providing emergency food relief to thousands of people affected by Zambia’s worst drought in 30 years.

1X2 CLASSROOM BLOCK – RIVER VIEW SCHOOL

In the next couple of months we aim to publish our annual report and accounts. In the meantime, these are some of the many projects your generous donations and grants enabled us to do.

Science lab – Nyawa Secondary School
1×2 classroom block – Muyunda Community School
1×2 classroom block and latrines – Kawewa Junior School
New satellite junior school – Kazungula
1×2 classroom block & 2 boarding houses – River View Secondary School
Boarding house for girls – Mukuni Secondary School
New health post and staff house – Bunsanga
Maternity ward and mother’s shelter – Simonga health post
Beekeeping project for 200 women in Muyunda
Farm project – Nakawa pre-school
Funding for 11 boreholes
Construction of 22 community houses
Sponsorship of hundreds or orphans at schools and colleges
Distribution of several thousand mosquito nets
Insecticidal coating and larviciding for malaria prevention
Food distribution to some 10,000 households

NEW COMMUNITY SCHOOL – MUYUNDA

We cannot express enough how grateful we are for your tremendous support that has enabled us to achieve so much. Every donor large and small has contributed to the ongoing success of The Butterfly Tree.

BOARDING HOUSE FOR GIRLS – RIVER VIEW SCHOOL

SAFE WATER – SENKOBO COMMUNITY

DISTRIBUTION OF MAIZE – BUNSANGA

Now as we start the new financial year, we face the biggest crisis of our time. Everyone, no matter what race or religion, is impacted by CORVID-19. We appreciate that some of you may not be able to continue your support, and for those who can we want you to know that we will protect our Trustees and volunteers both in the UK and Zambia, as well as our beneficiaries, to the best of our ability.

THE BUTTERFLY TREE VOLUNTEER PEER EDUCATORS

CORVID-19 has reached Zambia, as of today there are 36 known cases. At the weekend we started an awareness campaign to circulate details of the pandemic and advice or how to prevent contracting it. This is mainly to target remote communities who may not have heard of the coronavirus, due to having no mobile phones or internet access.

BEEKEEPING PROJECT FOR 200 WOMEN – MUYUNDA

In the past few days we have also raised money to purchase soap, hand sanitizing gel, disinfectant and masks for rural health centres and their medical staff after being told that they had no form of protection. As of today we have raised enough funds to support 30 clinics.

MATERNITY WARD AND MOTHER’S SHELTER – SIMONGA

Though our work stretches throughout the Kazungula and Kalomo Districts, many of our projects in rural areas are close to the Victoria Falls and Livingstone. The people in Mukuni and neighbouring villages rely heavily on tourism for their income. As is the case throughout the world the tourist industry is at a standstill. In Mukuni everyone who works at lodges, hotels, activity centres and curio markets has been laid off. Just when people had started to recover from the drought, CORVID-19 emerged, further burdening these vulnerable communities.

MUKUNI CURIO MARKET – VICTORIA FALLS

To help those most in need we will continue our appeal for the food crisis and while most other projects are on hold, food distribution will continue, ensuring that our volunteers are protected. A bag of maize costs £10 and will feed a family of four for one month. Donations can be made online using this link or directly to our The Butterfly Tree bank account, please email jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk for details.

Our thoughts are will all of you and pray that you keep safe and well.

CORVID-19 AND BOOST TO DONATIONS

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Today the Ministry of Health in Zambia held a national news conference, declaring that there have been no reported cases of Corvid-19, though it is imminent. Strict rules and guidelines have been put in place for travellers, schools and colleges, and many other areas. As of Friday this week all schools and colleges will be closed, giving the health workers time to educate the teachers, pupils and students about the coronavirus.

As regards The Butterfly Tree the following measures have been applied:

The running of the UK charity will continue as normal as all the Trustees and volunteers work from their own homes
Fundraising will continue – many people are still suffering from the affects of the drought
Food will be distributed and assistance given to rural health posts during the pandemic
We are doing everything we can to support our Zambia Trustees and volunteers, supplying them with hand sanitizers and soap, and giving them daily updates
As of the 14^th March all international travellers will no longer be able to visit, or volunteer for The Butterfly Tree’s projects in Zambia, before May, this will then be reviewed
We have asked our local team to limit their movements in Livingstone with it being an international tourist destination and a border to Zimbabwe
Projects that are ongoing or under construction will be limited unless essential, such as food distribution and healthcare
All of the above we be reviewed on a daily basis

Every single one of us, no matter where we come from or live, is impacted by this global pandemic. Therefore it is imperative that we adhere to the rules and guidelines set by the experts and to not be complacent. Being extra cautious not only helps to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, but increases the chance of contolling the pandemic.

PROJECTS

On a happier note I am pleased to say that this month The Butterfly Tree has received two substantial donations. Firstly, we have been awarded a sizeable grant from Corteva Agriscience, a global American company for our ‘Seeds for Life‘ project, which is listed on GlobalGiving, one of our online partner platforms. This facility is used to raise money for our food and water projects.

FOOD SECURITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR SCHOOLS

The grant will enable us to increase the number of school gardens we support, to create sustainable feeding programmes and to raise money by selling produce to generate income. Five schools with large numbers of pupils will be given water reticulation systems. We will also be adding more boreholes to schools that have no access to safe water.

WATER SYSTEMS IN SCHOOLS ARE VITAL DURING THE DRY SEASON

This grant will also help to provide further food distributions for the most vulnerable people who are still suffering from hunger from the severe drought. Though it is now the rainy season it will be sometime before crops can be harvested. Once COVID-19 hits Zambia, people in remote villages will be in need of further support.

DISTRIBUTION OF MAIZE – BUNSANGA SCHOOL, FEBRUARY 2020

Community projects, such as the beekeeping project at Muyunda, thanks to a generous grant from Give a Hand, Canada received recently received, will help communities to become more sustainable. The bees are now in the hives and progress is being made. 200 women are involved in the project, which will produce wild honey – the wax will be used to make soap, candles and crayons.

1 OF THE 200 HIVES FOR THE MUYUNDA WOMEN’S PROJECT

Once again we are extremely grateful to The Hilary and Neil Murphy Charitable Foundation for their considerable grant to advance Musokotwane Secondary School in the Kazungula District. The funds will be used to construct a 1×3 classroom block, two boarding houses, 4 toilets, and a water system and seeds for their school garden.

ADVANCEMENT FOR PUPILS AT MUSOKOTWANE SECONDARY SCHOOL

These are extremely uncertain times for all of us, we have to take care of ourselves and continue to help those most in need. We must never lose the hope that we will get through this unprecedented global crisis.

SUCCESS, SUSTAINABILITY AND FOOD SECURITY

Posted on February 24, 2020 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I have just returned from Zambia after a very successful and rewarding trip visiting orphans, distributing food and sourcing new projects. I am delighted to report that the drought has broken and though there are still food shortages, there is now a great deal of hope!

WATER FLOWING ABUNDANTLY OVER THE MIGHTY VISTORIA FALLS

The first week was spent delivering bags of maize to people in remote villagers who have been living on wild fruits and roots. Sadly, deaths have been reported due to hunger, and from people eating poisonous fruits and roots. Some crops, which were planted early, are failing as the rainy season came very late. However, those that were planted later in the season are flourishing and should soon be ready to harvest.

HEALTHY MAIZE CROP – MUSOKOTWANE CHIEFDOM

It was wonderful to see the lush green vegetation after the long dry spell. Driving to Bunsanga, in Nyawa Chiefdom, it was noticeable that people are still suffering. We met four men who were droving their cattle 65 km to the abattoir to get money to feed their children. Cattle are prize possessions, kept to provide funds for college fees or other important matters. These men had not eaten for two days – we happily shared our food with them and other people along the way.

WALKING 65KM TO SELL THEIR CATTLE – NYAWA CHIEFDOM

On arrival in Bunsanga we inspected the newly finished health post and staff house, funded by grant aid from GOAC, and a borehole. The Ministry of Health has appointed an experienced nurse, who will be assisted by trained community health workers. The facility will provide antenatal, postnatal, and under-five’s clinics, vaccinations, and general practice. 1,000 mosquito nets were included in the grant for the clinic and towards our ‘nets for schools‘ programme. Bunsanga, Malimba and Chilaba schools are the beneficiaries.

NEW HEALTH POST – BUNSANGA, NYAWA CHIEFDOM

Later in the week dozens of people came on bicycles from Chuunga Village, 40km from Mukuni, to collect bags of maize. Despite the difficult journey over rough terrain everyone was overjoyed to receive our donation. A further distribution also took place in several villages in Sekute Chiefdom, where families told us they had not eaten a proper meal for two months.

COLLECTING BAGS OF MAIZE FOR MUKALAHANI VILLAGE

For the past few days we have been working with Khalsa Aid International, a UK charity that specialises in emergency relief. After appealing to the organisation they generously agreed to offer support to some of the hardest-hit areas, where we work, in Nyawa Chiefdom. The food parcels were given to several thousand households, with two of our Zambian volunteers helping with logistics and, providing assistance.

KHALSA AID EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF – KATONDO SCHOOL, NYAWA CHIEFDOM

Much of my time in Zambia was spent meeting the orphans we are supporting, mainly at Mukuni, Kamwi, Ngandu and River View Schools. This past year our priority has been to ensure that they all have food as many of them live alone or with elderly grandparents. The new school year commenced in January and some of the orphans progressed to grades 8 and 10 after sitting exams. Unfortunately, some failed and will re-sit their exams later in the year. The drought has worsened the poverty in most areas and many parents have been unable to enrol their children in school this year. However, we recently had an increase in people wanting to sponsor orphans, subsequently we will continue to include all children that are vulnerable.

MUKUNI ORPHANS WITH NATASHA, A FORMER SPONSORED ORPHAN, WHO OVERSEES THE PROGRAMME

More children in Kazungula will shortly be able to attend school. Since our involvement at River View School the enrolment is now 1,600 pupils. The facility in Kazungula, the only township where we have a project, cannot take any more pupils. The new satellite school, funded by the Hilary and Neil Charitable Foundation, is almost complete and will take the overflow from the lower grades as well as children who have never been to school. The boarding shelters, funded by the same donors, accommodates over 40 pupils from outreach villages.

GIRLS FROM OUTREACH VILLAGES BOARDING AT RIVER VIEW SCHOOL – SEKUTE CHIEFDOM

Twenty houses for orphans, disabled people and the elderly are currently being constructed by our youth builders thanks to a donation from Motive Real Estate, Texas. Funds have been donated to build a shop/workroom for uniform-making in Mukuni Village and five girls are to attend college from grant aid received from TheirWorld.

NEW HOME FOR DISABLED MAN – DAMBWA VILLAGE

OLD HOME FOR DISABLED MAN – DAMBWA VILLAGE

Despite all the challenges I cannot stress enough how vital your support has been and how it helping to transform lives. The appreciation shown by the communities during the emergency food relief has been overwhelming. Our Zambian volunteers have worked tirelessly to get food to some of the remotest villages in the Kazungula and Kalomo Districts. Thousands of children are receiving advanced education where previously they were taught in a mud and pole schools by untrained teachers. Healthcare has also been improved at Simonga Village thanks to the addition of a maternity ward and mother’s shelter, funded by Blooms the Chemist, Australia.

MATERNITY WARD AND MOTHER’S SHELTER – SIMONGA VILLAGE, SEKUTE CHIEFDOM

Our aim for the coming months is to provide food security for schools and communities, install more boreholes and expand educational facilities in rural areas. Thank you to everyone who has supported The Butterfly Tree.

Jane Kaye-Bailey – Founder

HAPPY NEW YEAR – 2020

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

2019 has been the most successful year in the history of The Butterfly Tree. We have built and developed more schools, health facilities, community houses and drilled more boreholes than ever before. In addition we are helping with emergency relief to distribute food to thousands of people suffering from the severe drought in Southern Province of Zambia.

In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1-6 the following health projects were completed:

Bunsanga – new health post, staff house, latrines and borehole
Simonga – maternity ward and mother’s shelter
Kamwi, Chuunga, Mambova and Kawewa schools provided with mosquito nets
Singwamba received insecticidal coating and larviciding for malaria prevention
Medical supplies were donated to rural health centres and Livingstone hospital

SIMONGA RURAL HEALTH POST EXPANSION

Water projects – boreholes

Chuunga, Senkobo, Siamkoma, Siazibola communities and Bunsanga health post
Muyunda, Chilaba, Malimba schools – with five more scheduled this month

SENKOBO COMMUNITY BOREHOLE

School developments

Nyawa – new science laboratory
Muyunda – classroom block, latrines and borehole
Nakawa pre-school classroom block and latrines
River View – new classroom block and two boarding houses
Kawewa – new classroom block and latrines
Bunsanga – latrines added to complete new school
Mukuni – new boarding house for girls
Kazungula – satellite school under construction
Donations of books, educational supplies, sports and sports funding

TWO NEW BOARDING HOUSES – RIVER VIEW SECONDARY SCHOOL

Orphan sponsorship

Sponsor of 250 orphans at Mukuni, N’gandu, Kamwi, Ndele, River View and boarding schools
Further education – 9 students studying Bio-medicine, teaching, journalism and information technology

SPONSORED ORPHANS RECEIVE MOSQUITO NETS – KAMWI VILLAGE

Community projects

Mukuni, Kamwi and Dambwa – 10 houses were built for orphans and the eldery
Muyunda – beekeeping for 200 women
Kamwi – chicken project for women
Mukalahani – handwashing project

BEEKEEPING PROJECT – MUYUNDA VILLAGE

On behalf of The Butterfly Tree in the UK and Zambia I would like to say a huge thanks to all our donors, fundraisers and volunteers for making this happen, and to wish everyone peace, good health and much happiness in 2020.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISING APPEAL – FOOD CRISIS

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

With just over one month until December 25th, the shops are laden with Christmas merchandise, and festivity planning is underway. It is during this period that charities welcome extra funding and this year The Butterfly Tree is running an appeal for the continued food crisis is Southern and Western Zambia.

Thankfully the rains have started, now people are preparing the fields to plant crops, but it will be some months before harvest. After last season’s poor rains when crops throughout the entire region perished, there is a great deal of hunger. Some communities are living on local fruits and wild roots, though the latter can be poisonous, resulting in some children being hospitalized after eating them.

Heartbreaking stories are emerging. In the remote area of Dundumwezi two women have lost their lives after giving birth. Having no food of their own they appealed to neighbours who were unable to help them as they were in the same situation. In another area an old lady passed away as she had no one to provide her with food.

Since April The Butterfly Tree has been distributing thousands of bags of maize to people in remote areas of the Kazungula District, who are in desperate need. If we can continue this for the next few months more lives can be saved. We cannot help everyone, but we are certainly preventing a famine in communities where we work.

The resilience of these people is truly remarkable. Last week one 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!

I cannot praise our Zambian volunteers enough – they are outstanding! The whole operation is being impleted with precision and transparency. Headmen are called upon to select the most needy, including orphans and the elderly. Maize is ordered, sometimes we are only allocated 200 or 300 bags, per day, due to the high demand and load-shedding. Transport is arranged, then distribution points are selected, schools being the main locations as they have secure storage rooms.

We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported our appeal, most especially GOAC for approving an Emergency Relief Grant, the Hilary and Neil Murphy Charitable Trust and the ATD Foundation, and everyone else who has shared our concern and offered support.

A bag of maize costs just £9 and will feed a family of four for one month. If you would like to donate please use our donate page. In addition sales of our charity desk top calendars will be used for the food crisis. Each page of the calendar is sponsored and costs £4. 100% of all money raised will go directy to the cause. We would like to thank the following sponsoring the pages : Touch Gold Racing, Grenfell James, Dawson Group, The Fell Group, Casa Colomba, Zebra Accounting, St Matthews, Stuart Rivers, 2OC, Vectorcide International, Britelines and Miranda are Morphity for once again designing the calendars. Email jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk to place an order.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS FROM ZAMBIA

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I returned to the UK this week after spending the past month in Zambia helping to distribute food, hosting donors, visiting current projects, and sourcing new ones. Never before have we been so busy as this year, nor had to deal with emergency relief aid as a result of the severe drought.

As I approach Livingstone, the bustling tourist capital of Zambia, the only obvious sign from the effects of the drought is the one set of traffic lights not in operation due to load-shedding. This is because the Karibe Dam is so low that the government is restricting the use of power. Driving towards the Victoria Falls, the mighty Zambezi River, though lower than usual, still has an abundance of water. Driving to the villages paints a very different story.

THE MIGHTY ZAMBEZI RIVER

Apart from a couple of projects on the outskirts of town, The Butterfly Tree’s work focuses on rural communities, some are very remote, accessible only by 4×4, and in some areas the tracks become inaccessible during the rainy season. Out of all our projects clean water is obviously the most essential. With sufficient funds to install nine boreholes this year I was on a mission to supply water to those most in need. Such is the demand for boreholes this season that we incurred a great deal of challenges working with drilling companies.

NGWEZI RIVER, NYAWA CHIEFDOM

Accompanied by donors ‘Belgian Lawyers for Africa‘, who donated three boreholes, I drove to Dundumwezi, a remote community 230km from our base and 80km from the town of Kaloma. On entering the village we were welcomed by the community who were so excited to see rare visitors and, most especially, the drilling rig. Hour after hour we waited for that magical moment when mud, then water shoots out of the ground.

By 6pm the look of despondency on the people’s faces was apparent. After drilling 60 metres, no water was to be found, after a further 20 metres, still no signs of water. By 7pm it was pitch dark, and we needed to get back to base. We arrived in Livingstone at 11.15pm, totally exhausted! Not to be defeated a further journey was made two days later when a second siting was drilled as well as a third one at Cilebe School. Heartbreakingly, the two day’s efforts resulted in all three drills being unsuccessful. With rivers and streams totally dry, these people must continue walking 10km to the borehole, which we installed last year, at Zalu School.

After the disappointment in Nyawa Chiefdom we headed to Senkobo Village in Mukuni Chiefdom. Water was easily found much to the delight of the Belgian Lawyers, who also donated food for communities in need of maize. In addition, they donated seeds and fertilizer for fifteen schools to help create sustainable feeding programmes. The World Food Programme no longer provides a daily meal for Zambian school children, recommending that schools have gardens to grow their own food. The ATD Foundation has offered assistance for this project.

BELGIAN LAWYERS FOR AFRICA DONATE MAIZE IN JAFUTA VILLAGE

The hunger was evident in every village I visited. Thanks to the tremendous support the charity has received, most recently emergency relief grant aid from GOAC, we continue to distribute bags of ground maize to communities in Nyawa, Sekute and Mukuni Chiefdoms. The Headmen in each community select the most vulnerable, including the elderly, and registers are kept. This project is also very challenging as the National Milling Company in Livingstone provides maize for both the Southern and Western Provinces, therefore the demand is exceptionally high. However, we are reaching out to thousands of people, ensuring all our orphans receive sufficient food, and helping schools with their feeding programmes.

DISTRIBUTION OF MAIZE – BUNSANGA COMMUNITY

As regards our health projects we are making sound progress. Our latest developments include a maternity ward and mother’s shelter at Simonga health post, and a new health post and staff house at Bunsanga. Mosquito nets were donated to pupils at Kamwi and Mambova Schools for our ‘mosquito nets for schools’ programme, thanks to donations from the Society of the Sacred Heart and Royal Leamington Spa Rotary Club.

On the education front a boarding house has been completed at Mukuni Secondary School, a classroom block at River View thanks to Nick Bousliman’s generous donation and two boarding houses are currently under construction at River View Secondary School, funded by the Hilary and Neil Charitable Foundation. The Foundation has also recently supported the food crisis and our malaria prevention programmes. Muyundu Community School has a new classroom block and latrines and Kawewa Primary School Development, funded by the BFSS, has now been completed.

NEW 1 X 2 CLASSROOM BLOCK – RIVER VIEW SCHOOL

This was the toughest and most humbling trip I have made to Zambia in thirteen years, however it was wonderful to see the progress being made and to be able to help people in desperate need of food and water. In temperatures soaring to 40 degrees, for almost a month I worked tirelessly with the team in Zambia, who are the most amazing people you could ever wish to meet. Much of the praise I receive is dedicated to them, without their hard work, trust and committment, The Butterfly Tree would not have been able to achieve so much.

Jane Kaye-Bailey – Founder

CLEAN WATER AND FOOD SECURITY

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

One of the things that donors and supporters frequently say to me is ‘you have saved so many lives!’ However, I usually correct them by saying we have no proof that we have actually saved a life, but The Butterfly Tree is ‘helping to save lives’, especially with our malaria prevention intiatives.

Malaria prevention and all of our projects in Zambia are vitally important, but no more so than water. 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! Where we work we see many remote communities relying on rivers and streams for drinking water.

Due to the the severe drought in Southern and Western Zambia rivers and streams are dry, and for some the situation is now critical.

DRY STREAM AND RIVERS ARE A COMMON SITE

The boreholes, which we have previously installed are proving to be invaluable, and potentially life-saving, especially in the outreach areas of Nyawa Chiefdom, where communities normally rely on river water. People are travelling long distances to reach Zalu and other schools where we have added boreholes in recent years. Every day they arrive with buckets and barrels using donkeys and carts to transport this most precious of commodities.

COLLECTING CLEAN DRINKING WATER – ZALU COMMUNITY SCHOOL

In other areas where there are no boreholes people are digging deep holes in dry river beds and must wait hours for water to trickle through. Having lost all their crops, due to the drought, they also need water for their livestock. Our volunteers have witnessed this in many areas, not just in Nyawa, but also in Mukuni Chiefdom. The scene is heart rendering.

SOURCING DRINKING WATER – SIMUKOMA VILLAGE, MUKUNI CHIEFDOM

On a positive note I am pleased to report that nine boreholes are being installed thanks to generous donations, most recently from ‘Belgian Lawyers for Africa – It’s Legal to Care‘. Their successful fundraiser will pay for for three boreholes and towards our ‘seeds for schools‘ project. Over the next few months we aim to help more schools to create sustainable feeding programmes, looking at altenrative crops to maize, which is rain-dependent.

SCHOOL GARDENS TO SUPPORT FEEDING PROGRAMMES – N’GANDU

I have been totally overwhelmed by the support we have received for the food crisis appeal. Your donations are providing roller meal (ground maize) for thousands of people whose crops failed this year. We are so grateful to everyone, most especially GOAC for granting the charity an Emergency Relief Award, the Hilary and Neil Murphy Charitable Foundation, the ATD Foundation, Motive Real Estate Group and to Nick Bousliman.

