Creating Sustainability for Health and Education

Posted on August 6, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

With several projects in outreach communities currently being developed I must again acknowledge our amazing team in Zambia for their continued dedication and commitment. As you are aware all of them are volunteers, which has created sustainability for The Butterfly Tree. Community driven projects are the best solution to help overcome dependency, which is always a challenge when working with international aid.

STAIN VOLUNTEER SINCE 2006 – MALARIA PREVENTION

MARTIN, MUPTOLA AND PRESLEY – FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE BUTTERFLY TREE, ZAMBIA

Twelve years down the line and our projects expand from Mukuni to Sekute, Musokotwane, Nyawa and Moomba Chiefdoms in the Kazungula District, a vast area in the Southern Province with over 70,000 population. We are currently developing five schools and a health centre, located in remote areas, each can take several hours to reach. Since the introduction of mobile network we can now communicate with teachers and PTA members who can oversee some of our projects and report back to us.

Once we have completed a school project, it is handed over to the Ministry of Education and community. Trained teachers are funded by the government and the community forms a PTA committee to create sustainability. We still offer support in terms of HIV and malaria prevention, and donations of school materials and clothing for orphans, but it is vital that the local people run the facility. With our help thousands more children are receiving a sound education.

NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK FOR SINGWAMBA PUPILS – NYAWA CHIEFDOM

The same applies when we build a health centre, like the new one at Sikaunzwe, thanks to grant aid from GOAC. Once the clinic, maternity ward, women’s shelter and latrines are completed then the facility will be run by skilled government medical staff and trained community workers. This way there is no ongoing cost to the charity and we can move on to new locations. We are also installing five boreholes in schools and villages in Nyawa and Sekute Chiefdoms, where WASH commitees will be formed to maintain the amenities.

NEW BOREHOLE FOR ZALU SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY

This month our young peer educators will help to build twelve community houses for widows and the elderly looking after orphans, eleven of these have been donated by Motive Real Estate, Texas. For every house the company sells, they donate one to the charity at a cost of £415 per house. The youth group will shortly be on a break from college and will earn a small income to help support their upkeep.

12 COMMUNITY HOUSES TO BE BUILT FOR WIDOWS AND ELDERLY LOOKING AFTER ORPHANS

Much of The Butterfly Tree’s success is because we use volunteers, which save us having to pay salaries. Our UK team all operate from their homes and rarely incur any expenses. I am delighted to say that during this past financial year we raised £226,773 and only 1.86% was deducted for expenses!

Jane Kaye-Bailey

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Safe Water for Schools and Communities

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

2018 is heading towards the UK’s hottest and driest summer on record. A lower than usual amount of rain fell in May, followed by what appears to be the hottest and driest June since records started. Now in July, a further two weeks of hot, dry weather has been forecast for the UK, water levels are dropping, so we are asked to conserve water. These high temperatures and conservation of water are alien to many people living on our islands.

HIGH TEMERATURES AND LOW HUMIIDY FOR THE UK

In comparison, Zambia experienced an unprecedented amount of rainfall earlier this year, but the last drop fell in April and it is not expected to rain again until the end of November. Six months without any rain causes the streams and small rivers to run dry, resulting in people living in rural areas having to travel further to source drinking water. One such community is Luzila, in Sekute Chiefdom. During the wet season people draw drinking water from a polluted swamp, then during the dry months they must walk two miles to use a local school’s borehole, The demand then becomes too much, which can result in a low water supply for the school.

WATER SUPPLY – LUZILA COMMUNITY

There are numerous schools throughout the whole of Zambia that do not have access to safe clean drinking water. To date we have installed twenty-eight boreholes for schools, clinics and communities. This month we are adding three more school boreholes and one for Luzila community. Munyundu and Zalu schools, in Nyawa Chiefdom, rely on bacteria-infested streams to draw water from. However, these streams run dry around July/August, which means the pupils must walk three to four kilometers to the reach the river. A further borehole has already been drilled at Nakawa pre-school, thanks to a donation from Attraction Tickets Direct. International Peace Projects are kindly funding Luzila and Zalu and Muyundu’s donation comes from one of our generous private donors.

DRILLING COMPANY ARRIVE AT NAKAWA PRE-SCHOOL

The dry season does have advantages, rural tracks are accessible! This is the cooler season when malaria cases start to reduce and communities can relax a little. During this period we raise funds to purchase mosquito nets, safe insecticidal coating and larvicide granules. Reports will shortly be sent to us with updated data on how well our interventions are helping to reduce the number of malaria cases. Recent donations from Inner Wheel Clubs will enable us to expand this project into new areas.

CHILDREN IN MOOMBA CHIEFDOM ARE PROTECTED AGAINST MALARIA

One project, which we pioneered at River View School, has proved to be highly successful. In October 2017, using grant aid from Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission, 1,400 mosquito nets were given to every pupil and teacher at the school – to date ZERO cases of absenteeism from malaria have been recorded.

1,350 PUPILS AT RIVER VIEW SCHOOL OWN A MOSQUITO NET

Our water and malaria prevention programmes are essential in helping vulnerable children in outreach villages to live a healthy life. Thank you for all your generous donations towards these worthwile projects.

WORLD MALARIA DAY 2018 – MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

According to the World Health Organisation in 2016, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries, an increase of 5 million cases over 2015.

Malaria deaths reached 445 000 in 2016, a similar number (446 000) to 2015.

With the above statistics it’s hardly surprising that global organisations and drug companies have stepped up their efforts to find a cure and a vaccination to fight malaria.

Working in some of the remotest communities in Africa it is easy to see how a case of malaria can spread, and quickly turn into an outbreak. With poor medical facilities, combined with the lack of malaria testing kits and antimalarial drugs, the nurses and medical officers have a constant battle in trying to control malaria.

NEW HEALTH CENTRE FOR SIKAUNSWE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Until a cure is found, or a vaccination is offered on a mass scale, malaria prevention is crucial to avoid contracting this potentially deadly disease. Mosquito nets are the most essential form of protection and a must for infants and pregnant women. Sadly, people in developing countries cannot afford to buy them and their governments largely rely on International Aid.

DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – CHUUNGA VILLAGE

Over the past 12 years we have distributed thousands of mosquito nets as well as funding malaria prevention workshops, throughout the Kazungula District of Zambia. In addition to the nets, in 2015 we started using Vectorcide’ s safe insecticidal coating and larvicide granules. The results have been quite remarkable, with the number of malaria cases being considerably reduced.

RELEASING SAFE LARVICIDE GRANULES INTO MOSQUITO BREEDING GROUNDS

After much success in Mukuni Chiefdom, in 2017 we ventured into Moomba Chiefdom, some 300 km from our base. We were told that no other charity had ever offered support, and that there was a high prevalence of malaria, with 46% of the population being infected. Following a distribution of mosquito nets in July we applied the insecticidal coating and larvicide granules in December last year.

MOSQUITO NETS DISTRIBUTED IN MOOMBA CHIEFDOM

In January and February 2018 only 51 cases of malaria were recorded, compared to 502 in 2017. The number shows a reduction of 90%. We were recently told by the Ministry of Health that a record had been broken – ‘Moomba has recorded the lowest ever number of malaria cases.’ Our aim this month is to ensure that the entire Moomba population is protected.

MOOMBA CHIEFDOM – INFANTS MUST BE PROTECTED AGAINST MALARIA

By offering communities mosquito nets, applying safe insecticidal coating on the walls of their homes, and dispersing larvicide granules in ponds and streams, universal coverage is provided. We have proved that this is one of the most effective and advanced ways of helping to eradicate malaria. The coating works far better and lasts much longer (up to two years) than indoor residual spraying, which is effective only for 3 to 6 months.

SAFE INSECTICIDAL COATING IS PAINTED ON THE WALLS OF DWELLINGS

None of this can be achieved without donor funding and experts on the ground. We are extremely lucky to have Sibeso Maseka, an Environmental Health Technician, on our team of volunteers in Zambia. She continually trains and motivates community health workers to be aware of the importance of early testing and administering treatment to prevent complications. These local people play a crucial role in the success of this programme.

We recently moved into Nyawa Chiefdom to target new areas that are recording high numbers of malaria cases. 650 mosquito nets have been donated and three villages are receiving the new intervention.

DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – NYAWA CHIEFDOM

The Butterfly Tree is making a small, but significant difference in the fight against malaria, but we need more funds to be able to reach out to the most vulnerable areas.

A mosquito nets costs just £4 and a house can be coated for £15. Please donate to this vital cause: https://thebutterflytree.org.uk/get-involved/online-donations

Challenging Journeys to Visit Health and Education Programmes

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

My recent trip to Zambia was probably the most challenging to date mainly due to the continued rainy season. Global warming seems to be taking its toll on the nation, most especially in the Southern Province. After barely no rainfall in December and January, February and March certainly made up for it, though it came too late to salvage the withered crops. Later planting also suffered after the heavy rains caused severe flooding.

CROPS PERISHED THROUGH LACK OF RAIN IN JANUARY

Driving off road can often be hazardous at best, but more so when you are heading out to schools where bridges and streams must be crossed. Every time I drive to Nyawa more of the notorious bridge has been washed away, but on one occasion a whole section of it had disappeared after a heavy downpour the night before, making the 100 km trek a waste of time! Not to be defeated, I returned the following week and pleased to see that the community had attempted to reconstruct the bridge, we only made it to Bunsanga and Nyawa as the streams on the track to Muchambila and other schools were too high to cross!

THE BRIDGE ON THE ROAD TO NYAWA COLLAPSED AFTER HEAVY RAINS

It’s always a joy to visit this area and know that the projects we are funding are really appreciated and making a lasting change. The Nyawa people are hardworking and encourage their children to be educated. We always receive a warm welcome and the people readily offer free labour for our constructions. Currently we are further developing Muchambila Junior School with the addition of a teacher’s house, Singwamba with a classroom block, using funds donated by George Spencer Academy, and for Bunsanga, the community now has a new school thanks to Attraction Tickets Direct offering further support.

BOREHOLE AT THE NEWLY BUILT BUNSANGA SCHOOL

In Mukuni Chiefdom Chaba School has a new classroom block and latrines after another grant was approved by the British and Foreign School Society. The Science laboratory at River View School is taking shape enabling this the school to become an examination centre, which save the pupils the 60 km journey to sit their exams. River View and Chaba as well as Mambova Schools were given texts books donated by the Dawson Group.

CHABA SCHOOL – NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK AND TEXT BOOKS

On the further education front it was great to catch up with our young peer educators who are all engaged in skill-based courses. Besides learning to become builders, electricians, plumbers and tailors the group continue to volunteer for The Butterfly Tree, Mafian and Natasha taking leading roles within the charity. This talented group have really impressed me with their compassion and commitment to helping the cause.

THE BUTTERFLY TREE YOUTH GROUP ATTENDING COLLEGE COURSES

For the communities four more houses were donated by Motive Real Estate. It was great to again meet up with John Staab, the company founder, who is as keen as ever to improve the lives of widows and orphans. His partner, Jessica participated in a workshop for rural women. One of our UK volunteers, Valerie Redfern, joined me for part of the trip and together we distributed hundreds of Inner Wheel Club’s knitted blankets, jumpers and toys to villages throughout the District. A wonderful donation from Stratford-upon-Avon Reformed Church paid for further blankets and maize, handing these out to the elderly people was a humbling experience.

MAIZE AND BLANKET DONATION TO THE ELDERLY – MUKUNI, MACHENJE AND KAMWI

Despite all the challenges, as always, the trip was so worthwhile. Seeing first-hand how The Butterfly Tree’s work continues to improve the lives of some of the poorest people on the planet makes me want to do so much more. Funds are now in place for more classrooms, boreholes, and the new clinic at Sikaunswe, funded by GOAC, is underway after a delay caused by the rains. What made the trip even more rewarding was hearing that a record had been broken in Moomba Chiefdom. After implementing our malaria prevention programme ‘the lowest ever number of malaria cases had been recorded for the past three months!’

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Sourcing Education, Health and Water Projects and Reviews

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

As we approach our year end I find it hard to believe that it is now over twelve years since I first went to Zambia. It’s even harder to believe that The Butterfly Tree has grown from sponsoring a hand full of orphans to building schools, clinics, installing bore holes and initiating an advanced malaria prevention programme. Today I am heading back to this special part of the world to check on current projects and to source new ones.

DRIVING OFF ROAD TO RURAL COMMUNITIES

I am delighted to report that our recent distribution of mosquito nets, insecticidal coasting and larvicide granules in Moobma Chiefdom is having quite an impact. In January and February last year the number of malaria cases were 302 and 215 respectively. The total number of cases reported in the same months for 2018 are 27 in January and 38 in February. At the time of reporting two zones had not been covered, but now that the rains are abating we can include the areas that were not covered.

PREVENTION FROM MALARIA FOR MOOMBA CHILDREN

More funding is in place to start a malaria prevention programme in Nyawa Chiefdom. Mosquito nets have already been given out, but due to the rainy season the project had to be put on hold. Sadly, Southern Zambia has experienced unprecedented rainfall this season, which has destroyed crops and infrastructure. Once we know that these areas are accessible we will move ahead.

SWAMPS ARE BREEDING GROUNDS FOR MALARIA

Seeing how we have developed so many rural schools is very rewarding, access to education for children in remote areas is essential. We have just completed a classroom block and latrines at Chaba School, classroom blocks are currenly being constructed at Singwamba, a teacher’s house at Bunsanga and a Science Laboratory at River View, keeping our team in Zambia very busy! A special thanks to the British and Foreign School Society, Attraction Tickets Direct, George Spencer Academy and the Hilary and Neil Charitable Trust for supporting our education programmes this year.

BUNSANGA SCHOOL GETS NEW CLASSROOM AND TEACHER’S HOUSE

I will also be distributing much needed text books to Chaba, Mambova and River View Schools, thanks to a donation from Dawson Group and former volunteers. Far too often I see one text book to be shared amongst of class of sixty pupils. Our evaluation shows that exam results are much improved if each pupil has a text book. I will be checking up on all our orphans and as always sourcing new ones and appreciate all the support on this invaluable programme.

OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS – MAMBOVA SCHOOL

Despite the heavy rains many schools and villages have no access to safe clean water, therefore I shall be looking for new sites after receiving donations for bore holes. Here we take water for granted, but when you see women and children carrying water from bacteria infected streams and swamps it makes you realise how lucky we are. Next to malaria diarrohoeal disease is the greatest cause of deaths in infants.

SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR 560 PUPILS – NGANDU SCHOOL

To further improve health in rural areas a new clinic is under construction at Sikaunswe thanks to grant aid from GOAC. The site will have a main clinic, maternity ward, women’s shelter and latrines. For the Mukuni community I am looking forward to seeing the new houses for widows and the elderly looking after orphans, which have been donated by Motive Real Estate.

nEW HOME FOR WIDOW AND ORPHAN

I shall look forward to giving you updates on my return, in the meantime you can follow my daily posts and see photos from Zambia on Facebook.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Malaria Prevention – Moomba Chiefdom

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Moomba Chiefdom, a remote area in the Southern Province, is 300 km from Livingstone. Moomba Rural Health Centre is 125 km from the main road, tracks are mainly sandy, others are clay, which makes the area inaccessible during the rainy season.

There is a high prevalence of malaria in the region, last year 46% of the population contracted malaria, the highest figures in the Kazungula District. In 2017, a request for assistance was made to The Butterfly Tree by the Zambian Ministry of Health.

The following activities took place:

July 2017 – four members from The Butterfly Tree drove to Moomba Rural Health Centre to access the situation and to distribute mosquito nets to meet the government’s shortfall.

DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – MOOMBA HEALTH CENTRE

November 2017 – six days training of volunteers, application of paint using an insecticidal coating, dispersal of larvicide granules.

PROTECTION AGAINST MALARIA

The team comprised of two Environmental Technologists, one is also a volunteer for The Butterfly Tree, ten community volunteers and two further volunteers from The Butterfly Tree.

A total of 600 structures were painted with insecticidal coating, in six out of fourteen zones. All health posts throughout the Chiefdom were covered. Once a mosquito lands on the surface it will fly off and die. Larvicide granules were placed in all areas where there is stagnant water, pools and streams. These were identified as breeding grounds for mosquitos. The larvicide is used to prohibit the larva from developing into mosquitos. It is not harmful to the environment, and both products are harmless to humans, animals and fish.

The Ministry of Health are closely monitoring the project.

December 2017 – five days were spent coating an additional 631 structures in six further zones. Granules had been previously distributed in all fourtenn zones.

DISPERSING LARVICIDE GRANULES

We are pleased to announce that we now have a donation to do a further distribution in the two remaining zones. It is hoped that this will be done in the next week, subject to accessibility. Once this has been implemented Moomba Chiefdom will be in a unique position, with universal coverage, aiming to prevent new cases of malaria and helping to save lives.

A WHO Consultant visited Mukuni Rural Health Centre, where we started using the intervention in November 2015. The Consultant wanted to learn more about the success we have experienced and why such a small charity as The Butterfly Tree has achieved so much in the field of malaria prevention. This is due to continual funding of mosquito nets, malaria prevention workshops and most recently the new initiative. It is also as a result of having a dedicated team of volunteers, most especially Stain Musungaila and Sibeso Maseka, who manage this programme in Zambia, and to our generous donors, without them, none of this could have happened.

Challenges

Accessibility and condition of roads and tracks. Only 100 km is a good road, 75km is on roads with deep potholes, and from the main road Moomba Health Centre it is 125 km and is mostly sand, which is deep in some areas. Several of the outreach villages are a further 45km from the health centre.
Distance between villages and from Moomba Health Centre.
Temperatures soaring 40 degrees in November and December.
Insufficient funds to provide protection for two zones.

Achievements

Every household welcomed the intervention., with 100% acceptance. The normal use of Indoor Residual Spraying, using harmful chemicals, is often refused by a percentage of community members.
Positive feedback is already showing an improvement. January to June is the peak time for malaria. To date no new cases of malaria have been reported in the areas of application.
Cases have been reported in the two zones, which were not covered.

1,231 STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN COATED IN MOOMBA

A further donation, received this week, will be used to cover areas of Mukuni Chiefdom as it is over two years since the first application was made.

Last week the following interview was posted on the website of Crisis-Response, which is great PR for the charity, to read it click this link.

Next month we aim to start the programme in Nyawa Chiefdom by coating structures in two villages and larviciding. We have recently donated funds to purchase 800 mosquito nets for Nyawa Rural Health’s Centre’s shortfall.

Many thanks to everyone, namely St James Place Foundation, North Worcester, Stratford-upon-Avon and North Bournemouth Rotary Clubs, Inner Wheel Clubs, Nick Bou-sliman, and all the individuals who have helped us to make a small, but significant difference in the fight against malaria.

Christmas 2017

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

Developments in Zambia

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

Humanitarian Hero Award 2017 Finalist

Posted on November 6, 2017 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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:

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

Malaria Prevention – Moomba Chiefdom

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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.