CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER AND SUCCESS FOR ORPHANS

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

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

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

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

MULIMA HEAD BOY AT MUKUNI HIGH SCHOOL IN 2022

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

DAVID, ALICE, THABO, ALICE AND AUGUSTINE COMPLETE COLLEGE

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

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

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

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

BOOST FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Posted on November 4, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

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

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

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

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

BOOMBWE COMMUNITY BRIEFED ON THE NEW HEALTH POST

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

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

NEW CLASSROOM – MUKUNI PRIMARY SCHOOL

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

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

SIX FORMER SPONSORED YOUTHS AND MANAGER OF THE TOUR GUIDES

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

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

2021-22 HIGHLIGHTS GIVE HOPE TO THOUSANDS

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

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

NEW HEALTH POST – KANTONDO

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

‘MOSQUITO NETS FOR SCHOOLS’ – MALIMBA

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

TEXTBOOK DONATIONS – KAZUNGULA RURAL SCHOOLS

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

ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP – SENKOBO PRIMARY SCHOOL

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

NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK – CHABALANDA

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

SUCCESSFUL DRILLING FOR A BOREHOLE – NAMPAKA

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

MANGO PRODUCTION – MUSOKOTWANE

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

GIRLS’ EMPOWERMENT – MUKUNI VILLAGE

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

MUKUNI UNITED FOOTBALL TEAM

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

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

Jane Kaye-Bailey

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN HEALTHCARE

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

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

THE BUTTERFLY TREE SUPPORTS ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN ZAMBIA

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

ONE OF THE TWO HOUSES FOR MEDICAL STAFF – KATONDO

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

ONE OF THE TWO MEDICAL STAFF HOUSES – KATONDO

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

DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – SICHIFULO SCHOOL

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

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

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

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

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

TRAINING IN MANGO PRODUCE FOR 200 MUSOKOTWANE WOMEN

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

Jane Kaye-Bailey

NEW YEAR BRINGS HOPE FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

As the New Year dawned many of us coping with the challenges of the pandemic continue to hope that life will soon get back to normal. We have all been affected and had to deal with it in different ways. Running The Butterfly Tree has helped to keep me focused and realise how fortunate we are in the UK to have the NHS, readily available vaccinations, and instant communication with our friends and families.

PUPILS AT NGANDU SCHOOL

The Butterfly Tree’s aim is, and always has been, to improve the lives of of orphans and vulnerable children in some the poorest communities on the planet. When COVID-19 reached Zambia health facilities were ill-equipped to cope with it. Most clinics and schools had no masks, soap, hand sanitiser or disinfectant. Thanks to the support of our generous donors we have assisted 30 clinics and 20 schools with a continual supply of PPE. To date masks remain mandatory indoors and at public gatherings and cases have reduced in the past few months.

PROVISION OF PPE IN SCHOOLS AND HEALTH CENTRES

The health post at Bunsanga is just one example of how having adequate facilities can help to say lives. People presenting malaria symptoms can get tested and treated quickly, women can give birth knowing that there is medical aid on hand and no longer need to walk long distances for post and antenatal clinics, or to get their children vaccinated. Blooms the Chemist, Australia, provide invaluable ongoing support for Bunsanga, Simonga and Mambova health posts.

MAMBOVA RURAL HEALTH CENTRE

Thanks to the Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission and Development we have built health centres and posts at Sikuanzwe, Bunsanga and the latest one at Katondo, soon to be completed. In addition we have constructed an entire health centre at Mahalulu and a health post at Muchambila. At Mukuni and Simonga we added maternity wards and mother’s shelter. Singwamba, Musokotwane, Kasiya and Mambova were also given mother’s shelters, Manyemuyemu and Sikapa were added to the list in 2021. These shelters provide accommodation for women from outreach villages before the onset of labour, preventing women having to walk long distances when in labour.

HEALTH POST UNDER CONSTRUCTION – KATONDO

As always malaria prevention is one of our main priorities, mosquito nets are being given out to school children after a successful fundraising campaign leading up to Christmas. The rainy season is from November to April, and this is when malaria is most prevalent, so thank you to everyone for helping us to protect more children.

PUPILS AT SICHIFULO SCHOOL RECEIVING MOSQUITO NETS

This month sees the start of the new school year in Zambia. The date has been put back to the 24th January due to COVID-19, but unlike the previous two years the numbers of cases are not so high. Results have recently been announced for grades 7 and 9, while a few of the orphans on sponsorship have failed many have done well, most especially girls. The aim of our the new Girl’s Empowerment project, which was initiated last year, is to encourage teenage girls to avoid early pregnancies and to complete their education.

GIRL EMPOWERMENT – MUKUNI VILLAGE

More students are being enrolled at college and university this year. Courses include accountancy, journalism, nursing and catering. Other students that started their courses last year are studying pharmacy, nursing, engineering, accountancy, computing, forward and clearing, building, carpentry and welding. The Murphy Family Foundation, Their World and individual sponsors have given these youths a wonderful opportunity to improve their lives and that of their families.

CHRISTOPHER – SPONSORED TO STUDY ACCOUNTANCY AT UNIVERSITY

Recent developments in schools have included the completion of a science lab at Sichifulo and teacher’s houses at Muchambila and Muyunda. A classroom block is under construction at Chabalanda and a further one soon to be started in a new area. Once finished these facilities are handed over to the communities, and Ministry of Education who will provide qualified teachers.

NEW SCIENCE LABOROTARY – SICHILFULO SCHOOL

The mango project in Musokotwane and the chicken and vegetable project in Sekute are progressing well. Each project should provide a sustainable income for 200 women living in remote areas, thanks to our Canadian partner Give A Hand. The women receive training on how to develop these projects, and in business and project management.

SUSTAINABLE CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE PROJECT FOR SEKUTE WOMEN

Our aim for the coming months is to expand our malaria prevention programme, build additional community houses for orphans and widows, install more boreholes in schools and to seek funding for further development in education, health, and sustainable income-generating enterprises.

I would like to wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM THE BUTTERFLY TREE

Posted on December 16, 2021 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

With Christmas just around the corner and the end of 2021 fast approaching many of you will be reflecting on the challenges of the past year and feeling anxious about what the New Year will bring. COVID-19 and climate change dominate the news and effects everyone of us, most especially people living in poor countries such as Zambia.

Despite all the uncertainties I am delighted to inform you that this has been one of the best years in the history of The Butterly Tree. Thanks to the overwhelming support from our donors we have expanded our reach to more schools and communities in the Kazungula District, and many more orphans are being educated at school, university and college.

One young lady who has just completed a three year course in bio medicine sent us this message: ‘I am writing this message as I am thankful for the support that you have provided by sponsoring my education in 2019-2021 academic years at Kafue Institute where I was studying for a diploma in clinical medicine. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, you have shown your sincere kindness by lending a hand in my education. Your sponsorship has helped me to realize that dreams do come true and that I can be what I want to be. My family is secure knowing that my education is steady and now, on behalf of my family and myself, I pour out my humble thanks.’

MWANDU FROM MUKUNI VILLAGE COMPLETES BIO MEDICINE COURSE

There is great excitement in Nyawa after two boreholes were installed At Nsizo school and for the Kampaka community. A further two are being installed this week with three more to follow in Musokotwane Cheifdom, thanks to a grant award from Fedex. Seeds for schools have been donated to twenty school to grow vegetables for their sustainable feeding programmes.

SUCCESSFUL DRILL AT KATONDO

The rural health post at Kantondo is making great progress with the clinic, two staff houses, toilets and biodigester soon to be completed. This was generously funded by Guernsey Overseas Aid and Development Commission. The second of two mother’s shelter, funded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, has been completed by Siakacapa health post, which will provide women with safe accommodation prior to the onset of labour.

NEW MOTHER’S SHELTER – SIKACAPA

OLD MOTHER’S SHELTER – SIKACAPA

Eight more orphans are to receive houses after receiving a donation from Motive Real Estate, Texas. The company donates a house for every one they sell. Many orphans live in dilapidated dwellings which leak during the rainy season. 300 bags of maize are beimng given at Christmas to every orphan and vulnerable child on our orphan sponsorship programme.

The Butterfly Tree Girls’ Empowerment programme has recently been launched. One of our UK volunteers has written a booklet to educate girls about the dangers of early pregnancies, HIV and alcohol and drug abuse. Natasha and Malala completed a six week workshop in Mukuni witt the aim of expanding this to all schools throughout the District.

SPONSORED GIRLS AT MUKUNI PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS

A new classroom block at Chablanda in Musokotwane is now under construction with another one scheduled for Nyawa in January. These will help more children to have access to higher grades. As we have heard from Mwandu education is vital to overcoming poverty.

The successful malaria prevention campaign has helped to protect many more children. We aim to support schools around the Ngwezi River where there is a high prevalence of malaria. If you would like to make a donation a mosquito net costs just £5 or $7. Or if you would prefer your donation to be used to purchase a bag of maize for £5 or $7, please add a comment when making a donation.

On behalf of the entire team I send our grateful thanks to all our donors, volunteers, fundraisers and supporters and wish you a very happy Christmas and good health in the New Year.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

EXCITING UPDATES AND FUNDRAISING AT CHRISTMAS

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

With just over one month to go, the Christmas bustle is underway. The Butterfly Tree has started a fundraising campain to provide mosquito nets and bags of maize for orphans and vulnerable children living in rural areas of Zambia.

‘Globally every two minutes a child dies from malaria – out of 400,000 deaths per year, 67% of these are children under the age of five in sub-Sahara Africa.’

The rainy season in Zambia has started, the time when children’s lives at risk if they contract malaria. Through interventions children can be protected and the most effective way is to provide a mosquito net. Due to limited supplies pregnant women and children under five are given priority, which means that school children are not covered. Our ‘mosquito nets for schools‘ is proving to be highly effective with positive results being achieved.

DISTIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – MUYNUNDA COMMUNITY SCHOOL

At this time of year food is also in short supply. The dry season, which started in April lasts for 6 months, coupled with the impact of COVID-19 many families resort to just one meal a day. A bag of ground maize costs just £5 ($7) and can feed a family of four for three weeks.

BAGS OF GROUND MAIZE DONATED TO ORPHANS – KAMWI VILLAGE

We are delighted to have been awarded a grant from Fedex, South Africa to install 7 boreholes in rural schools and communities. This generous donation will transform the lives of thousands of women and children. No longer will they have to spend hours fetching water from rivers and streams, which are polluted, and one of the main causes of diarrhoeal diseases.

7 BOREHOLES FOR REMOTE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES

The Katando Health Post development is progressing with the clinic and the two staff houses currently under construction, funded by the Overseas Aid and Development Commission of Guernsey. Blooms the Pharmacy, Australia, regular support for Simonga, Bunsanga and Mombova health posts is invaluable. We have also donated PPE to Mukuni Health Centre.

KATONDO HEALTH POST CLINIC

The third women’s project comprising of a workshop, chicken coop, equipment and seeds will help 200 women in the Sekute Chiefdom. A water solar-powered water reticulation system has been installed, and our youth builders are now on site. This project, funded by our Canadian partner Give a Hand.

SOLAR-POWERED WATER RETICULATION SYSTEM

We have extended our orphan sponsorship programme to Senkobo School in Musokotwane Chiefdom. Eight pupils, who had all dropped out of school after losing their parents have been reinstated. Such is the poverty that two girls had to borrow shoes from friends to return to school to sit their examinations. The sponsorship includes school and exam fees, uniforms, shoes, school bag and books for a cost of £110 per pupils, per annum.

ONE OF 8 PUPILS NOW ON SPONSORSHIP – SENKOBO SCHOOL

We are absolutely thrilled and humbled to have received an award for the Best Orphan Charity of the Year.

An exciting event took part in Mukuni Chiefdom last month after we sponsored a football tournment to create awareness of HIV. The event which was the first ever tournamant in this remote area of the Chiefdom, was held in Siamasimbi. Eight teams took part with Mukuni united being declared the winners. Pepe’s Zambia-Football Foundation kindly donated the kits for each team.

MUKUNI UNITED FOOTBALL TEAM, INCLUDING SPONSORED ORPHANS

The Butterfly Tree malaria prevention campaign has got off to a great start after two successful presentations to Inner Wheel Club Districts 12 and 20. 100% of all funds raised will be used to purchase mosquito nets for school children. If you would like to make a donation so that we can reach out to as many schools as possible please click on this link, The cost for a mosquito net is £5, there has been a recent increase due to the strengthening of the Zambian currency and inflation.

Or if you would prefer your donation to be used to purchase a bag of maize for £5, please add a comment when making a donation.

If you own a company perhaps you would consider making a charity donation instead of sending Christmas cards, which often end up in the bin and more trucks are needed to deliver them!

This comment from Business Waste is worth reading: “People seem to think that sending Christmas cards doesn’t do much harm to the environment because of the perception that all cardboard is easily recycled. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. People chuck their cards into the recycling bin, which causes havoc at recycling centres causing whole loads of paper to be dumped because it’s contaminated with glitter.” In addition to this more trucks are needed to deliver cards causing a further impact on the environment.

Many thanks to everyone who has already supported this campaign and to all the generous donors who have put their trust in The Butterfly Tree.

CHANGING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Posted on October 27, 2021 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The Butterfly Tree continues to spread its wings thanks to the tremendous support we receive from regular and new donors. Further schools are being developed, an entire health post is under construction, a new women’s project is underway, and more orphans and vulnerable children are being sponsored.

KAMWI TWINS SPONSORED SINCE BIRTH AFTER LOSING THEIR MOTHER IN CHILDBIRTH

Five students started university in September, including Charity Sikota, thanks to a donation from The Murphy Family Foundation. Charity had never left the Kazungula District, but having an ambition to improve her life she accepted the sponsorship to become a teacher in business studies. In her own words…

“My name is Charity Sikota born in a family of three sisters and one brother. I am the last born in my family. I lost my parents at an early stage and I started staying with my grandmother. Growing up with my grandmother was rough but we were managing to get by. Unfortunately, my grandmother also passed on and I started staying with my aunt. I wrote my grade nine but my aunt failed to pay school fees for me. I had to stop school and stayed in the village for 3 years. The Butterfly Tree started sponsoring me till I completed my grade 12, I am very grateful for the opportunity. I was so excited when I was told that I would be sponsored further through university. Even though I was so scared to travel alone to a place so far away, I reached my destination safely. I have even started taking my classes and am very excited to be in this place. Words may never describe the full content of how grateful I am. ”

CHARITY – COMPLETED GRADE 12 AT RIVER VIEW SCHOOL

This donation has also given six youths an opportunity to enrol in a variety of skilled-based courses, including building, welding, catering, accountancy, and forward and clearing. Theirworld, who offer sponsorship for girls has given us a further grant for five students to attend college. The five girls that the organisation sponsored last year have done exceedingly well, all gaining diplomas with three distinctions and two merits. More students will commence courses at both university and college in January.

HENRY, FROM MUKUNI VILLAGE, NOW STUDYING PHARMACY AT UNIVERSITY

The Mukuni Village Trust, South Australia continues to sponsor 40 orphans, through individual donors a further 16 are being sponsored, and a new school in Musokotwane is to added to the sponsorship programme. To improve learning in these rural schools we have donated vast amounts of text books, especially in Maths and Science, as these are subjects that pupils struggle with. This is mainly due to having to share one textbook between 20 or more pupils. We have seen improved examination results in schools that have been helped.

Kamwi Junior School now has a new classroom block, which will enable the facility to advance to grades 8 and 9, reducing the distance pupils must walk. A generous donation left in the will of a teacher, who volunteered in Zambia, is being used complete a classoom and science lab for Sichifulo Junior Secondary School in Nyawa. Funds for classroom blocks in two additional schools are also in place.

NEW CLASSROOM BOCK, CONSTRUCTED BY OUR TRAINED YOUTHS – KAMWI SCHOOL

Construction is underway for a Health Post at Katondo, after receiving a generous grant from Overseas Aid and Development Commission of Guernsey. The borehole has been installed and a clinic, two staff houses and a biodigester will complete the project. Two mother’s shelter have been built at Manyemuyemu and Sikachapa, offering women a safe place to stay prior to the onset of labour, after receiving a donation from the Sacred Heart Foundation. Blooms the Pharmacy donated further funds to purchase medical supplies for Bunsanga, Simonga and Mambova clinics.

BOREHOLE AND HANDPUMP FOR KATONDO RURAL HEALTH POST

In addition to the Beekeeping and Mangoes of Hope women’s project, Give a Hand, our Canadian partner, has given a further donation to develop a sustainable income-generating enterprise for 200 women in Sekute. These food security projects help to empower women, giving them an opportunity to support their children, while providing sufficient food to alleviate hunger. One of our UK volunteers has written a wonderful booklet on ‘Empowering Girls’. The aim is to form Girl’s Clubs in school to help reduce teenage pregnancies and early marriages. This pioneer project is underway in Mukuni with one of our Zambian volunteers and a teacher conducting the workshops.

One of the most vital projects we support is that of malaria prevention. After months of hot dry weather Zambia’s rainy season is about to start, which is welcome for planting crops and filling up streams and rivers. However, it is also the start of the malaria season when children are at risk of contracting this potentially fatal disease. A new vaccination has recently been approved by the World Health Organisation, but no doubt this will take years to deliver it to regions as remote as the ones we work in. The government’s priority is to provide mosquito nets for pregnant women and under fives, which means that school children are left out. Our successful ‘Mosquito Nets for Schools‘ project is to be highly successful. Each pupil and teacher is given a mosquito net and monitoring takes place.

PUPIL RECEIVE MOSQUITO NETS FOR MALARIA PREVENTION – MUYUNDA SCHOOL

We are appealing for donations for mosquito nets, which cost just £4 or $6. Our target is to raise enough funds to provide mosquito nets for every school, in the Kazungula District, where there is a high prevalence of malaria. If you would like to make a donation please clink on this link.

THE BUTTERFLY TREE ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2020 – 2021

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I am delighted to present to you The Butterfly Tree’s Annual Report and Accounts, for our financial year ending on the 31st March 2021. The full version of the report and accounts, including wonderful pictures of our beneficiaries, can be viewed by clicking on this link: Annual Report 2020-21

During the entire year only 3.66% of total expenditure was spent on expenses, 96.34% went into our charitable projects.

Chairman’s Report

In January 2006 I visited Zambia and Mukuni Village for the very first time, little did I know that 15 years later the charity I founded would still be flourishing. Despite all the challenges of the past year The Butterfly Tree has managed to sustain our existing projects while sourcing new ones. Thanks to the incredible support from our loyal donors, as well as new ones, we continue to implement a diverse section of projects relating to water, food, health and education.

JANE IN THE REMOTE AREA OF DUNDUMWEZI

Though I have not been able to travel to Zambia since February 2020 I am in daily communication with our local team, who have been outstanding. Mindful of the risks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, they continued to work tirelessly throughout the year to help those most in need. In March 2020 communities in the Southern Province were still suffering from the effects of a severe drought then COVID-19 emerged. Many of the villages, especially Mukuni, rely heavily on tourism due to their close proximity to the Victoria Falls, A World Heritage site. No one received any income that year, and in a country with such a poor economy, there was no handouts.

NGANDU JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL – MUKUNI CHIEFDOM

To support people through this dire situation The Butterfly Tree regularly donated bags of ground maize to orphans and vulnerable children, the elderly, and those that had no means to support themselves. In addition, we offered funding for farming projects. We also provided vast amounts of PPE to rural health centres, schools once they reopened, and the Kazungula Border. Masks were made by local youths and given to the schools. The spread of the virus in 2020 was somewhat contained, but sadly the South African variant took its toll at the beginning of 2021, during this period the Ministry of Health commenced their vaccination programme.

PPE DONATIONS WERE GIVEN TO CLINICS AND SCHOOLS

Though the schools were closed for a three month period the government extended term times by shortening the holidays. During the year a major development took place at Musokotwane Secondary School after receiving a substantial donation. This included a 1×3 classroom block, science lab, two boarding houses, toilets, and a solar-powered water reticulation system to support a sustainable food production unit. This was one of six that were installed and will be invaluable during the dry season and periods of drought.

SOLAR-POWERED WATER RETICULATION SYSTEM – MUSOKOTWANE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Vasts amounts of textbooks were donated to schools, which has helped to improve examination results with several of our sponsored orphans gaining certificates after completing grade 12. Ten students were sponsored on degree and diploma courses, with one young man completing a three year course in bio-medics. Orphans were sponsored at Mukuni, N’gandu, Kamwi, Ndele, River View, Siavonga, and Kazungula Boarding School. More school leavers are being offered further education opportunities for both academic and skill based courses in September.

