Category Archives: Water

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THE BUTTERFLY TREE REPORTS ITS SEVENTEENTH SUCCESSFUL YEAR

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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

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HEALTH, EDUCATION & FOOD SECURITY

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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.

CHUUMA GAINED EXCELLENT GRADE 9 RESULTS

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.’

FOOD DISTRIBUTION – NYAWA
FOOD DISTRIBUTION – N’GANDU

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.

MONTHLY DONATION OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

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.

VEGETABLE GROWING – SEKUTE

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

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CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

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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

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THE BUTTERFLY TREE ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2021-2022

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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

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2021-22 HIGHLIGHTS GIVE HOPE TO THOUSANDS

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

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

NEW HEALTH POST – KANTONDO

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

‘MOSQUITO NETS FOR SCHOOLS’ – MALIMBA

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

TEXTBOOK DONATIONS – KAZUNGULA RURAL SCHOOLS

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

ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP – SENKOBO PRIMARY SCHOOL

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

NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK – CHABALANDA

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

SUCCESSFUL DRILLING FOR A BOREHOLE – NAMPAKA

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

MANGO PRODUCTION – MUSOKOTWANE

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

GIRLS’ EMPOWERMENT – MUKUNI VILLAGE

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

MUKUNI UNITED FOOTBALL TEAM

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

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

Jane Kaye-Bailey

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CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM THE BUTTERFLY TREE

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

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

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

MWANDU FROM MUKUNI VILLAGE COMPLETES BIO MEDICINE COURSE

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

SUCCESSFUL DRILL AT KATONDO

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

NEW MOTHER’S SHELTER – SIKACAPA

OLD MOTHER’S SHELTER – SIKACAPA

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

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

SPONSORED GIRLS AT MUKUNI PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS

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

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

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

Jane Kaye-Bailey

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EXCITING UPDATES AND FUNDRAISING AT CHRISTMAS

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

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

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

DISTIBUTION OF MOSQUITO NETS – MUYNUNDA COMMUNITY SCHOOL

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

BAGS OF GROUND MAIZE DONATED TO ORPHANS – KAMWI VILLAGE

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

7 BOREHOLES FOR REMOTE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES

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

KATONDO HEALTH POST CLINIC

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

SOLAR-POWERED WATER RETICULATION SYSTEM

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

ONE OF 8 PUPILS NOW ON SPONSORSHIP – SENKOBO SCHOOL

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

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

MUKUNI UNITED FOOTBALL TEAM, INCLUDING SPONSORED ORPHANS

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

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

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

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

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CHANGING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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

KAMWI TWINS SPONSORED SINCE BIRTH AFTER LOSING THEIR MOTHER IN CHILDBIRTH

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

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

CHARITY – COMPLETED GRADE 12 AT RIVER VIEW SCHOOL

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

HENRY, FROM MUKUNI VILLAGE, NOW STUDYING PHARMACY AT UNIVERSITY

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

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

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

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

BOREHOLE AND HANDPUMP FOR KATONDO RURAL HEALTH POST

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

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

PUPIL  RECEIVE MOSQUITO NETS FOR MALARIA PREVENTION – MUYUNDA SCHOOL

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

 

 

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THE BUTTERFLY TREE ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2020 – 2021

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

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

Chairman’s Report 

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

JANE IN THE REMOTE AREA OF DUNDUMWEZI

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

NGANDU JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL – MUKUNI CHIEFDOM

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

PPE DONATIONS WERE GIVEN TO CLINICS AND SCHOOLS

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

SOLAR-POWERED WATER RETICULATION SYSTEM – MUSOKOTWANE SECONDARY SCHOOL

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

VAST AMOUNTS OF TEXTBOOKS GIVEN TO RURAL SCHOOLS

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

DISTRIBUTIONS OF GROUND MAIZE TOOK PLACE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

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

DRILLING FOR WATER – CHIKWAMA

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

DONATED ITEMS – SIMONGA MATERNITY WARD

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

SUBSTANTIAL DONATION OF FOOTBALL STRIPS DISTRIBUTED IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

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

MOSQUITO NETS FOR SCHOOLS – MALIMBA JUNIOR SECONDARY

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

BEEKEEPING PROJECT FOR 200 WOMEN – MUYUNDA

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

The Zambian team, comprising of the four Trustees who have been with us since 2006 – Mupotola Siloka (Secretary and project management), Presley Mulenga (education), Martin Mushabati (ground operations), Stain Musungaila (malaria and community projects). Volunteers – Sibeso Maseka (Environmental Technician), Natasha Mufuya and Mafian Sitali (orphan sponsorship and community housing), Lloyd Kasela and Harold Chilikwazi (community projects). Their vital input, in implementing, monitoring and managing the projects on the ground, during a global pandemic, has been remarkable. I cannot be praise them enough for keeping everything moving during these most difficult of circumstances.

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

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

Jane Kaye-Bailey
Founder

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12 STORIES OF HOPE DAY 5

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BOREHOLES AND WATER RETICULTATION SYTEMS

According to the World Health Organization access to safe drinking-water is a basic human right, and yet a third of Zambia’s population do not have safe drinking water. In 2019 Zambia experienced the worst drought for 30 years, rivers and streams were completely dry, crops perished, hunger was widespread and livestock died. In some areas people were walking 26km daily to draw water from the nearest borehole. The Butterfly Tree has installed over 40 boreholes in schools, health centres, and for communities. The boreholes provide safe clean water, reducing diarrhoeal disease cases and the hours women and children must walk to draw water. In addition, boreholes and water reticulation systems provide water for vegetable gardens and food production units during the dry season from April to November.

‘The solar powered water supply system provides flowing water to our school at all times. Readily available water makes the food production unit viable, hence the production of vegetables and fruits for a sustainable school feeding programme.’  lloyd Kasela – Deputy Head Teacher, Singwamba School.

Please use either of these links if you would like to make a donation, 100% will go directly to the cause: