Keeping in Touch

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

On the 25th May changes to the UK data protection laws are taking place.

To keep you up to date on charity news we would like to continue sending you our newsletters.

In order to keep receiving our updates please resubscribe here.

The EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) allows you to have more transparency in how your personal data is collected and used.

Data Protection is extremely important to The Butterfly Tree:

We only the data we collect to contact our donors, supporters and volunteers
We have never sold data to third parties.
We hold limited information on the orphans we are sponsoring for Child Protection and Safeguarding
To ensure compliance with GDPR we are asking that all our subscribers who receive our secure electronic newsletters resubscribe

The following have been updated in advance of the 25th May

Thanks for your continued support.

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

Orphan Sponsorship and Child Protection

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

As many of you know The Butterfly Tree has successfully run an orphan sponsorship programme since 2006. Thousands of orphans have benefitted from our support, which includes better education and health facilities, access to safe water and school feeding programmes. All our work revolves around vulnerable children in rural areas of Zambia.

RIVER VIEW SCHOOL – 1,250 PUPILS HAVE ADVANCED EDUCATION FACILITIES

Due to the recent allegations that have come to light concerning Oxfam volunteers, we would like to assure you that we take Child Protection very seriously and do everything in our power to ensure that the children we support are safe. Because of these issues we are currently updating our Child Protection Policy, which will shortly be published.

YOUNG RURAL CHILDREN – MUKUNI CHIEFDOM

Our volunteers in Zambia are made up of local people, most of them have been with us since the founding of The Butterfly Tree. The orphan sponsorship programme is overseen by local women and school teachers, with the exception of Kamwi School, where Mafian, a former beneficiary, checks on the welfare of orphans and sources new ones that need support. The peer education programme for HIV prevention is organised by former sponsored orphans.

MAFIAN – FORMER SPONSORED PUPIL OVERSEERS ORPHANS IN KAMWI

Most of our UK volunteers help with administration and fundraising only, and do not work ‘hands on’ in Zambia. All of us that do visit Zambia, and other volunteers, including international ones, have to produce a DBS or the equivalent from their country, and must be dedicated to helping the cause rather than using it as a holiday.

LEAH – FORMER VOLUNTEER IN ZAMBIA NOW A MEMBER OF THE UK TEAM

For the past ten years we’ve welcomed an array of teachers, nurses, social workers and business people who have provided invaluable assistance within the communities, schools and clinics. They are accompanied by members of The Butterfly Tree, school teachers or medical officers. To strengthen our aim to protect children and vulnerable people we are also updating our criteria and selection process, and will only accept those volunteers who have something worthwhile to offer.

VOLUNTEERS – CANADIAN & AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEERS REFURBISHING MUKUNI CLINC

On a positive note – at the start of this new school year in Zambia we have offered sponsorship to many more needy children thanks to gaining new sponsors, as well as existing donors, including the Mukuni Village Trust, Australia, and others that have agreed to support an orphan after their original pupil completed school. Though the orphan’s results are not always the best, many of these young people have gained a sound basic education, progressed to further education or sought employment.

MUKUNI HIGH SCHOOL – PUPILS ON THE ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME

We apologise to those of you who are awaiting updates and details of new orphans, and will be in touch as soon as the Child Protection Policy has been approved. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

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.

Orphans ‘Spreading their Wings’

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Happy New Year from The Butterfly Tree!

January brings a positive start to the year, after December being one of the best months in the history of the charity, with new donations coming in. As always we strive to raise more funds and source new projects for further development in outreach communities.

BUNSANGA COMMUNITY – NYAWA CHIEFDOM

Besides the construction and advancement taking place in rural schools, many of the orphans we have supported for several years are making good progress. For the ones that have completed school it is now time for these young people to advance their education and seek employment.

SCHOOL LEAVERS EARN AN INCOME BUILDING COMMUNITY HOUSES

We are delighted to learn that Charity, having volunteered at Kamwi Primary School for the past year, will start as a full-time government high school teacher this month. Bridget, Sowe and Lillian will continue being sponsored at teacher’s training colleges. Jacob, recently gained a diploma in Agriculture and is working on a farm in Mazabuka.

CHARITY TO START A FULL-TIME TEACHING POST THIS MONTH

Owen, has been accepted to study Biomedics at a college in Kaloma, kindly sponsored by members of the Australian Mukuni Vilage Trust, who are to increase the number of orphans they sponsor to 50 this year. Their continued support is invaluable and many vulnerable children have benefitted from their generosity.

OWEN TO STUDY A COURSE IN BIOMEDICS

Our group of young volunteers are ready to ‘spread their wings’. Natasha, Edwin, Dennis, Jafter and Mafian are to attend college to learn practical skills including electrics, bricklaying and tailoring, along with Nagama, Donald and Peter. For the past three years they have tirelessly run the HIV peer education programme and mentored our sponsored orphans. Now they have a chance to learn a profession in order to set up their own enterprises, thanks to one of our US donors.

EDWIN, DONALD, JAFTER, PETER, DENNIS, NATASHA AND NAGAMA

Educating orphans is paramount, with your support we have educated many. This year we are offering the sponsorship to more vulnerable children in schools within Mukuni Chiefdom as well as River View School in Sekete Chiefdom. Our aim is to train recent school leavers in volunteering and peer education to create further sustainability.

Wishing you good health and happiness for 2018.

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

Charity Calendar 2018

Posted on December 13, 2017 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The Butterfly Tree Charity Calendar is now available to order. Companies generously sponsor each page of the calendar, which covers all printing costs. Miranda freely designs the calendar and all the pictures are ones which I have taken during my visits to Zambia in 2017

The calendar is designed to create awareness and raise funds for our vital grass roots projects, including water, health including malaria prevention, and education. Now in it’s 10th year the calendar project is still in much demand!

These captivating pictures show just a few of the pages for 2018. The high quality desk top calendar measures 16cm x 21cm and can be bought for £4 or US $6.

Each £4 raised from the sale of this calendar can buy an impregnated mosquito net, go towards a bag of dried maize, or a much needed text book for one of the twenty schools we currently support. All funds go directly to the cause.

The calendar pictures highlight some of our projects at Mukuni and other villages and of course, at the forefront is the orphan sponsorship programme. Virtually everything we do is for the benefit of these vulnerable children. Providing them with safe clean water, nutritional food, improved education and health facilities, including support for Malaria and HIV Prevention.

We would sincerely like to thank the following for sponsoring the calendar: Grenfell James, Touch Gold Racing, The Fell Group, Casa Colomba, Stratford Audi, Vectorcide International, Black and White Accounting, Traditional Conservatories, St Matthews and Britelines. A special thanks to Miranda at Morphity for designing the calendar.

Postal Charges:

Second class postal charges in the UK: 1 calendar £1.25; 2-3 calendars £1.60; 4-5 calendars £2.90
Postal charges for Europe: 1 calendar £3.80; (US$6); 2 calendars £5.80 (US$10)
Rest of the World, except Australia: 1 calendar £5.00; 2 calendars £8.70

100% of all sales will go directly to the cause – To place an order please email jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk with your name, address and number of calendars you would like.

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