BAGS OF ROLLER MEAL DONATION – KAMWI VILLAGE

I would like to apologise to anyone who is waiting for updates on the orphans they are sponsoring. Our priority for now is to ensure that all the orphans on our programme have food and water. I will be going to Zambia this week and will be working with the team, distributing food, checking existing and sourcing new projects, as well as meeting the orphans we support.

We still need donations for water and food programmes to continue helping people get through this drought period. If you would like to make a donation please use either of these platforms: Kindlink or PaypalGivingFund

THE BUTTERFLY TREE ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I have pleasure in presenting The Butterfly Tree’s Annual Report and Accounts from the 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2019.

Please click on the link below:

The Butterfly Tree – Annual Report and Accounts 2018 -19

In summary:

What a year! After reporting that last year was one of the best years we have ever had, this financial year has topped it. We have completed more projects, further advanced our malaria prevention programme, and provided safe clean water, sanitation and community houses for thousands of orphans and vulnerable people.

SCIENCE LABORATORY AND EXAMINATION CENTRE – RIVER VIEW

The Butterfly Tree’s malaria prevention programme continues to produce encouraging results. In January 2019 we were able to coat the remainder of dwellings in Moomba Chiefdom and have considerably reduced the number of malaria cases. In addition, we provided mosquito nets for Sikaunzwe, Kawewa, Kamwi and Mambova Schools, which not only helps to save lives, but prevents absenteeism from school. One of the highlights of the year was to be announced as runner up in the global AidEx Innovation Challenge. It was a privilege to be able to present our malaria prevention initiative at the event, which took place in Brussels in November 2018. Competition was stiff, with over 50 corporate entries, consequently we were delighted to have done so well.

AIDEX INNOVATION CHALLENGE – RUNNER-UP

As always, our orphan sponsorship programme is at the forefront of our work, with Mukuni and River View being the biggest schools we support. The schools have 1,350 and 1,500 pupils respectively, therefore the majority of sponsorship takes place at these two schools. Kamwi, N’gandu, Ndele also get support as well as few orphans at Kazungula Boarding School and some children from outreach schools in Mukuni and Sekute Chiefdoms.

SPONSORED ORPHANS – KAMWI PRIMARY SCHOOL

Seventeen students were sponsored at university and colleges studying a variety of courses including teaching, journalism, IT, building, plumbing, electrics and tailoring. The skilled based courses give school leavers an opportuntiy to be self-employed or set up local enterprises. We received a wonderful donation from LeapLearning, Norway in the form of a new educational method using technology with stations, which has been installed at River View School.

SCIENCE LESSONS – RIVER VIEW SECONDARY SCHOOL

Education is vitally important for children living in rural areas, not just from early learning, but also to have adequate facilities for secondary school studies. After the success of River View, which is now an approved examination centre, we have been built a science lab in Nyawa to prevent pupils having to travel 120km to sit their finals. After seeing classrooms with as many as 110 pupils at River View School a 1×2 classroom block is under construction, and also one for Kawewa School to give them the opportuntiy incorporate grades 8 and 9. Latrines were added added to Bunsanga School to complete the development of a new community school.

NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK UNDER CONSTRUCTION – KAWEWA PRIMARY SCHOOL

On the health front a major advancement took place at Sikaunzwe Rural Health Centre. The project included a new clinic, maternity ward, mother’s shelter and latrines. A further grant was approved for a rural health post at Bunsanga for a clinic, staff house and latrines. These rural healh centres are crucial in helping to diagnose and treat malaria, HIV and TB, and for infant vaccinations, antenatal and post natal clinics. Improved sanitation was added to Mukuni mother’s shelter. In addition medical supplies were donated to Mukuni, Mambova, Sikaunzwe and Nyawa rural Health Centres, as well as Livingstone General Hospital.

RURAL HEALTH CENTRE EXPANSION – SIKAUNZWE

In the past twelve months we drilled boreholes at Muyunda, Mayoba, Zalu and Nakawa schools, and one for the Mukalahani Village. We received a donation of thirty mobile water barrels for the elderly. We built seventeen community houses and distributed maize and blankets in Mukuni, Nyawa and Sekute Villages. Sadly, the rainfall this season was so poor that water and food shortages are predicted. After returning from Zambia, at the end of March, I started creating awareness and raising funds for food security to help rural schools and communities.

BOREHOLE DRILLING – MUKALAHANI VILLAGE

We had visitors and volunteers from the UK, Canada, US, Brazil, Argentina and New Zealand. The visitors are taken to see our vital work and volunteers can get involved with classroom and house building, setting up chicken and soap-making enterprises and teaching pupils in Mukuni, Kamwi and River View Schools.

COMMUNITY HOUSE BUILDING – MUKUNI VILLAGE

A further honour has helped to boost the charity after I was awarded The Prime Minister’s Points of Life Award for my work with orphans and malaria prevention. This was totally unexpected, extremely humbling, and something that I share with my fellow Trustees and volunteers, both in the UK and Zambia. Without their commitment the charity would not be so successful. I would like to express my sincere thanks to long-term Trustees Miranda, Ann (Treasurer) and Wendy, for their tremendous contribution, though I am sorry to announce that Wendy had to step down after moving to the United States. However, I am delighted to welcome Jackie Brown, a former Head of House for a London University, who grew up in Zambia, to our Board. Special thanks also to our volunteers David, Carolyn, Valerie and Leah, who do so much behind the scenes, and to our overseas volunteers Marilee and Grant Gibson and Katie Boothby in Canada and Frank Maiola in the US. The charity continues to thrive as a result of having such dedicated people on our team.

THE PRIME MINISTER’S ‘POINTS OF LIFE’ AWARD – PRESENTED BY NADHIM ZAHAWI

Nothing would be achieved without The Butterfly Tree team in Zambia. Their tireless and selfless efforts are truly remarkable. Every day they administer and manage numerous projects for our water, food, health and education programmes as well as the orphan sponsorship. Frequently they hours on end to reach remote schools and communities throughout the Kazungula District.

The team comprises of Mupotola Siloka (Secretary & Project Manager), Presley Mulenga (Head of Education), Martin Mushabati (Ground Operations Manager), Stain Musungaila (Malaria Prevention), Sibeso Maseke (Environmetal Officer) and most recently Natasha Mufeya, a former sponsored orphan and Mafian Sitali. Sincere thanks to Chief Mukuni and the local tour operators and hoteliers who promote our work.

THE BUTTERFLY TREE NGO TRUSTEES – PRESLEY, MARTIN AND MUPOTOLA

No charity can continue to prosper without the support of its donors and fundraisers. We have acquired a considerable number of global followers who generously donate funds and award grants for our projects. A huge thanks to our major donors the Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission, the British and Foreign School Society, the Hilary and Neil Murphy Charitable Foundation, ATD Foundation, Motive Real Estate Texas, Mukuni Village Fund (Australia), Dawson Group, Nationwide Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs, Larry and Gaylen Robbins, and Nick Bousliman, and Grenfell James for freely verifying the charity.

I am also extremely grateful to all the individuals, corporates, schools, clubs and churches and organisation that support our cause. Almost 100% of money raised has gone into our grass root projects, enabling us to build more new schools and clinics, provide clean water, feeding programmes, HIV and malaria prevention for thousands of orphaned and vulnerable children to give them hope for a better future.

The full report and accounts includes more projects, photos and financial details – please click on the link below:

The Butterfly Tree – Annual Report and Accounts 2018 -19

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY 2019

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

‘Celebrated every year on 19 August, World Humanitarian Day is directed towards honoring humanitarian efforts worldwide and propagating the idea of supporting people in crisis’.

ELVIS & VINCENT, SUPPORTED SINCE LOSING THEIR MOTHER DURING CHILDBIRTH

The Butterfly Tree’s humanitarian programmes have been operating in Zambia for over thirteen years and had an enormous impact in the Kazungula District. Thousands more children are enrolled in schools and have improved healthcare facilities, access to clean water and sanitation, to name but a few of our projects.

THE CHARITY PROVIDES FUNDS TO IMPROVE RURAL HEALTH FACILITIES

Kawewa School expansion to add extra grades is progressing well, thanks to a grant from the BFSS. The new school at Muyunda, a remote area in Nyawa, is almost complete. A further boarding shelter is being constructed at Mukuni High School, after a group of students from Arnewood School raised funds and spent five days working on the site and assisting in our special education unit.

NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK FOR MUYUNDA COMMUNITY SCHOOL

A new health post and staff house are currently being constructed at Bunsanga, after receiving further grant aid from GOAC, and the addition of a maternity ward and women’s shelter at Simonga clinic is under way. More houses for widows and orphans in Kamwi Village have been donated by Motive Real Estate, Texas.

SEVEN MORE HOUSES FOR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS

In the next few weeks commencement of an entire new school, close to the Kazungula border, and two boarding shelters at River View School, will commence. This area has a high prevalence of HIV. Funds have been generously donated by the Hilary and Neil Murphy Charitable Foundation. The aim is to enrol children who are not attending school, who can eventually go to River View Secondary School.

RIVER VIEW SECONDARY SCHOOL – KAZUNGULA

We are doing everything possible to help with the severe drought, which is affecting over 2 million Zambians in the Southern and Western Provinces. Bags of roller meal are being distributed on a regular basis as a result of your donations. We cannot help everyone, but we are reaching out to vulnerable people in Nyawa, Sekute and Mukuni Chiefdoms.

INVALUABLE SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMMES

Villages in the remote areas, that rely on streams and rivers for drinking water, are suffering the most. Funding is in place for five boreholes, with three more on the way. Margaret Bax and her family kindly donated two boreholes for Mukuni Chiefdom. Another one is a result of a birthday gift – ‘when one year old Indiana is older her parents will tell her that to celebrate her first birthday, they, her family and friends kindly donated a borehole to help those most in need’. In October three young lawyers are coming to Zambia, after raising money for boreholes through their brilliant initative ‘Belgian Lawyers for Africa – It’s Legal to Care‘.

EIGHT BOREHOLES TO BE DRILLED TO HELP WITH WATER SHORTAGES

On the malaria prevention front we have been distributing mosquito nets to school children and villages, and targeting Ngwezi zone in Sekute Chiefdom to reduce the number of malaria cases. At the end of August Martin, is going to walk 180km from Porto in Portugal to Santiago in Spain to raise awareness and funds for mosquito nets. Entitled ‘the flamingos are walking for malaria prevention‘, we will be following his progress and posting on Social Media.

DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – CHUUNGA VILLAGE, MUKUNI CHIEFDOM

Through your tremendous support, whether you are a donor, volunteer or fundraiser we celebrate our achievements on World Humanitarian Day and aim to improve the lives of many more less fortunate children. If you you would like to make a donation towards the food and water crisis all our platforms are free.

ADVANCEMENT IN EDUCATION FOR RURAL CHILDREN

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 states: ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all‘ and yet, according to the UN, sub-Sahara Africa still has some of the lowest participation rates in early childhood and primary education.

I frequently find rural children in Zambia not attending school. The reasons being the lack of schools and trained teachers, distances to access education, and high level of poverty. My belief is ‘that every child has a right to education’ – the charity’s main aim is to advance the educational facilities in rural areas and to support orphans and vulnerable children with equal opportunities for boys and girls.

MUKUNI PRIMARY SCHOOL – WHERE ITA ALL STARTED IN 2006

The Butterfly Tree is the biggest contributor to education in the entire Kazungula District. Three more projects are almost complete: Kawewa Primary School will shortly be upgraded with a substantial grant from the BFSS. River View has an additional classroom block thanks to Nick Bousliman, and a private donor has generously funded an entire new school at Muyunda.

RIVER VIEW GRADE 6 PUPILS WELCOME NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK

Last year I was informed that 280 pupils, from villages surrounding the town of Kazungula, were not attending school. This area is at the border to Botswana and has hundreds of truck drivers passing through every week. Consequently there is a high prevalence of HIV.

After visiting the area in March I was determined to find a solution for the 280 children, and no doubt the many more undiscovered. Therefore, my proposal was to construct an entire new school as nearby River View, with 1,500 pupils, is full. I am delighted to say that The Hilary and Neil Murphy Foundation has donated significant funds for a classroom block, desks and latrines, in addition to funding two boarding shelters to enable outreach pupils to attend River View School.

KAZUNGULA – 280 PUPILS WILL HAVE A NEW SCHOOL THIS YEAR

Sadly, the food crisis, continues to cause much distress. Thanks to the incredible response to our appeal we have distributed over 5,000 bags of roller meal to help approximately 20,000 people. Heartbreaking stories have emerged, that reduce us all to tears, most especially about an old man in Nyawa, who recently had his first proper meal in two months.

MUYUNDA COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL RECEIVE BAGS OF MAIZE

After hearing that we were distributing maize at Muyunda, the old man walked there from Kadanda village, but found nothing left. He then walked to Singwamba and luckily, a few bags remained. To Muyunda from his home 20km…to Singwamba…16km and back home…8km. A staggering 44km or 27 miles!!!

To continue distributing food to orphans and vulnerable people we need more donations. Your support is highly appreciated as you will see from this message: ‘The headmen for Bunsanga send you a thundrous appreciation of roller meal given to their vulnerable people and for school children.’

OLD MAN FROM KANDANDA VILLAGE WALKED ALL DAY TO FIND FOOD

Notification: Mydonate has now closed, please use any of the following methods to donate: Kindlink our new platform is easy to use, or PayPal Giving Fund, both are free services. For bank transfers or monthly standing orders please contact: jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk