Food, Homes and Sponsorship for Orphans

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

It never rains but it pours – as the proverb goes! After two years of drought the rains in Zambia have come in abundance, though this is great news for the farmers and school feeding programmes it comes with a price. Several schools and many mud huts have been damaged because of high winds and heavy rains.

Mubiana Community School – Mukuni Chiefdom

As always working in Africa is challenging. Extreme poverty, malaria, HIV and AIDS, and climate change are just some of the serious issues people living in countries like Zambia face daily. The work of The Butterfly Tree has helped to transform the lives of thousands of orphans and vulnerable children by providing improved education and health facilities, safe drinking water, feeding programmes and better housing.

New Bore Hole and Indian Hand Pump for Nguba Pupils in the Nyawa Chiefdom

Motive Real Estate has donated two further houses and will raise their number of donations throughout the year. For the elderly living in villages life is tough. Many have lost their children as a result of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, left with orphaned grandchildren and no income. Our community house project has provided homes for over seventy families.

Houses – Provided for the Elderly and Windows with Orphans

For the start of the new school year eighteen schools have been given seeds and fertiliser to grow food for their feeding programmes. A considerable number of new orphans are being sponsored mainly at Mukuni, N’gandu, Kamwi, Ndele and River View Schools, and seven students are attending college.

This Year Jacob Will Complete His Final Year at Agricultural College

Regrettably, we have had a problem with several teenage girls at in Mukuni and neighbouring villages falling pregnant. Not only have they lost the chance to complete their education, but there will be no support provided by social services. We are doing everything we can to prevent this from happening, we have trained peer educators who hold regular workshops on HIV prevention, teenage pregnancies and alcohol abuse, but sadly some still fall by the wayside.

Former Sponsored Orphans Trained as Peer Educators – Mukuni School

On a positive side the orphan sponsorship programme has enabled hundreds of orphans to receive a sound basic education. Some of the ones we started sponsoring back in 2006 have not only completed school, but have gained a college certificate and many others have sought employment. For just £10 per month an orphan is given hope and a chance for a better future. Thank to everyone of our sponsors for your invaluable support.

Happy New Year 2017

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

2016 has been a very successful year for The Butterfly Tree Charity. So much has been achieved that it is impossible to write about everything, so for today I would like to share with you an amazing success story about Brian Mulwani, one of the beneficiaries of our orphan sponsorship programme, who is now training to be a pilot in South Africa.

Brian training to be a pilot in South Africa

We started sponsoring Brian in grade 8 at Mukuni Basic School, after he had achieved good results in grade 7. When he later took his exams at the end of grade 9 he did so well that the government offered Brian a place at a High School, where he would have to board, and I was asked to sponsor him. However, in 2007 we had built and opened the High School at Mukuni Village, so that orphaned and rural pupils could afford to complete their education. Consequently I was reluctant to approve this, especially as boarding school fees are obviously much higher.

Brian attending Mukuni Basic School – 2009

Unfortunately I had to explain to Brian that we could sponsor two more orphans for the extra money needed to send him to boarding school, and that I could not grant him this opportunity. It was a difficult decision knowing that he would excel at a more advanced school than Mukuni. However, though at first disappointed, he accepted it and completed high school in 2015.

Brian at Mukuni High School – 2013

Attending High School at Mukuni Village was challenging for Brian, but proved to be hugely beneficial. During this time some American tourists visited the school and met Brian. After they learnt that he wanted to be a pilot they offered to sponsor him. Coming from a humble background this was an incredible opportunity for Brian, he has embraced it and I am sure he will do exceeding well.

Brian training to be a pilot 2016

In his words:
‘Thank you so much Jane, I am and will always be grateful for your help. I remember when I wrote my grade nine exams and qualified to go to a boarding school but things never worked that way, I got mentally disturbed such that it affected my performance during my high school and my final results from secondary. I am humbled that even when I had to repeat to grade 11 you still continued to help me, and today by the grace of God I am pursuing my career to become an airline pilot. I am very sure my Teachers are proud and very soon will be very proud to say ”one of our own is now pilot” and that is my desire to inspire my brothers and sisters that it is not about the environment but the mindset of an individual. Always grateful and humbled’. Brian

I would like to say an enormous ‘thank you’ to everyone of our orphan sponsors, and all our donors, fundraisers and volunteers from around the world and to wish you all a very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Fundraising at Christmas

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

Widow looking after orphans in Kamwi Village

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

Safe insecticide coating is applied inside mud hut dwellings

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

Further development for the 560 pupils at N’gandu School

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

Young children need protection from malaria

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

£4 will buy a charity calendar
£5 will buy a mosquito net for malaria prevention
£5 will buy a text books for schools
£10 will buy a bag of ground maize for a family
£100 will sponsor an orphan for one year
£400 will build a community house for a widow looking after orphans

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

2017 Charity Calendar – The Butterfly Tree

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Our 2017 charity calendar is now available to order. Twelve companies generously sponsor a page of the calendar, which covers all printing costs and raises funds for the charity. Some of these companies also sponsor projects annually and have made an invaluable contribution to our work in Zambia.

The calendar helps create awareness and raise funds for our vital grass roots projects, including water, health, malaria prevention and education.

These captivating pictures show just a few of the pages for 2017. The high quality desk top calendar measures 16cm x 21cm and can be bought for £4 or US$6 plus postage.

Each £4 raised from the sale of this calendar can buy an impregnated mosquito net, 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 our orphan sponsorship programme. We provide children with safe clean water, nutritional food, improved education and health facilities, alongside this the cause to fight against Malaria and HIV and AIDS is paramount.

Our sincere thanks to the following companies and groups for sponsoring the calendar:

A special thanks to Miranda at Morphity for designing the calendar.

Postal Charges:

Second class postal charges in the UK: 1 calendar £1.20; 2-3 calendars £1.54; 4-5 calendars £2.85
Postal charges for Europe: 1 calendar EUR 6; 2 calendars £7.45 EUR 8
Rest of the World, except Australia: 1 calendar US $6; 2 calendars US $10
Australia and New Zealand: 1 calendar AUD $10

100% of all sales will go directly to the cause – To place an order complete the form below:

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Project Updates from Zambia

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

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

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

SIMSIMUKU SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT, NYAWA CHIEFDOM

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

JOA VOLUNTEERS SPENT THREE WEEKS VOLUNTEERING AT N’GANDU SCHOOL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GARDENS TO GENERATE SUSTAINABLE FEEDING PROGRAMMES ARE ESSENTIAL IN RURAL SCHOOLS

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

MOSQUITO NETS DISTRIBUTED IN THE REMOTE VILLAGE OF CHUUNGA

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

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

HOUSE IN KAMWI VILLAGE FOR ELDERLY GRANDPARENTS LOOKING AFTER ORPHANS

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

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

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

Jane Kaye-Bailey

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Development in Rural Schools

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

How your donations have helped to impact the lives of thousands of children in Zambia, most especially by aiding them to have a sound basic education, which has given them hope for a better future:

Since our first development took place at Mukuni in 2006, to present day where improvements are currently being make in many more rural schools, The Butterfly Tree has worked in over thirty schools in four Chiefdoms in the Southern Province of Zambia. Some of the schools have less than 100 pupils, whereas as others such as Mukuni and River View have in excess of 1,000 pupils. One thing that is common ground, Zambian children love to learn and value their education.

MUKUNI CLASSROOM BLOCK CONSTRUCTED IN 2010

In the past ten years we have built entire new schools, which include classrooms, teacher’s houses and latrines. In other cases we have made improvements by adding extra facilities most importantly bore holes to provide a safe source of water, we have boarding shelters and feeding programmes, donating seeds and fertiliser for school gardens.

ONE OF THE 15 BORE HOLES DONATED TO SCHOOL – SIACHIKUBI 2015

Below is a report from a teacher in the Nyawa Chiefdom, Lloyd used to be Head Teacher at Nampuyani School and is now working at Singwamba. Both schools have undergone extensive development thanks to generous funding from Attraction Tickets Direct who are also funding Sinsimuku School, which is currently being advanced.

‘Nampuyani. After so many years of kids learning in derelict buildings… from early 90’s up to 2014 Nampuyani Community School is now a school where teachers and pupils can teach and learn in a conducive environment. I remember the first day I set foot at this school as teacher in charge, the classrooms were dusty, windowless, no doors and there was no teacher’s house. This was beyond my expectation, I was so shocked. The school was utter ruins but the kids I found were very eager to learn. After settling down, though grudgingly, I began mobilising the community to make bricks and collect raw materials for a classroom block and a staff house. After we had collected enough materials I went in search for assistance. But unfortunately no one was able to help and the best they could do was to promise. Two years later I approached The Butterfly Tree charity and told them the situation. Promptly they came on board and sunk a borehole, completed the classes and built a staff house. The school is at the moment one of the best in the district and hence zonal meetings for both Kauwe and Nguba zones are held there. I am no longer at that school but due to its better condition the district education office has sent three trained teachers. In the past the school was run by grade nine drop outs which undermined pupils performance’. Lloyd Lukama Kasala

NAMPUYANI SCHOOL EXPANSION – 2014

The Jersey Overseas Aid Commission has providing our main source of funding for school development. Their grants have enabled us to develop eleven schools. As one of their Community Works Project we will shortly host ten volunteers from Jersey, for a second year,who will help construct two 1 x 3 classroom blocks at N’gandu School. The British and Foreign School Society has also given us tremendous support for our education programmes.

N’GANDU ORPHANS BENEFIT FROM EXTENSIVE EXPANSION AT THEIR SCHOOL 2015-16

Without education the future of these rural children will not be so bright. The Zambian economy is suffering and funding for education is limited. If we can improve the infrastructure in rural schools the Ministry of Education will provide trained teachers. It is our aim to source and reach out to more remote areas where children are unable to go to school or attend schools that need further development.

Malaria Prevention Report – September 2016

Posted on September 2, 2016 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Malaria Prevention: THE BUTTERFLY TREE MALARIA PREVENTION UPDATE

Globally malaria is the biggest killer of man
Every 60 seconds a child dies from malaria
An estimated 3.3 billion people are at risk of malaria
89% of malaria cases and 91% of malaria deaths occur in sub-Sahara Africa
75% of people who die from malaria are children under 5
2015 – an estimated 214 million cases of malaria worldwide
2015 – an estimated 438,000 deaths from malaria

For the past nine years The Butterfly Tree has funded a successful malaria prevention programme in Zambia. Providing thousands of mosquito nets, malaria testing kits and educational workshops has helped to save many young lives. However drug resistance is building. We have been working with Vectorcide, a UK company, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on two safe new products, which are perceived to be the most superior currently available globally – Click here for the full report

Annual Report and Accounts 2015 – 16

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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

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

JANE WITH KAMWI TWINS – ELVIS AND VINCENT

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

NEW CLASSROOM S FOR N’DELE PRIMARY SCHOOL

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

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

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

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

NEW CLASSROOMS AND LATRINES FOR SINGWAMBA JUNIOR SCHOOL – NYAWA CHIEFDOM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEW CLINIC FOR MAMBOVA COMMUNITY, SEKUTE CHIEFDOM

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

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

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

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

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

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

Malaria Prevention Success

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

In recent months the media has focused on the outbreak of Zika, which is threatening countries in the Americas, including the USA. Though no local mosquito-borne Zika virus disease cases have been reported in the States, lab tests have confirmed the virus in travellers returning to the United States.

LOCAL TRANSMISSION OF ZIKA HAS BEEN REPORTED IN GRENADA AND OTHER CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES

With both the peak summer travel period and the forthcoming Olympic Games approaching it is important that all travellers as well as visitors to Rio gain knowledge of the Zika virus. This can be obtained from the World Health Organisation or the Centre of Disease Control websites, not only to protect your own health, but to avoid the spread of the virus to other parts of the world. With high poverty levels in African countries such as Zambia it would be catastrophic if there was a new outbreak of the Zika virus.

RIO DE JANEIRO HOST TO THE 2016 OLYMPICS

Whether it is Zika, Dengue Fever or Malaria, prevention methods are crucial. The Butterfly Tree has been supporting malaria prevention in Zambia since 2008. Malaria is the biggest killer of man. This year Zambia had an emergency in many areas, districts with the highest prevalence were Ndola, Kabwe and Kazungula, where most of our work is carried out.

CHILDREN NEED PROTECTION AGAINST MALARIA

Two years ago The Butterfly Tree introduced a safe and effective method of malaria prevention, which is proving to be highly successful according to reports from the Zambian Ministry of Health and the National Malaria Control Centre. In areas where we applied the new products in November 2015, zero or very few cases have since been reported.

OVER 1,000 DWELLINGS WERE PAINTED WITH THE SAFE INSECTICIDAL COATING IN NOVEMBER 2015

This new initiative is attracting a great deal of interest from the Zambian government and private sector. In the UK Saga Charitable Trust, Medisave, Inner Wheel and Rotary Clubs have given donations to buy both these products and mosquito nets. Over the next few months we aim to paint the inside of many more dwellings with the safe insecticidal coating and distribute nets. In addition granules will be placed in ponds and stagnant water to prevent the larva from developing into mosquito.

STAIN MUSUNGAILA APPLYING THE SAFE GRANULES IN PONDS

For people visiting Zambia and countries where malaria and other infectious diseases are found, gain as much knowledge as possible about the symptoms and prevention.

Boost for Water, Health and Education

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The new financial year has got off to a great start! Since April 1st I am delighted to say that we have received a substantial amount of funding to add more bore holes, to provide extra support for Malaria and HIV prevention, and to construct new educational facilities.

Using donations from a private donor, Cayman Islands Rotary Club and Kampango we are about to install two bore holes at Singwamba Health Centre, which has a catchment of 7,500 and for River View School, attended by 1,100 pupils. At present both areas rely on river water, which is full of bacteria and in the case of River View, teeming with crocodiles.

The 1,100 pupils at River View School are to receive a new bore hole

This year in Zambia there has been a serious outbreak in malaria, which is some areas has turned into an emergency. The environmental officers believe it is due to the unseasonable heavy rain which fell in March, leaving a considerable amount of stagnant water in rural areas. I am pleased to say that the areas in Mukuni, where we applied the new intervention, have not been affected. This is an extract from a letter sent to us from the Ministry of Health:

‘The application of the products in eight communities in the Mukuni Chiefdom has contributed to the reduction of malaria in Mukuni area. This is because the chemicals are very effective in fighting the malaria vector.’

One of the 1,000 plus households to receive protection from malaria

In other areas Singwamba Health Centre recorded 3,245 cases of malaria and the tragic deaths of twelve children aged between one and thirteen years. After putting out an appeal on Facebook, amazingly donors instantly responded and a considerable amount of money was raised. We have since applied the safe granules in mosquito breeding grounds, in the worst affected areas, to prevent the larva from developing into mosquito.

Stagnant water – breeding ground for mosquito

On the education front we received substantial funding from Jersey Overseas Aid Commission to add two 1×3 classroom blocks and a solar system to N’gandu School. This is being done through their Community Works Project and once again we will host volunteers from Jersey to help with the construction. Arnewood School has raised funds for a boarding shelter at Mukuni, a group of their students will shortly travel to Zambia to volunteer.

Further development for N’gandu Junior Secondary School

Sinsimuku Community School is currently being developed with the construction of two classrooms, latrines and a teacher’s house, thanks to a further donation from Attraction Tickets Direct. In addition a recent donation from a US volunteer will enable our young peer educators to carry out more workshops in HIV prevention. More orphans are to be sponsored and our partner, the Mukuni Village Trust in South Australia, has offered to continue supporting forty orphans.

Florence – one of the 40 orphans sponsored by the Australian group

We have a brand ‘new look’ website, kindly donated by Miranda de Freston, one of our trustees and owner of Morphity.

These generous offers of support and funds help to sustain our on going projects as well as allowing us to reach out to more remote communities in in the Southern Province of Zambia.