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Christmas 2017

Christmas has come early for some of our schools in Zambia with this December being one of the busiest months in the history of the charity. We have been overwhelmed by the support from new and long-standing donors, who have generously given to our cause, boosting our water, food, health and education programmes. We also greatly appreciate the kind messages that many of you have sent.

MUKUNI CHILDREN

The sustainability of  The Butterfly Tree could not continue without the tremendous efforts and generosity of all the people involved. Whether it be the Trustees, volunteers, donors or fundraisers, each have played an integral part in helping us to expoand into new outreach communities in Zambia. Here are details of some of the donations we recently received.

MAMBOVA CLINIC BUILT BY THE BUTTERFLY TREE

River View School gets further support to add a Science Laboratory, thanks to a generous donation from The Hilary and Neil Charity Trust. Once this has been completed the newly upgraded High School will be passed as an Examination Center. The second phase of a grant from the British and Foreign School Society will enable us to complete the 1×2 classroom block and latrines currently under construction at Chaba Junior Secondary School. Just Trust’s recent grant aid will be used to purchase desks for the school.

NEWLY UPGRADED RIVER VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

Attraction Tickets Direct donates further funds to add a teacher’s house to Bunsanga Community School, and private donors offer extra funding for Muchambila Primary School. A donation from George Spencer Academy is to be used towards a classroom block, and desks, for Singwamba School. These five schools, will gain much improved education facilities for over three thousand vulnerable children.

NEW SCHOOL FOR BUNSANGA SCHOOL – 2017

The rainy season is underway, but to date Mukuni Chiefdom reports zero cases of malaria with the help of our intervention. This year we are focusing on Moomba Chiefdom, where we recently distributed several hundered mosquito nets and insecticidal coating to 400 dwellings. Ater just one month the medical officer is seeing a difference, with no new cases to date. Nyawa Chiefdom is to receive 340 mosquito nets.

ADVANCED MALARIA PREVENTION – MOOMBA CHIEFDOM

The numbers of orphans to be sponsored, at the start of the new school year in January, will be increased. The Mukuni Village Trust Australia, will support 50 orphans and several new sponsors have come ‘on board’. We have funds on offer for more bore holes in remote schools and villages. Motive Real Estate are to donate further houses for widows and the elderly looking after orphans.

SOME OF THE ORPHANS TO BE SPONSORED IN 2018

We continue to support a feeding programme at Mukuni Secondary School and the Keil family’s donation will again provide seeds for 14 rural schools.

NGANDU SCHOOL GARDEN

We have a few calendars left, selling at £4 each – kindly send an email to jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk if you would like to place an order.

This has been an absolutely amazing year for The Butterfly Tree, the orphans and communites in Zambia thanks to your charitable support. I would  like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who has helped, whether it be from a small donation, a substantial grant or as a volunteer. From all of us at The Butterfly Tree we wish you a wonderful Christmas and much happiness and good health for the New Year!

Jane Kaye-Bailey

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Developments in Zambia

First of all I would like to thank everyone for voting for the Aidex Humanitarian Hero’s Award, for which I was shortlisted to the final four, and for your many kind messages. The charity gained a great deal of exposure and already we have received support as a result of my attending the event, after the sponsors paid towards my expenses. The worthy winner was an Austrian Red Cross volunteer, who had worked with Ebola and refugees.

ATTENDING THE AIDEX EVENT IN BRUSSELS

Before the event I had recently travelled to Zambia to see the progress we are making, which is quite remarkable. Most especially with the completion of River View School development thanks substantial to grant aid from GOAC. In addition to the 1×4 classroom block, the grant paid for 3 double VIP latrines, 85 desks and mosquito nets. I personally distributed 1,250 mosquito nets to every child and teacher as part of a pilot scheme to help eliminate malaria in this District.

RIVER VIEW PUPILS RECEIVE MOSQUITO NETS & NEW CLASSROOMS

A substantial grant from the BFSS has enabled us to expand Chaba Primary School in Mukuni Chiefdom after grade 8 had been closed due to lack of teaching space. Currently children are walking 12 km to seek education. A new 1×2 classroom block and double VIP latrines are being constructed. Another 1×2 classroom block was completed at Bunsanga community school, generously funded by Attraction Tickets Direct, who have since agreed to fund a teacher’s house. 20 desks were donated as a result of a donor fundraiser and each pupil was given a filled school bag courtesy of por partner, School in  Bag.

BUNSANGA PRIMARY’S NEW SCHOOL IN NYAWA CHIEFDOM

I spent time working with the older orphans we sponsored who have now completed school or gone on to further education. Jacob Siatubitu, the first beneficiary to go to high school proudly showed me his Diploma in Agriculture, has sought employment and vows to help his community and the charity. The group of peer educators continue to conduct HIV prevention workshops. I offered them seven of them the chance to earn an income while they are waiting to go to college. The are happily building 11 houses for widows and the elderly looking after orphans, funded by Motive Real Estate.

FORMER SPONSORED ORPHANS EARNING AN INCOME

On a sad note Hildah, one of the community health workers and her family, lost their home after a fire destroyed it. We rallied round to help her, donating blankets and jerseys from District 6 Inner Wheel Clubs and various items received from the David Livingstone Hotel. A post on Facebook resulted in donations to build her a new home and buy other neccessities.

THREE OF THE FOUR CHILDREN WHOSE HOUSE BURNT DOWN

As always orphans are at the forefront of our work, grades 9 and 12 have been taking their exams. I got updates on many of them, but during the exam period it was not possible to meet all of them. Therefore, please accept my apologies for the delay in updating the orphan sponsors. This programme entails a huge amount of administration for us here in the UK as well as for the Zambian volunteers and teachers. Whether we are building schools, clinics or putting in bore holes the orphans will benefit.

SPONSORED ORPHANS – MUKUNI SECONDARY SCHOOL

There is so much more to write about, so I will add more detailed information about certain projects in following posts. In the meantime we are aiming to increase our donations leading up to Christmas. Our urgent needs are for 800 mosquito nets for Nyawa Chiefdom, where there is a high prevelance of malaria, and for school desks and text books. Our 2018 charity calendar is available to order at a cost of £4. Thank you to the companies who have each sponsored a page. This covers all printing costs – all sales will go towards the above projects.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

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Humanitarian Hero Award 2017 Finalist

Jane Kaye-Bailey has been selected as a finalist for Aidex ‘Humanitarian Award of the Year‘. After being nominated for this prestigious award Jane is one of the four finalists. Below is the nomination, submitted by Leah Black. The winner will be announced on the 15th November 2017, at the Aidex Global Humanitarian and Development Event in Brussels. The vote to select the winner is open to the public, with Jane being a finalist The Butterfly Tree will receive a huge amount of publicity. Please use this link to vote for Jane:

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Since founding The Butterfly Tree, Jane has selflessly provided 11 years dedication to the people of Zambia in her work to help orphans and rural communities. Her commitment has helped and saved thousands of lives with awe-inspiring lasting impact across an extensive geographical area in Southern Zambia, which she’s continuously expanding to ensure widespread support. I came across Jane 10 years ago when searching for a volunteer-led charity to fundraise for. I have followed her impressive work since then. From its conception, the charity’s philosophy has been to ensure that all donor funds go directly into grassroots projects and no personal fees or administration costs are deducted, which to this date is still, outstandingly, the case. This year I was keen to volunteer in Zambia to share my skills and see Jane’s charity first-hand. What I witnessed over two months astounded me; a charity true to its nature, following its original mission and changing lives sustainably and effectively, being run entirely by talented and dedicated Zambian volunteers who Jane is highly regarded by, with community self-development and local people at its heart.

Jane at the launch of The Butterfly Tree’s new Malaria Prevention Programme 2014

To highlight Jane’s impact, some 10,000 people now have access to safe water through 21 new boreholes, and better sanitation. She has developed wide-reaching sustainable feeding programmes in a country that ranks third hungriest nation globally and one of the poorest countries in Africa. Her support feeds over 2000 orphans and vulnerable children daily and provides seeds and fertiliser for vulnerable families. Jane strongly believes that education is fundamental to tackling poverty and through her desire to help change the future of vulnerable children she holds education at the heart of what she does; not only curriculum-based but also peer-led community education and youth empowerment; tackling personal, social and health issues, especially preventing HIV & Aids.

Jane with the ‘Kamwi Twins’, whose mother died in childbirth leaving premature babies. Now age 7 the boys have been supported by the charity since 2010.

Jane’s projects have developed new rural schools, with teacher’s houses, latrines and boreholes. She has enabled sponsorship of several hundred orphaned and vulnerable children from pre-school to grade 12, and helped students to attend college and achieve their aspirations, many of whom return to the villages to help their communities and inspire local youth. Additionally, her charity has provided vast amounts of materials in the 35 schools she helps and added special education units in four of them. 82 houses for widows and the elderly have been constructed, maternity care and medical supplies have been provided to numerous health centres and 12 clinics are supported, some of which her charity has built. Jane has commendable ability to empower communities she works in to be sustainable. She first ensures that adequate facilities are provided so that, once basic needs are available, income-generating activities can be introduced by initiating sustainable enterprises and microfinancing.

Jane raise funds to built the first matenrity clinic in rural Zambia. Others, as well as women’s shelters have also been constructed.

Jane’s work doesn’t stop here; through her continued dedication to tackle malaria she’s making a massive local and potentially national, even global, impact. For the past nine years her charity has funded a successful malaria prevention programme in Zambia, providing over 12,000 mosquito nets, malaria testing kits and educational workshops saving countless lives. Significantly, she’s been working with a UK company, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on two new products, an insecticide coating and larvicide granule which last two years and are not harmful to humans, animals or the environment; perceived to be the most superior currently available globally. The National Malaria Control Centre did an evaluation of the products and was extremely satisfied with the results. Consequently the products were approved by the Zambian Ministry of Health and the Zambian Environmental Agencies. After being granted a license Jane’s charity distributes these for humanitarian aid. In high-risk malaria locations where they were applied there was a significant reduction in new cases of malaria, protecting over 1000 households with an aim to safeguard many more nationwide.

Jane distributinmg mosquito nets and funding educational workshops for malaria prevention.

Jane runs the charity with compassion and full business sense, giving her great ability to build partnerships locally and internationally, like working closely with the Ministry of Education and District Health Authorities. Jane has a proven record for getting things done; she’s an exceptionally hard-worker. There’s no rushed jobs or funds being spent unwisely, as she ensures quality and transparency in all that the charity does and that fundraisers’ money goes directly towards good causes. This award would not only be an honour to Jane but also a significant achievement that would deliver enormous sense of pride to all people who hold Jane in their heart; most importantly local Zambians, who will be inspired and enthused by such recognition. I hope that you can see, like me, how deserving Jane is of joining the wall of fame at this year’s AidEx.

Jane hosted HRH Prnicess Royal in 2012 after the charity has been chosen to receive a visit during Her Majesty’s The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year

Please use this link to vote for Jane as a finalist for the Humanitarian Hero Award.

Leah Black

Youth Develpoment Coordinator for The Butterfly Tree

 

 

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Malaria Prevention – Moomba Chiefdom

I have just returned from a short trip to Zambia after setting up a malaria prevention programme in Moomba Chiefdom. The area is located on the North-Western Side of Kazungula District, almost 300 km from Livingstone and 230 km from Kazungula border town. The landscape is undulating sand dunes with numerous lagoons, pans and seasonal swamps in hollows between the dunes. Dry grassland plains, teak forests and miombo woodlands cover the land. This type of landscape promotes stagnation of water perfect for mosquito breeding. The Chiefdom has a high prevalence of malaria. The number of cases in the last three years are: 2014 1,755: 2015 2,000; 2016 1,655. This year 2,017 cases were recorded between January and the end of May.

THE ROAD TO MOOBMA

Accompanied by Mupotola, Presley and Sibeso and setting off at 06.00 I drove for seven hours until we reached Moomba Village. We were met by dubious stares from the adults and apprehensive faces from the children until the nurse introduced us and told that people that we had come to help with their malaria problem. We donated much-needed medical supplies, jerseys for the baby clinic, which was taking place and blankets were given out to the most vulnerable children.

MOOMBA WOMEN RECEIVE BABY CLOTHES

This Chiefdom has never been visited by any other charity or NGO. The Zambian government requested our support to help tackle the malaria problem. We donated 130 mosquito nets with a further 130 to be distributed next week. To provide maximum protection we will apply the safe insecticide coating inside each dwelling and larvicide granules, starting with villages with the highest prevalence of malaria.

DONATION OF MOSQUITO NETS

There are thirteen villages dependent on this medical centre, which has only one nurse and an Environmental Officer. The nearest hospitals for serious malaria cases are Sichili Mission Hospital, which is 70km, and Livingstone General Hospital 290km. All referred patients must find their own way to these facilities.

MOOMBA HEALTH CENTRE

The village has a school with 380 pupils up to grade 7. The closest school for the pupils to continue their education is at Molabezi, some 23 km from the village centre. It was a joy meeting these shy children. Once they got used to us they posed for photographs, bursting into fits of giggles when they saw their images on a digital camera. The time went too quickly and after only a short stay in Moomba we had to head back in order to reach the main road before dark. A 590km round trip, 7 hours each way. 200km normal roads driving, 140km on roads with deep potholes and 250km off road, mostly on sandy tracks. We arrived back in Livingstone at 22.00.

BLANKETS FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN

Unfortunately, on the journey back from Zambia I appear to have contracted a viral infection and realise more than ever just how lucky we are to have such good medical care at hand. A call to the paramedics resulted in them arriving at my home within ten minutes. Two subsequent visits to my doctor and numerous blood tests, taken over the next of seven days, was reassuring. A far cry from the facilities on offer in Zambia. It takes four hours to walk to the railway line when someone needs to get to Livingstone. I have nothing but admiration for these gentle, yet resilient people, and more determined than ever to support the fight against malaria.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17

I have pleasure in presenting our latest Annual Report and Accounts. For the full report please use this link: Annual Report and Accounts 2016 – 17

Please note that these will not be published on the Charity Commission website until after the 31st August due to the Commission developing a new on line portal.

Executive Summary

This has been a remarkable year for the charity, with new donors, fundraisers and volunteers enabling The Butterfly Tree to venture into new outreach communities in Zambia. Several thousand additional orphans and vulnerable children are gaining a basic education, receiving improved healthcare and drinking safe, clean water.

JANE – CHUUNGA VILLAGE

One of our most successful achievements is that of malaria prevention, with facts proving that our new interventions, are helping to save lives.  Mukuni Chiefdom has recorded zero deaths from malaria for the past five years. The combination of insecticidal coating being painted on the inside of dwellings, the use of  larvicide granules in ponds and streams to prevent larva developing into mosquitos, and the distribution of mosquito nets,  has provdided maximum coverage in several villages. In Chuunga Village alone the number of cases in the past three years has been reduced by ninety percent.

JANE DISTRIBUTING MOSQUITO NETS – KAFEKWE VILLAGE

As always, the orphans are at the forefront of our work. More individual orphans are being sponsored, which include 40 by the Mukuni Village Fund, Australia. What gives me a great deal of pleasure is to see orphans that we started sponsoring in 2006 completing school and gaining a college certificate and employment.  Besides helping with their education eight houses were built for widows and the elderly looking after orphans.

BRIDGET TRAINING TO BE A TEACHER

Certainly, the most remarkable story is that of Brain Mulwali who is currently training to become a pilot, while others are on agricultural and teacher training courses. It is wonderful to see some of them teaching pupils at their old schools. It is not easy to obtain a college sponsorship as the cost is much higher than school fees. Therefore, we encourage school leavers to volunteer for the community, to give somehting back and to help make a difference.. while they are waiting for a place.

BRIAN TRAINING TO BE A PILOT

At the forefront of these young volunteers are the Mukuni Youth Empowerment Group, who have received extensive training and coaching from two of our UK volunteers. I am so impressed with their dedication and determination into helping to make a change as peer educators. Working in schools, their HIV prevention workshops, which include the dangers of early pregnacies, alcohol and drug abuse and human rights, are truly making an impact.

MUKUNI YOUTH EMPOWERMENT GROUP

As always education projects continue to gain support. Six schools are being developed or expanded, vast amounts of desks, text books and unifroms have been donated. Four schools received bore holes, providing safe water to over 3,000 pupils and teachers, and 20 schools received seeds and fertilizers to grow food to for sustainable feeding programmes. I am delighted to say that after two years of drought, good rains this year yielded bumper crops!

FURTHER EXPANSION FOR N’GANDU SCHOOL

Zambia has many skilled and trained health workers, but sadly the rural facilities are inadequate. This year we improved the facilities at Mukuni Health Centre with a new drainage and sanitation system. Donations of equipment and medical supplies were given to Mambova, Muchambila, Mukuni, Singwamba and Livingstone General Hospital. As always I enjoyed distributing some of the 800 mosquito nets to remote villages in Mukuni Chiefdom, while others were sent to Singwamba in Nyawa Chiefdom, where there is a high prevalence of malaria.

CHILDREN IN KAMWI AREA HAVE PROTECTION AGAINST MALARIA

I have been overwhelmed by the support not just in the UK, but from all over the world, with volunteers working alongside us from Canada, USA, Australia, UAE and the UK. During my visit to Zambia in March it was wonderful to meet people who genuinely wanted to help both the charity and these needy communities. Not only were they generous in giving up their time, but also funded projects for schoolss and clinics.

CANADIAN & AUSTRALIAN GROUP RESTORING MUKUNI CLINIC

Besides the volunteers some of our donors come to meet the orphans they are sponsoring or to see the projects they have funded. Travel philanthropy is something that I have always promoted, as this is how I ended up founding The Butterfly Tree. Mukuni Village is just seven kilometres from the mighty Victoria Falls, a World Heritage Site visited by tousands of tourists each year. It need only take a couple of hours to visit a rural community and to see the life-changing work done by The Butterfly Tree. Many people report that a visit to Mukuni or a similar village was the highlight of their holiday.

JULIA VISITING THE ORPHAN SHE SPONSORS – KAMWI VILLAGE

As always none of the achievements could have been possible without the committed and hardworking team of volunteers in both the UK and Zambia, who to contribute their time  by raising funds and adminstering the entire operation. The UK team, which grows each year, are totally committed to the cause, and I would especially like to thank my fellow Trustees Miranda, Ann and Wendy for taking on this repsonsible role.  David has now stepped down due to his career, but stays on as a volunteer. A special thanks to our volunteers David, Carolyn, Oscar, and Valerie, who joined us after raising funds through her District’s Inner Wheel Clubs. We are looking  forward to welcoming on board Leah, who recently volunteered with the charity in Zambia. Working with the young peer educators, Leah is a qualified Youth Worker. As always it’s great to have overseas volunteers and I would like to thank Marilee and Grant Gibson in Canada and Frank Maiola, our US representative.

The team in Zambia are not just a team, but amazing people who have managed and administered all our projects since 2006. Their tireless commitment has taken us into some of the remotest areas of the Southern Province to build schools and clinics, in areas where no other charity has ventured. Some of my happiest times are spent driving the team to new villages, meeting the local people and learning about their needs.

THE ZAMBIAN TEAM – MARTIN, MUPOTOLA, PRESLEY & JACOB

As always, I would like to sincerely thank the Zambian team for all they have done for the charity and communities: Mupotola Siloka (Secretary & Project Manager), Presley Mulenga (Head of Education), Martin Mushabati (Ground Operations Manager), Stain Musungaila (Malaria Prevention) and Sibeso Maseke (Environmetal Officer), who oversees our malaria, HIV/AIDS and water projects. I applaud the work and commitment of the young volunteers, who are the future of The Butterfly Tree. A special thanks to Chief Mukuni for his counsel, and the local tour operators and hoteliers who support our work.

SIBESO MASEKA HOLDS MALARIA PREVENTION WORKSHOP – CHUUNGA

Last, but by no means least, a tremendous thank you to every single individual, each company, club, church and organisation who has believed in us and continue to support our vital work in Zambia. Every donation, however small, helps us to make a difference. I was deeply touched to learn of Anna, a young school girl, who did a 42 mile walk with her father to raise funds for mosquito nets. Our major donors Jersey Oversees Aid, British and Foreign School Society, Attraction Tickets Direct, Mukuni Village Fund (Australia), Motive Real Estate (Texas), School in a Bag, The Besom, and Nationwide Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs, especially Solihull for their donation in memory a fellow member, have considerably boosted funds this year – I can only say a huge thank you to them and everyone else around the globe, including Larry and Gaylen Robbins, for your generous support. This coming year is looking very promising. We are looking forward to working with the the Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission and other new and existing donors in the next few months.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

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WORLD MALARIA DAY – 25TH APRIL

World Malaria Day 2017’s global theme is ‘End Malaria for Good’. The World Health Organisation is shining a spotlight on prevention, a critical strategy for reducing the toll of a disease that continues to kill more than 400 000 people annually.

Malaria Prevention is essential for young children like Mary

Every 60 seconds a child dies from malaria 

212 million new cases of malaria, 90% in the African Region in 2015

An estimated 429,000 malaria deaths in 2015

The Butterfly Tree is totally committed to our vital malaria prevention programme in Zambia, where there is high a high prevalence of malaria.  In addition to providing mosquito nets and funding malaria prevention workshops, our new intervention, which includes a safe insecticidal coating and larvicide granules, is proving to be highly effective. In November 2015, we coated over 700 dwellings in Mukuni Chiefdom – reports show that there are no new cases of malaria in villages where the application took place.

Coating used inside of dwellings is safe and lasts for up to two years

In the past twelve months we donated some 800 mosquito nets for Mukuni and Nyawa Chiefdom. These included donations from Marilee Gibson’s fundraiser event, which bought 300 mosquito nets for Mukuni and Singwamba clinics. Last year Singwamba clinic reported a staggering 3,450 cases of malaria. Sadly, there were twelve deaths in children aged between one and thirteen, due to lack of preventative intervention.

Pregnant women and children under five receiving mosquito nets – Kamwi Village

Earlier this month Anna Wilkie, a young school girl, accompanied by her father Jon, walked 47.5 miles from her home to the Welsh Border to raise funds for The Butterfly Tree to buy mosquito nets. This was a remarkable achievement for a young school girl – the money Anna raised from her ‘Walk to Wales’ campaign has bought 142 mosquito nets for the Nyawa Chiefdom. Our main target area for the distribution of mosquito nets are infants, children under 5 years of age and pregnant women.

Anna and John ‘Walk to Wales’ to raise money for mosquito nets

Donations from North Worcestershire and Stratford-upon-Avon Rotary Clubs, Inner Wheel Clubs District 6 and 21, and Nick Bousliman have helped us to purchase more of the Vectorcide Coating and Larvicide Granules. After the recent heavy rains high cases of malaria are predicted over the next three months. We are working closely with the Ministry of Health, the National Malaria Control Centre and local clinics.

Nyawa Chiefdom reported high numbers of malaria in 2016

There are so many outreach communities that do not receive any support. It is our intention to reach out to areas that desperately need protection. We are very grateful to all our donors and volunteers who are helping us to fight malaria. Most especially the Environmental Officers and community trained health workers – without them the malaria cases would be considerably higher. Below is a message from Zambia:

As the world commemorates World Malaria Day on 25″April 2017 I would like to acknowledge and appreciate the assistance that The Butterfly Tree has given in the fight against Malaria in Mukuni catchment area and beyond. In 2015, the Butterfly Tree donated Vectorcide Coating and Vectorcide Larvicide granules to Mukuni clinic. These products were used in areas with high cases of Malaria within the Mukuni Catchment area. Over 700 structures were coated with the coating while the granules were deposited in the streams in the same areas. A close follow- up of the Malaria disease trend in these areas yielded a reduction in number of Malaria cases. In addition no deaths due to Malaria were recorded during this period. It is my wish and hope that the Butterfly Tree continues rendering this valuable and effective support in the fight against Malaria. Thank you – Sibeso Maseka, Environmental Officer, Kazungula District.

To help us reach out to more rural communities please donate just £5, which could help save a child’s life.

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Malaria Prevention Success

OCTOBER 2016 to JANUARY 2017

For the past ten years, we have provided funds to purchase thousands of mosquito nets and malaria testing kits to help meet the government’s shortfall. Our target areas have been remote communities in the Kazungula District.

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Mosquito nets provide vital protection for young children

In recent years, the Ministry of Health reported that the number of malaria cases in this District had significantly reduced. However, between January and June, 2016 there was a severe outbreak of malaria, which lead to an emergency in several Districts. During this period the numbers of cases had increased fourfold, the District was to record the nation’s second highest number of cases. The worst area being Ndola District in the Copperbelt, where are staggering 65,503 confirmed cases were recorded between the same period.

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Mambova Clinic, Kazungula District built by the charity in 2016

In November, 2015 The Butterfly Tree started using these safe innovative products after spending two years working with the National Malaria Control Centre and the Ministry of Health to gain approval, certification and licensing to import the Vectorcide coating and Larvicide granules.

The Mukuni Chiefdom, a vast rural area close to Livingstone, was selected to be the first beneficiary.  A total of 740 structures were painted with the coating, with the addition of their health centre facilities. The granules were placed in stagnant pools of water close to the villages.

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750 Mukuni dwellings were coated with the safe intervention

For the past fifteen months, The Butterfly Tree with the assistance of a government Environmental Officer, has closely monitored and evaluated the malaria in this area. During the outbreak in the Kazungula District, Mukuni Health Centre recorded 200 cases of malaria, between January and June 2016. This was the lowest number in the District. The catchment for this facility is 8,456.

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Mrs Maseka, Environmental Officer and key member of our team

The rainy season in Zambia is from October to April, and new malaria data is being collected. I am pleased to report that from the 1st October until the 31st January this year no cases of malaria have been reported.

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Previously Chuunga Village recorded high numbers of malaria

It is normal practice for The Ministry of Health to provide Indoor Residual Spraying in reachable villages in the Mukuni Chiefdom. This season, the government will not be providing any preventative methods in Mukuni so that we can continue to monitor the effects of the new products. To support our work and provide further protection we continue to donate mosquito nets, especially to the under-fives and pregnant women, for these communities.

Challenges

  • The weather – during the current rainy season some of the villages are inaccessible, which makes evaluation more difficult
  • Some of the villages are inaccessible by 4×4 and must be reached by foot
  • Temperatures between 35 to 40 degrees for several months of the year
  • Insufficient funds to provide protection for other villages in the Mukuni Chiefdom and beyond

Conclusion

  • This positive feedback shows that the number of cases in the Mukuni Chiefdom has been considerably reduced
  • These products continue to work after 15 months, in comparison the Indoor Residual Spraying method lasts no longer than six months

We aim to raise more funds and awareness of malaria to provide protection for other outreach villages, you can donate to our malaria prevention programme by clicking on DONATE

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Fundraising at Christmas

Christmas is a time for giving – many of your have been so generous in supporting our cause. We are extremely grateful for all the wonderful donations coming in, from both existing and new donors, during this festive season. We were especially touched to receive a donation from a ten year old girl who held a fundraiser, selling her and her brother’s toys along with their Mum’s flapjacks!

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Widow looking after orphans in Kamwi Village

Your donations really do make a difference and this year in particular we have been able to expand our work in areas of great need. Our new malaria prevention initiative is working effectively, but much more needs to be done. We are currently targeting the Kazungula District, which recorded the nation’s second highest cases of malaria between January and June. However, Ndola District, in the Copperbelt was the worst hit areas. For the same period, a staggering 65,503 cases were recorded.

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Safe insecticide coating is applied inside mud hut dwellings

Besides funding malaria prevention we have recently advanced a number of schools, adding classrooms, teacher’s houses and latrines. In addition to six new classrooms, N’gandu School has a new water reticulation system thanks to grant aid from Jersey Overseas Aid. Four more schools have bore holes, numerous text books have been donated, and ten more orphans are to be sponsored.

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Further development for the 560 pupils at N’gandu School

After six months of drought the rainy season in Zambia has started, and sadly the period when malaria is most prevalent. This is the time for distributing mosquito nets and planting maize and other crops. We need to provide schools with seeds and fertiliser so that they can support a sustainable feeding programme. When you have to walk several miles to school, on an empty stomach, a school meal provides vital nutrition for growing children.

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Young children need protection from malaria

If you are struggling to find an unusual gift then perhaps you could consider donating one of the following:

There are many ways you can help. For as little at £5 or $7 a mosquito net could help save a child’s life. If you would like to donate using our secure on line facility please click on the link: DONATE

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Project Updates from Zambia

Three weeks is just not enough time to visit the many projects we have in the four Chiefdom of the Kazungula District! However, I did manage to see a considerable number of them. What impressed me more than ever is the commitment of our team of volunteers on the ground, besides the original members we have recruited some of the orphans who received orphan sponsorship and have now completed school.

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MARTIN, MUPOTOLA AND PRESELEY JOINED THE TEAM IN 2006. JACOB IS BEING SPONSORED IN AGRICULTURE

On the education front we have almost completed a development, which included the expansion of two classroom blocks, a teacher’s house and latrines at Sinsimuku School, thanks to a donation from Attraction Tickets Direct.

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SIMSIMUKU SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT, NYAWA CHIEFDOM

Further improvements are being made at N’gandu School through JOA Community Works Project. Nine volunteers from Jersey helped local builders to construct two 1×3 classroom blocks and latrines. A kitchen for the school feeding programme, plus a water system for both the school and village, are now being added.

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JOA VOLUNTEERS SPENT THREE WEEKS VOLUNTEERING AT N’GANDU SCHOOL

A new boarding shelter at Mukuni has been completed. A group of pupils from Arnewood School raised funds for this project, and volunteered in August to help with the construction. This is our third Mukuni boarding facility, enabling rural pupils to attend high school.

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28 GIRLS FROM REMOTE VILLAGES ARE ABLE TO ATTEND MUKUNI HIGH SCHOOL

Once again we distributed educational materials at River View School on behalf of our partner, School in a Bag. In addition text books were given to this school, and also to N’dele, Chuunga and Napapandi.

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RIVER VIEW PUPILS WITH THE LATEST ‘SCHOOL IN A BAG’ DONATION

Four bore holes have been installed at River View and Kazungula Boarding Schools – Sekute Chiefdom, and Nguba and Mayala Schools – Nyawa Chiefdom. Previously pupils from Mayala had to draw water from a river several kilometres from their school. River View and Mayala were generously funded by a US donor – a donation from Cayman Islands Rotary Club helped towards the bore hole for River View. Solihull Inner Wheel Club funded ones at Kazungula and Nguba as well the installation of electricity form Mambova Clinic.

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1,150 PUPILS AND TEACHERS AT RIVER VIEW SCHOOL NOW HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE CLEAN WATER

After six months without rain I came across a great deal of hunger. It saddens me to see children who are receiving only one meal a day, and often that consists of only vegetables. Bags of maize were donated to needy families. We provide schools with seeds and fertiliser to create sustainable feeding programmes, encouraging the use of millet, which is not as rain dependent as maize.

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GARDENS TO GENERATE SUSTAINABLE FEEDING PROGRAMMES ARE ESSENTIAL IN RURAL SCHOOLS

The communities are desperate for rain and have started preparing the land for planting. This season is also the time to get malaria prevention methods in place. After last year’s success with our new malaria prevention initiative we provided further protection in the Mukuni Chiefdom by distributing 330 mosquito nets in areas of high malaria prevalence.

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MOSQUITO NETS DISTRIBUTED IN THE REMOTE VILLAGE OF CHUUNGA

We will again be applying the new products in other areas where high numbers of malaria were recorded this year.

Many widows and the elderly are living in appalling conditions, struggling to feed and educate orphans. Their houses are old and dilapidated – once the rains start water will seep into their homes. Six houses are currently under construction thanks to donations from Motive Real Estate, Texas and private donors.

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HOUSE IN KAMWI VILLAGE FOR ELDERLY GRANDPARENTS LOOKING AFTER ORPHANS

While in Zambia I spent a great deal of time with our young volunteers. Besides working on the HIV education through peer education programme some of them have been trained in the building of community houses so that they can earn an income.

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ONE OF SIX NEW HOMES SHORTLY TO BE COMPLETED FOR WIDOWS AND THE ELDERLY SUPPORTING ORPHANS

The three weeks flew by – there is always so much to be done! My niece, Katie, came along to volunteer – having an extra pair of hands was very useful! I cannot thank enough all the volunteers, both locally and internationally, who give up their free time to help our cause. A special thanks to our global donors who continue to support our grass root projects in Zambia.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

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Annual Report and Accounts 2015 – 16

I have pleasure in presenting The Butterfly Tree’s Annual Report and Accounts. My Chairman’s Report is below, please follow this link to view the full report, accounts and more pictures: Annual Report 15-16

It’s hard to believe, that in January this year, it was ten years since I first stepped onto Zambian soil. Little did I know that during the next decade I would return to this beautiful, but very poor, country and be running a charity both in the UK and Zambia, besides having a following of supporters from around the globe.

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JANE WITH KAMWI TWINS – ELVIS AND VINCENT

What is even more amazing is that most of the volunteers who joined me in 2006 are still helping me, and that to this day we have not changed our original concept. The charity’s philosophy is to ensure that all donor funds go directly into grass roots projects, and that no personal fees or administration costs are deducted. I am delighted to say that we have been able to sustain this belief over the years.

NEW CLASSROOM S FOR N’DELE PRIMARY SCHOOL

TWO CLASSROOM BLOCKS FOR N’DELE PRIMARY SCHOOL – MUKUNI CHIEFDOM

The 2015-16 financial year has been another great period for the charity and its beneficiaries. Despite raising less funds than the previous year, we completed more projects and gained a number of new donors, as well as new partnerships.

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PARTNERS ‘SCHOOL IN A BAG’ PROJECT – RIVER VIEW SCHOOL, SEKEUTE CHIEFDOM

On the education front, we completed a huge development at N’gandu School, using grant aid with the help of volunteers from Jersey. Kamwi, Muchambile, Singwamba, Kauwe and River View Schools also underwent considerable expansion. The additional facilities included new classroom blocks, latrines, a school shop and a mobile science laboratory.

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NEW CLASSROOMS AND LATRINES FOR SINGWAMBA JUNIOR SCHOOL – NYAWA CHIEFDOM

The core of all our work revolves around the welfare of orphans. With 1.2 million orphans in a country with a population of just over 15 million, a great deal of support is needed. We continue to attract new sponsors, but the more orphans we support, the more time is needed for administering the programme. To maximise the use of the sponsorship funds we are unable to provide regular feedback on each individual orphan. Therefore I would like to thank everyone for their understanding of the need to avoid any charges so that the funds can be used to educate and provide food for the orphans.

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SPONSORED ORPHANS WEARING FOOTBALL SHIRTS DONATED BY MANCHESTER UNITED – N’GANDU SCHOOL

Every year the number of orphans completing a full basic education increases, and it is extremely rewarding to know that so many have gone on to seek further education or employment. Currently there are ten students being assisted to boarding establishments or colleges. For the ones that are awaiting opportunities we have enrolled them in volunteer programmes, most especially with the peer education for HIV prevention and malaria prevention programmes.

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PETER LIYUNGU, FIRST ORPHAN TO BE SPONSORED IN 2006, DOING WORK EXPERIENCE AT MUKUNI

As always HIV is a major issue, especially in Mukuni Village and areas surrounding Kazungula. Both are border towns to Zimbabwe and Botswana respectively, as well as being close to major tourist destinations. Educating the young people about the dangers of HIV and prevention of the virus is crucial. Alcohol and drug abuse lessons, as well as early pregnancy prevention, are included in our workshops, which are proving to be highly invaluable.

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PEER EDUCATORS IN HIV PREVENTION HOLDING A WORKSHOP AT MUKUNI HIGH SCHOOL

The lack of safe drinking water in rural communities and schools is also a great concern. Three more bore holes were donated to Bunsanga, Siachikubi and Sinsimuku Schools. This helps to reduce diarroheal diseases in children, saves time on collecting water, and during the dry season it provides irrigation for school gardens. The charity has funded a feeding programme at Mukuni School for almost ten years. A further sixteen schools are given seeds and fertilizer to provide sustainable feeding programmes. Sanitation is another huge issue, especially in remote schools. Nine double latrines were constructed at N’gandu, Kasiya, Kauwe and Singwamba Schools.

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ONE OF THREE BORE HOLES INSTALLED IN SCHOOLS – SIACHIKUBI, MUSOKOTWANE CHEIFDOM

Several health initiatives were funded during the past twelve months, these included a clinic at Mambova, two women’s shelters and the new malaria prevention project, which is proving to be highly successful. Over 1,000 houses were painted with the new insecticidal coating, and unlike the rest of the district these areas reported zero or very few cases of malaria. In addition, safe granules were placed in ponds and streams to prevent larva developing into mosquitoes. The Zambian Ministry of Health states that the products are highly effective in fighting the malaria vector.

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NEW CLINIC FOR MAMBOVA COMMUNITY, SEKUTE CHIEFDOM

Six community houses were constructed for widows looking after orphans, four of them with the help of school groups from Wales, while teams from World Challenge constructed a sustainable school shop at Kamwi Junior School. A group of eleven adults came from Jersey, through JOAC’s Community Works project, and once again Mukuni Health Centre had help from Sydney University students. A team from Attraction Tickets Direct travelled to Nyawa Chiefdom where the company funded a number of school projects, as well as bore holes facilitated through our partner Just a Drop.

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VOLUNTEERS FROM JOAC COMMUNITY WORKS PROJECTS – N’GANDU VILLAGE, MUKUNI CHIEFDOM

All of this has been achieved due to the hard work and dedication of our teams of volunteers both in the UK and Zambia. As always I am extremely grateful to my fellow trustees David, Miranda and Wendy who offer so much support and advice, and to Ann Sutton for the tireless task of administering the charity accounts, to Carolyn Howe for managing the volunteer programme and for Oscar Miyanda, who assists with the malaria prevention programme. A special thanks to Frank Maiola, our US representative and to Marilee and Grant Gibson in Canada.

Most importantly I cannot thank enough our amazing team of volunteers for The Butterfly Tree, Zambia. Having the charity registered both in the UK and Zambia has helped us to achieve so much more than having to rely on third party organisations or agencies. Their devotion and commitment is quite extroadinary, especially now that we have expanded to areas away from their roots. Mupotola Siloka (Secretary & Project Manager), Presley Mulenga (Head of Education), Martin Mushabati (Ground Operations Manager), Stain Musungaila (Malaria Prevention) and Sibeso Maseke (Environmetal Officer). Finally, the help from the young volunteers is so rewarding – they are the ones that will make the changes! A special thanks to Chief Mukuni for his counsel, and the local tour operators and hoteliers who support our work.

My heartfelt thanks to every single individual, each company and organisation who has supported us over the past decade. There are far too many to name individually, though I must make an exception and thank our major donors – the Jersey Oversees Aid Commision, the British and Foreign School Society, Saga Charitable Trust, Just a Drop, ENRC Marketing AG, The Besom, Attraction Tickets Direct, Black and White Accounting, the Mukuni Village Fund (Australia), and Valerie Redfern with the Inner Wheel Clubs. I would also like to thank the new organisations and companies, School in a Bag, Give a Hand (Canada) and Motive Real Estate (USA) for inviting us to partner with them. I am grateful and overwhelmed by the trust that everyone of you has put in myself and The Butterfly Tree.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder