NEW, INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I recently returned from three wonderful and rewarding weeks in Zambia with temperatures ranging from 38 to 41 degrees and the time simply flew by. The Butterfly Tree has so many new and exciting on gong projects that it was impossible to visit all of them. I did manage to drive to many of them some of which are in the remote areas of Nyawa.

These include the new health post at Mabwa which should be completed by the end of the year. The entire community was out to welcome us and were helping with unskilled labour. A grant from the Guernsey Overseas Aid and Development Commission is funding this invaluable facility, which will include a clinic, two staff houses, biodigester, toilets and a borehole.

Mabwa Primary school received a donation of mosquito nets to protect children against malaria, and earlier this year a borehole. We also paid a visit to Kauwe Secondary School where we were told there is a high number of teenage pregnancies. Involving our peer educators and role models, who are former beneficiaries from our orphan sponsorship programme, pupils were given a talk on the dangers of HIV and AIDS, teenage pregnancies, and alcohol and drug abuse.

**DONATION OF MOSQUITO NETS – MABWA PRIMARY SCHOOL**

It was great to see a new 1×3 classroom block under construction at Musokotwane Secondary school. Three of our sponsored builders were on site, including Thabo who was awarded the best bricklayer while at college, in 2022. The Murphy Family Foundation is funding this project which will also include desks, computers, and electrification for the entire school. The same donors have also funded a 1×3 classroom block at River View Secondary school, shortly to be constructed.

**1 X 3 CLASSROOM BLOCK – MUSOKOTWANE SECONDARY SCHOOL**

After visiting Musokotwane Secondary school we proceeded to distribute textbooks to at the Primary school and also Sinde Primary School. This was followed by a meeting with women in Musokotwane to initiate a new vegetable-growing project. Just before the start of the meeting a storm appeared from nowhere and for over an hour, we had to take shelter in a church. Such was the noise from the howling wind and rain bouncing off the iron sheet roof that it was impossible to have a conversation!

**DONATION OF TEXTBOOKS – SINDE PRIMARY SCHOOL**

On our return we passed by Muskotwane Primary school and was horrified to see the destruction caused by the storm. The roof of a 1×2 classroom block and the head teacher’s office, had completely blown off with the iron sheets landing over 100 metres from the site. A dormitory had also lost its roof. Miraculously, there was only one injury when a young boy was hit by a falling brick. Our aim is to raise funds to help rehabilitate the facility.

**DAMAGED CLASSROOM BLOCK – MUSOKOTWANE PRIMARY SCHOOL**

As always it was a pleasure to meet up with the orphans, most especially at River View Secondary school where the first ever prize giving ceremony took place. I was moved to tears when a young amputee, who is on our sponsorship programme, received three prizes. Another sponsored pupil was awarded the maths prize and one girl was appointed Deputy Head girl for 2024. I also met up with those that are on sponsorship at Mukuni, Kamwi, Ng’andu, Senkobo and Musokotwane schools.

**SPONSORED ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE PUPILS – RIVER VIEW SCHOOL**

Once again, Jonathan Sedo from Costa Rica, came to volunteer. He spent a month giving extensive training to former sponsored pupils who are now running the Mukuni Village Tours project. This also includes a visit to Victoria Falls, which has strong links to the Leya tribe in Mukuni Chiefdom. The aim is for the guides to take ownership and earn a sustainable income.

SPONSORED PUPILS WITH BRAVE, MUKUNI VILLAGE TOURS MANAGER

The new project to empower young people with physical and mental challenges and those living with HIV was initiated thanks to a generous grant from our Canadian partner, Give a Hand. Sixty young people from Mukuni, Ng’andu and Kamwi will form a cooperative, which will include chicken rearing, and vegetable and crop growing. A borehole has already been installed at Kamwi for the vegetable growing.

**VEGETABLE GROWING TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES**

Thanks to two generous donors funding is in place to install eight more boreholes for schools, communities, and women’s vegetable growing projects. Sites have been selected and it is hoped that these can all be installed before the imminent onset of the rainy season.

I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our existing and new donors. This year is proving to be one of the most productive and successful since the founding of The Butterfly Tree in 2006. A special thanks to our amazing team of trustees and volunteers in Zambia, without them none of the above could have been achieved!

In the lead up to Christmas we will be raising funds for bags of ground maize to distribute amongst widows, the elderly, and orphans. A bag of maize costs £7 and can feed a family of four for three weeks. If you care to make a donations please use this link or request the charity bank details: https://thebutterflytree.org.uk/get-involved/online-donations/

THE BUTTERFLY TREE REPORTS ITS SEVENTEENTH SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Posted on April 14, 2023 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

On Tuesday I returned to the UK after spending three weeks in Zambia checking on our many projects and sourcing new ones. I find it hard to believe it is now over seventeen years since I first visited Mukuni Village. Starting with an orphan sponsorship programme The Butterfly Tree branches have grown significantly. We have projects throughout the Kazungula District as well as Livingstone and Zimba Districts.

SPONSORED ORPHANS – N’GANDU JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

Today we are building entire schools, health posts and community houses. We install boreholes and water reticulation systems, and sanitation for remote schools and communities. We provide support for HIV prevention and Girls’ Empowerment, and initiate sustainable income-generating enterprises for women and youths. We help the global fight against malaria.

NEW BOREHOLE – JAMES SIATCHEMA PRIMARY SCHOOL, NYAWA

None of this could have been achieved without the generous support of our donors, some have been donating since 2006. The money we raise comes from grant aid, trusts, individuals, corporate, schools, clubs and other organisations. Every donation we receive, whether it be big or small counts, and helps to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable children on the planet.

SIMONGA MATERNITY WARD – LIVINGSTONE DISTRICT

We have a wonderful team of volunteers both in the UK and Zambia who are committed to our grass root cause and have been paramount in the charity’s success. Working alongside our Zambian team gives me an incite into how much time is needed to initiate, manage and monitor the projects on the ground. I drove over 1,200 km while in Zambia to visits schools, communities and health posts. To access these remote areas, the tracks are often hazardous, during the rainy season – some become impassable.

CROSSING THE NGWEZI RIVER ON ROUTE TO NYAWA

These journeys give me the opportunity to meet pupils, teachers, and medical staff and to engage with the local communities. I see first hand the need but always ask the people what is required rather than telling the people what they should have. The difference a school borehole or classroom can make is remarkable. The difference a rural health post makes can be life-saving. Below are some of the main objectives we achieved during the past year.

PROJECTS FROM MARCH 31ST 2022 TO 1ST APRIL 2023

Health Post – Katondo including a clinic, two teacher’s houses, borehole and toilets
Health Post – Boombwe including a clinic, two teacher’s houses, borehole and toilets
Completion of classrooms – Mukuni, Kamwi and Sichifulo schools
Two teacher’s houses – Musokotwane Secondary School
Restoration of a primary school classroom and one for special education – Mukuni
Boreholes – Mambwa, James Siachema, Simukombo and Ngandu schools. Namyola and Hamoomba communities
Sustainable community project for women in Sekute
Donation of seeds and fertilizer – 50 schools in the Kazungula District
Distribution of ground maize to 2,500 households in four Chiefdoms
Distribution of mosquito nets to schools in Sekute and Nyawa
Donation of textbooks, materials, and desks – primary, special education and secondary schools
Donation of medical supplies – Simango, Mambova, Bunsanga and Mukuni clinics.
Sponsorship for orphans at seven schools, and for university and college students.
Sports sponsorship and football tournaments – selected charity for the Blackpool Cup

AWARDS 2022-23

Scotland Prestige Awards ‘Education Charity of the Year‘ – winner.
Central England Prestige Awards ‘HIV Support NPO of the Year’ – winner.
WAFA AWARDS shortlisted for the ‘FOOD’ Category – winner to be announced.

The Butterfly Tree has grown considerably since the founding. Consequently we have recently converted the charity from a trust to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation as recommended by the Charity Commission, and a criteria for some grant funding applications. ‘A CIO has its own legal identity, and is liable for its own debts as opposed to a trust, which holds assets for its beneficiaries.’ The CIO will give donors more security.

The Butterfly Tree will not change its aims or the way we operate. The same trustees and volunteers will continue to raise funds and awareness to help those most in need and as always no salaries, office rent nor personal fees will be deducted from donations. The new charity number is 1202390 and can be seen on the Charity Commission’s website, as it is newly registered there is no financial history listed. However, all the financial records for The Butterfly Tree trust can still be viewed on the Charity Commission website, using this link 1118084.

Our Annual Report and Accounts for 2022-23, which will shortly be audited, and will be available to view in the next couple of months.

Many thanks to all our global donors, fundraisers, trustees and volunteers, both in the UK and Zambia, for making this another outstanding year for The Butterfly Tree, and most importantly for its beneficiaries.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

HEALTH, EDUCATION & FOOD SECURITY

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The new school year in Zambia is now underway. I am pleased to report that most pupils on our orphan sponsorship programme have passed their grade 7 and 9 exams, with some gaining very good results. A further six pupils from Mukuni and three from River View completed high school in December. Their grade 12 results will be announced next month. Eight students are currently attending universities and college, while those who took skills courses last year, are doing work experience. The Murphy Family Foundation and the Mukuni Village Trust, Australia, have given considerable support to help orphans and vulnerable youths.

Thanks to a substantial donation from Nick Bousliman fifty rural schools received bags of seeds and fertilizer for their school gardens, to create sustainable feeding programmes. This generous donation also included 2,000 bags of ground maize for the elderly and vulnerable families, and five boreholes. In addition to this, donations from our successful Christmas Appeal enabled us to distribute more bags of ground maize in Mukuni, Sekute, Musokotwane and Nyawa. One grateful beneficiary from Nyawa sent the following message to The Butterfly Tree.

‘Food is scarce to us elderly especially at this time of year. I am a diabetic and having no food is a danger. Last week I collapsed and a good Samaritan took me to hospital where they put me on a drip of glucose. I didn’t have any food since the morning. Now that I have this bag of maize I will be moving with a bowl of nsima and eat whenever I feel weak. Thank you Butterfly Tree for saving lives.’

The second phase of the new health post at Boombwe is underway. The development, funded by the Overseas Aid and Development Commission, Guernsey, includes a clinic, two staff houses, toilets and biodigester. Mosquito nets were donated to Boombwe school children as there is a high prevalence of malaria. Blooms the Pharmacy, Australia continue to provide medical supplies for Bunsanga, Simonga and Mambova health posts.

The three women’s projects in partnership with Give a Hand, Canada are going well. Muyunda women are busy collecting honey from wild bees to earn an income by selling honey and beeswax. The Musokotwane ‘Mangoes of Hope’ women sold all the jam they made during the mango season and will again grow tomatoes until the next season. The ‘Hope for a Better Future’, which includes rearing chicken and growing vegetables for women in Sekute, is doing exceptionally well. The women have sought good markets for the chicken and vegetables’ sales, which are proving to be highly lucrative.

During the Christmas holidays three football tournaments took place for U-17 girls in Mukuni, Senkobo and Nyawa, and one for U-17 boys in Mukuni. The aim is to help prevent HIV, early pregnancies, alcohol and drug abuse by encouraging youths to engage in sport. All participants must attend The Butterfly Tree HIV prevention workshops. This was sponsored by Blackpool Cup who have chosen The Butterfly Tree as their charity partner for their 2023 tournament.

MUKUNI UNDER-SEVENTEEN’S FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT WINNERS

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

On behalf of The Butterfly Tree trustees in the UK and Zambia we would like to wish all our donors, supporters, volunteers and fundraisers a very happy Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year.

As another year closes the charity shortly enters its seventeenth year and once again I am pleased to report that we’ve had a very succussful year. Below are some of the highlights:

Completion of a health post with staff houses – Katondo
Completion of a classroom – Mubuyu community school
Completion of a classroom – Kamwi junior school
Completion of a classroom – Chabalanda junior
Completion of a classroom – Mukuni junior school
Expansion of Sichifulo junior secondary school
Donation of desks – Mukuni and Kamwi junior schools
Donations of textbooks to 20 schools
Installation of seven boreholes for schools and communities
Two mother’s shelters – Manyemuyemu and Siakachapa
Support to health centres – Mambova, Simonga, Bunsanga and Mukuni
Donation of mosquito nets to school children and insecticidal coating of houses – Moomba
20 community houses for orphans and widows
‘Mangoes of Hope’ – sustainable community project for women – Musokotwane
‘Hope for the Future’ – sustainable community project for women – Sekute
Sponsorship of 7 university students and 14 college students
Sponsorship of 250 orphans and vulnerable children
Donation of seeds and fertilizer to 50 schools for sustainable feeding programmes
Distribution of 2,500 bags of ground maize to orphans and vulnerable families
Two staff houses soon to be completed – Musokotwane high school
Health post currently under construction – Boombwe

Thanks to your tremendous support we have enabled thousands more vulnerable children to have access to safe water, feeding programmes, improved health and education facilities, malaria and HIV prevention and better houses. In addition, women have sustainable income-generating enterprises and communites have boreholes and accessible health posts and no longer have to walk long distances for these essential services.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

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

THE BUTTERFLY TREE ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2021-2022

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I am delighted to present The Butterfly Tree’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2021-22. This was our second best year since the founding of the charity in 2006. Our projects include water, food security, health, education, sustainable community projects, and an orphan support programme in Mukuni, Sekute, Musokotwane, Nyawa and Moomba Chiefdom – Kazungula District, Southern Province of Zambia.

Please scroll down the file to view the accounts, images and graphs or click on the link below to download the file.

Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2021-22

Chairman’s Report

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 were 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 in all sector with Water, Food, Health, Education, Community projects and of course our all-important orphan sponsorship programme being funded.

The Butterfly Tree was voted ‘Best Orphan Charity of the Year’ – Midlands Prestige Awards

Every donation, no matter how small, counts and is greatly appreciated. Whether it be from individuals, corporate, schools, clubs or from grant aid awards every donation goes directly into our vital grass root projects in Zambia. The Butterfly Tree is the biggest contributor to education in the Kazungula District, enabling more children access to basic and secondary education.

Our substantial contribution towards malaria prevention has made a significant impact in the global fight against malaria.

My sincere thanks to fellow trustees Ann and Jackie whose invaluable input, support and encouragement help to make the charity function efficiently. Many thanks to volunteers David, Carolyn, Leah, Valerie, Meg, and Mike for giving up their free time to help with fundraising, child protection and safeguarding, and youth projects which improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable people.

As always I cannot thank enough our incredible team in Zambia, their commitment and dedication is incomparable. Having our own locally registered NGO on the ground is what makes the charity sustainable. Mupotola Siloka (secretary), Rev. Presley Mulenga (education), Martin Mushabati (community projects/sport), Stain Musungaila (malaria prevention), Natasha Mufeya, (orphan sponsorship/peer education) and Sibeso Maseka (health) successfully manage and oversee all our projects.

We are extremely grateful to all our supporters from the UK, Republic of Ireland, Guernsey, USA, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Portugal and Hong Kong for helping to make 2021-22 such a successful and rewarding year!

A special thanks to our major donors. During this period their donations have funded the construction of classrooms, teacher’s and medical staff houses, health posts, borehole installation, orphan sponsorship, women’s and girls’ projects, and malaria and HIV prevention programmes.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

12 STORIES OF HOPE – CHRISTMAS 2020

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

CHILDREN FROM MUSOKOTWANE VILLAGE

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

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

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

DAY 1

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

RIVER VIEW SCHOOL HAS AN ENROLMENT OF 1,500 PUPILS

Head Teacher, Rev. Presley Mulenga shares “Many children now have access to secondary education, the literacy levels have increased, pass rate is high and orphans and vulnerable children are being sponsored.”

Click the link to donate to 12 Stories of Hope to help communities like the River View School: https://www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/20638 or https://donate.kindlink.com/the-butterfly-tree/1598.

A donation of $25 / £19 covers the cost of 4 bags of maize or 3 mosquito nets.
A donation of $50 / £38 covers the cost of 8 bags of maize or 6 mosquito nets.
A donation of $100 / £75 covers the cost of 16 bags of maize or 12 mosquito nets.

The Butterfly Tree Annual Report and Accounts 2019-2020

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

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

Chairman’s Report

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

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

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

EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF OCTOBER 2019 – MAMBOVA VILLAGE

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

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

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

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

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

OUR FLAGSHIP SCHOOL – RIVER VIEW SECONDARY

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

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

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

BOREHOLE AND HANDPUMP – SENKOBO VILLAGE 2019

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

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

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

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

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

DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – KAMWI JUNIOR SCHOOL

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

BOREHOLE AT SIAZIBOLA VILLAGE PROVIDES SAFE CLEAN WATER

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

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

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

ZAMBIAN TRUSTEE STAIN MUSUNGAILA – MALARIA PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

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

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

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

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

VOLUNTEERING ABROAD SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

JANE WITH KATIE, FOUNDER OF COPPER ROOT COLLECTIVES

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

PRESLEY, MARTIN AND MUPOTOLA – OUR ZAMBIAN TRUSTEES

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

BELGIAN LAWYERS FOR AFRICA DONATING MAIZE AND BOREHOLES – OCTOBER 2019

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

THE MIGHTY ZAMBEZI RIVER AS IT APPROACHES THE VICTORIA FALLS

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

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

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

BOREHOLE AT MUKALAHANI VILLAGE – DONATED BY COPPER ROOT COLLECTIVES

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

MATERNITY WARD – SIMONGA VILLAGE

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

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

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

FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO ORPHANS – MUKUNI VILLAGE

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

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

Jane Kaye-Bailey (Founder)

Mukuni Orphans Give Back

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Orphans give back to their community after completing school.

One of the most difficult challenges when running a charity in a developing county is to create sustainability. Zambia is no exception. Many of orphans we sponsored from 2006 completed high school, some have sought employment, while others advanced to further education.

Over fifty orphans, who achieved their goals, are now working in schools, hotels and other establishments. Currently, six students are attending teaching and agricultural colleges, all sponsored by The Butterfly Tree, thanks to the generous support from our donors.

BRIDGET, TRAINING TO BE A TEACHER

Those who have not yet had chance to go college are encouraged to volunteer for both the charity and the community. They have helped us to build community houses, distribute vital malaria prevention products, volunteer at the clinic, and teach in some of the local schools we support.

FORMER SPONSORED ORPHANS BUILDING COMMUNITY HOUSES

Despite suffering the loss of one or both parents at early age, these vulnerable young people have embraced the opportunities offered to them. Most especially, a remarkable group from Mukuni Village, who have taken on a huge challenge to help reduce the number of new cases of HIV, early teenage pregnancies, alcohol and drug abusers.

DONALD, NATAHSA, JAFTA, NGAMBA, EDWIN, PETER & DENNIS

Originally trained by Mutsa Marau, and most recently by Leah Black, two experienced UK volunteers, the group are making a significant impact amongst the youths of Mukuni and other rural areas in the Kazungula District. The group, known as Mukuni Youth Empowerment, goes into schools educating the pupils about the dangers and issues they are faced with. Included in the workshops are drama and dance performances to illustrate the effect that HIV, alcohol and early teenage pregnancies can have can have on an individual and their extended family.

MUKUNI YOUTH EMPOWERMENT DRAMA PERFORMANCE – NATIONAL YOUTH DAY

Earlier this year, Edwin, Natasha, Dennis, Jafta, Ngamba and Donald, were given two months intensive training on coaching and mentoring from Leah, which will create further sustainability for the project. In addition to the workshops the group are giving both one-to-one mentoring and group coaching sessions.

MUKAMAMU, SPONSORED THE CHARITY, CURRENTLY BEING MENTORED

It is an absolute pleasure to see these remarkable young people appreciating the opportunity they have and giving something back to their community.