VAST AMOUNTS OF TEXTBOOKS GIVEN TO RURAL SCHOOLS

Fundraising during lockdown was difficult and some organisations providing cut their international grants. In April 2020 The Butterfly Tree took part in the 2.6 Challenge, a fundraising event to replace the London Marathon. Despite the short notice our Trustees, volunteers and their families, as well as some of our donors took part and raised a substantial amount of funds for bags of maize and mosquito nets. Later that year The Choirs of Pembrooke College, Cambridge University, held a Bach-a-Thon to raise money for food shortages in Mukuni Village.

DISTRIBUTIONS OF GROUND MAIZE TOOK PLACE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

In addition to installing boreholes in five schools and one for a farming project in Mukuni, solar-powered water reticulation systems were installed at Musokotwane, River View, Katapazi, Singwamba, Matengu and Chaba schools, and Bunsanga Health Post. Seeds were given to schools to grow maize, sorghum and vegetables. Surplus produce was sold to the community, profits are then used to support orphans and to buy school supplies.

DRILLING FOR WATER – CHIKWAMA

Bunsanga Health Post is now in full use and proving to be invaluable for maternity care and COVID-19. We provided PPE to thirty rural health centres as well as medical supplies for Mukuni, Simonga, Mambova and Bunsanga clinics. Support was given to children in need of medical attention and the a project has been initiated to help period poverty with the use of sanitary pads, which are being made by youths in Mukuni.

DONATED ITEMS – SIMONGA MATERNITY WARD

Our peer education programme in HIV prevention, teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and alcohol and drug abuse, is having an impact. Football and netball teams have been formed in many rural villages to help tackle the above challenges, engaging youths in sport is one of the most successful ways to keep them occupied. We have sponsored football and netball competitions, and this coming year we aim to expand this programme after receiving a substantial donation of football strips and equipment.

SUBSTANTIAL DONATION OF FOOTBALL STRIPS DISTRIBUTED IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

At the forefront of our contribution to the health sector is malaria prevention. COVID-19 took precedence over malaria and other major healthissues, not because the interventions were unavailable but due to the delay in obtaining supplies, and distribution by the Ministry of Health. The Butterfly Tree provided safe insecticidal coating to paint 650 dwellings in Moomba Chiefdom and disbursed larvicide in pools and streams. To provide universal coverage mosquito nets were donated to the schools in this Chiefdom. In addition, Singwamba and Chuunga schools also were added to our ‘mosquito nets for schools’ programme, as earlier this year there was high prevalence of malaria, in Nyawa Chiefdom.

MOSQUITO NETS FOR SCHOOLS – MALIMBA JUNIOR SECONDARY

Community projects continue to be well supported. In addition to the beekeeping projects for 200 women in Muyunda a new project called ‘Mangoes of Hope’ has been initiated for 200 women in Musokotwane. These will provide sustainable income-generating enterprises for women. A further 12 community houses have been built for orphans and the elderly.

BEEKEEPING PROJECT FOR 200 WOMEN – MUYUNDA

Without the support of our wonderful team of volunteers both in the UK and Zambia, none of this could have been achieved. My sincere thanks to fellow Trustees Ann Sutton (Treasurer), Miranda de Freston and Jackie Brown. Miranda has since resigned as a Trustee to concentrate on a local charity in her town. Miranda has been a valuable member of the team for several years and we wish her all the best with her future endeavours. David, Carolyn, Valerie and Leah, provide vital support in administration, fundraising and safeguarding and we are delighted to welcome Meg Over to our team, who volunteered for us in Zambia in 2018. All offer an invaluable contribution to our work. Our overseas volunteers provide furthersupport – Frank Maiolo (US), Marilee Gibson and Katie Kung (Canada).

The Zambian team, comprising of the four Trustees who have been with us since 2006 – Mupotola Siloka (Secretary and project management), 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 and Harold Chilikwazi (community projects). Their vital input, in implementing, monitoring and managing the projects on the ground, during a global pandemic, has been remarkable. I cannot be praise them enough for keeping everything moving during these most difficult of circumstances.

Though COVID-19 is still effecting all of us The Butterfly Tree has some exciting projects in place for 2021-22. On behalf of The Butterfly Tree I wish to thank all our donors that have supported us during this challenging year. It is impossible to name everyone, but every donation helps us to sustain our vital programmes in Zambia, to initiate new projects in remote areas, and to reach out to orphans and vulnerable children living in extreme poverty. Opposite are the names of our major donors who have contributed so much to the success of The Butterfly Tree. Our sincere thanks for your generosity and for putting your trust in our grassroots charity. As always we are grateful to Grenfell James, Stratford-upon-Avon for freely verifying the charity accounts. Despite all the challenges we were able to continue running the charity effectively,thanks to Zoom presentations and meetings, virtual fundraisers, and our amazing team of Trustees and volunteers both in the UK and Zambia, and most especially our generous donors.

‘I cannot understate how impressed I am by all the wonderful work you’re doing at the Butterfly Tree. It’s just fantastic!!!! So positive in every way.’ –
Angela Antonas
‘Life is all about fate and opportunities and it was very much Zambia’s good fortune that you made that trip. You’ve changed the lives of thousands which is something few people can say. I remember seeing you in the foyer of the Zambezi Sun and then visiting the village the following day and then realizing that the sign on the building for Butterfly Tree was you. My favorite charity by miles.’ – John McGhee.
‘I have seen the impact that you have had on the local community in the Livingstone area. You have made a huge positive impact on the life of so many. Respect! ‘ -Thore Larsgard

Jane Kaye-Bailey
Founder

NEW ERA FOR ZAMBIA AND EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Today Zambia announced a new President-Elect, Hakainde Hichilema. Born in a village in the Southern Province the President-Elect managed to get a scholarship to the University of Zambia, gaining a degree in Economics and Business Administration, followed by an MBA degree from the University of Birmingham.

The Butterfly Tree is a non-political organisation but works closely with the Ministries of Health and Education in Zambia, who value our contribution in helping to improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable people in the Kazungula District. Since 2006 we have installed numerous boreholes, constructed schools, health post, community houses as well as initiating projects for women and youths, and provided sponsorship for hundreds of orphans and children living in extreme poverty. Some of the orphans we have sponsored have become teachers, agriculturalists, journalists, medical researchers, policemen, and one boy qualified as a pilot.

RIVER VIEW SECONDARY SCHOOL NOW HAS OVER 1,600 PUPILS

I am delighted to say that, despite August usually being a quiet month because of the summer holidays, we are receiving a continual stream of donations. Zambian schools have been closed due to COVID-19, however the August holiday has been cut short, therefore pupils in examination grades returned to lessons on the 6th and other grades will resume this week. The Butterfly Tree has again donated PPE to schools and clinics to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

PPE DONATION TO HEALTH POSTS AND SCHOOLS

Thanks to a private donation, we have funding in place to build another classroom. We have selected Chabalanda, a remote school in the Musokotwane Chiefdom with 343 pupils. Once completed the school will be upgraded to a junior secondary school and children will no longer have to walk to Sinde, a distance of 7 kms. Construction on the classroom block at Kamwi is making great progress and should finished next month, after which the school will be upgraded.

KAMWI CLASSROOM BLOCK BEING CONSTRUCTED BY TRAINED YOUTHS

Applications are currently being made for school leavers to attend further education. Five young people from Mukuni and River View will attend university thanks to a generous donation from The Murphy Family Foundation, reading the following subjects: pharmacy, accountancy, engineering, nursing, and teaching in business studies. In addition, at least ten youths will participate in skilled based college courses, most of these courses will commence in September and will include computing, welding, carpentry, building, and hotel management and catering. A further five girls have also been selected as beneficiaries of a grant award from Theirworld.

BENEFICIARIES OF THEIRWORLD’S 2020 GRANT AWARD

Once again Motive Real Estate, Texas, has donated to The Butterfly Tree’s community housing project. For every house the company sells, a donation is given to the charity. The donation will enable us to build 20 houses for those most in need. We continue to receive support for our malaria prevention programme most recently from Nailsea and Backwell Rotary Club to purchase mosquito nets for schools. The accumulation of funds donated by the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs has been used to purchase insecticidal coating for Moomba Chiefdom, where there is a high prevalence of malaria. These generous donations will help to prevent children from contracting this life-threatening disease.

As always we are extremely grateful for your support.