Africa Day 2011

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Africa – love it or hate it there is no in between The heat, dust, poverty, corruption, violence that is how many sceptics describe this vast, parched continent, but have they ever actually visited the real Africa? The second largest and second most populated continent, Africa has huge geographical diversity and a mixture of many different cultures. In the middle of some of the most volatile countries on the planet is a haven called Zambia, totally land-locked yet boasting some of the best wildlife in Africa and the magnificent Victoria Falls. It borders eight other countries including Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.

The breathtaking Victoria Falls – Zambia

Today marks Africa Day and the one thing that unites all Africans is their love of music – they are born with rhythm! From their very first steps to adulthood they are natural dances and love performing at schools, in churches and at community gatherings – song and dance are part off their traditional heritage. Surrounded by such extreme cases of poverty and deprivation music can bring a light relief and is a great way to spread awareness of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. The Butterfly Tree is working with a number of volunteers who are helping to raise funds to help the fight against these devastating diseases. Basement Entertainment supports our malaria prevention program. Brendan Mission, through Music Earth Rise is currently raising funds to build a music centre in Mukuni Village. The pupils will be able to use it to hold concerts, drama and workshops.

Africa Day: Mukuni Basic School performing a tradtional dance

To make any lasting progress the HIV/AIDS situation has to be addressed. In Mukuni alone almost 50% of the children are orphaned, whereas one in six adults are HIV positive. We have a number of programs to help tackle this enormous problem but more funds are needed. As always education is the key and this coming year we are fortunate to have several volunteers, including Mutsa Murau, who want to work with the orphans to help reduce the number of new cases of HIV. Mutsa will assist our HIV/AIDS prevention program by training peer educators in some of the schools supported by The Butterfly Tree.

Orphans at Simasimbi Basic School

Although there is vast wealth among some Africans the majority of people native to countries like Zambia live in extreme poverty and rely on international aid. However we feel that it is vital to bring about sustainability in areas where we operate once the education and health facilities have been improved. We are developing a number of enterprises at both the school and community in Mukuni. Perhaps one day the children on our orphan sponsorship program can be supporting their own families.

Success of orphan sponsorship

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Peter Liyungu was the first orphan to be accepted on The Butterfly Tree orphan sponsorship program, some five years ago, when we first started operating in Mukuni Village back in 2006. At the time despite being very intelligent, Peter had lost interest in his education after loosing both parents and having no funds to continue. A sponsor was sought and this transformed his life; as there was no high school at Mukuni Peter wanted to go to boarding school and subsequently attended Zimba High. We are also sponsoring his younger brother Mishek.

Orphan Sponsorship: Peter with brother Mishek – February 2007

I am delighted to say that after four years Peter has completed grade twelve and did exceedingly well in his exams. In his own words Peter wished to thank his sponsors.

‘It is my pleasure to show my gratitude and say thank you for opening up my life to a dream come true. You are my father and my mother who would have done the same if they were alive. It takes a strong sole to take up the work of someone else.

I must let you know that I have made it through my senior secondary with 16 points which gives me the opportunity to apply for university. It is because of you that I have achieved this, your contribution to my education and my life in all was not in vain and once more thank you for making my dream come true.’

Peter after completing high school – February 2011

To date The Butterfly Tree has sponsored over 400 idividual orphans in addition to providing nutritional feeding programs, classrooms, teachers’ houses and bore holes holes. Our healthcare projects including HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention, boosted by a recent donation from Viking River Cruises, are all for the benefit of these vulnerable children. One of the great things about working in these rural communities is that when we can assist with the orphans’ education, there is always someone who will offer to be a guardian, whether it be a family member, a friend or even a teacher. This is by far more preferable than having to leave their village and be placed in an orphange in town.

Sponsored daily feeding program at Mukuni Village Schools

There are over 700,000 orphans in Zambia alone and they desperately need your support. Education is the only way they can get out of the cycle of poverty to enable them to better their situation. For as little as £110 per annum or just £10 per month a child’s life can be transformed. The money is used to pay for school and exam fees, books, shoes, uniform and school bag. In addition to this the children receive a daily nutritional meal, such as the one at Mukuni, sponsored by Cunninghams. The Butterfly Tree provides educational workshops, using interactive DVD’s donated by TME, teaching the pupils about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, malaria, teenage pregnancy, drugs and alcohol.

If you would like to sponsor an orphan like Peter or Mishek and make another child’s dream come true, please complete the online form or contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Listen to the orphans singing with the Mukuni Basic Choir on Youtube

Follow our progress on Facebook

Fundraising for Zambian Orphans

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Today we celebrate the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton and wish them a long an happy life together. Between them they will no doubt be able to help numerous charitable causes. Earlier this month I felt very privileged to represent The Butterfly Tree at a celebration for his HRH Prince Phillip’s 90th birthday at Windsor Castle. The event was hosted by the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club with Windsor and Eton Rotary Club. This was followed by a dinner hosted by St James’s House, the London publishing company. The Butterfly Tree has been selected to be featured in the 2012 Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Year Book in their new philanthropy section. We are hoping that this will bring about some new philanthropic travellers to visit our projects in Mukuni Village.

Another great fundraising opportunity came about last week after winning a free place to participate in Cyclothon UK. Initiated by Victor Umbogo, the former England rugby player, the event should enable us to raise substantial funds for the orphans in Zambia. We have three volunteers who have offered to participate – we are hoping to add a sporting celebrity to gain publicity for our team. The Paris marathon also took place and local girls Vicky and Rachel Sampson raised over £800 for the charity’s orphan support program.

Fundraising: Items donated for Machenje pre-school from South African tourists

Several groups and individuals have recently visited Mukuni – not only have they been humbled by the plight of these vulnerable people, but also impressed by the work the charity has done to improve the lives of these rural communities. The Brady Corporation, hosted by Incentivise UK kindly donated $2000 worth of stationery and blankets and Canon Australia have offered support after meeting the Mukuni school children. All our projects centre around the orphans, which includes orphan sponsorship, providing improved healthcare and education as well as safe water and feeding programs. Being able to improve their basic needs gives them a chance to move forward.

Mukuni Basic School

There are numerous ways to fundraise besides sporting events – hosting small events like Mutsa Murau who has organised a Swap Shop on the 8th May. Alex Weatherley’s parents set up a Just Giving page to invite guests attending Alex’s Christening to donate to the under five’s feeding program instead of giving presents. This can also be done for birthdays, anniversaries or any celebration. We have a number of church groups, schools and clubs as well as individuals and corporates who enable us to continue our vital grassroots projects in Zambia, through fundraising activities, donations and sponsorship.

If you would like to some fundraising for The Butterfly Tree and need any further details or advertising materials please email jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

World Malaria Day

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Today is World Malaria Day. The Butterfly Tree is committed to continue helping the fight to reduce the burden of malaria, the biggest killer of man. Although the number of deaths have declined over the last decade 75% of deaths caused by malaria are children under the age of five in sub-Sahara Africa. Zambia is no exception.

Malaria disease caused by P. falciparum may result in death within hours or a few days of infection especially in those with a low immunity such as children, pregnant women, people with AIDS and travelers with little or no malaria. It can also result in the miscarriage of pregnant women, low birth-weight infants, developmental disabilities and other complications.

World Malaria Day: help prevent Paddington from contracting malaria

Until a cure is found prevention is the only way to avert this dehabilatating disease, which is the leading cause of school absenteeism. Providing mosquito nets, malaria tests and educational workshops effectively reduces the number of new cases. Saga Charitable Trust donates annually to our malaria prevention program, enabling us to provide this vital aid. The Zambian government’s aim is to distribute mosquito nets every child under five as well as pregnant women. Sadly the supplies are insufficient and there is a massive shortfall. UCL GDI members recently hel fund-raising events during One World Week and donated the money to our program.

Just £5 ($8) will buy a mosquito net and could save a child’s life. The Butterfly Tree has produced a charity CD, called ‘Change for the Better’ this can be downloaded for £2 or £3 for a CD – all proceeds go to the malaria prevention program.

Caring for twins in Zambia

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I have many stories to tell from my recent trip to Zambia, no doubt the one which many of our supporters have been waiting to hear is the plight of the twin baby boys, whose mother died in childbirth with their triplet sister. For the past five months The Butterfly Tree has provided support for Elvis and Vincent after hearing about their premature birth and the loss of their mother. Each weighing barely three pounds (1.3 kgs) the twins were discharged from Livingstone in late November to be cared for by their grandmother in the remote village of Kamwi.

With no available money the grandmother was struggling to cope, relying solely on gifts from well wishes. After hearing that the twins would not survive without powdered milk The Butterfly Tree stepped in. Three and a half tins of formula are consumed a week by these hungry boys. At seven pounds ($11) per tin this was an impossibility for most Zambians with an income let alone someone from one of the poorest villages on the planet.

Vincent with his grandmother

Elvis with his aunt

I was moved to tears when I returned to Kamwi and saw two plump, healthy and happy babies. The grandmother, with the help of her sister, has taken great care of them and the staff at Mukuni clinic informed me that apart from a common cold they had rarely been sick. They have had two tests for HIV, both were clear and need only one more which we pray will be negative. Besides milk we have provided clothing, equipment and healthcare. Funding these helpless infants shows that it is vital to continue our support to improve the lives of these vulnerable people.

Fundraising boost for Mukuni

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

I am just about to leave for Zambia and could not go without posting our exciting news. I am delighted to announce that for this financial year our fundraising efforts have passed the quarter of a million pounds (US400,000) mark – our most successful year to date! This has mainly been achieved by the enormous grant awarded from Jersey Overseas Aid Commission to build three new schools in Matengu, Silelo and Malima villages – all some fifty miles from Mukuni.

A further donation from Just a Drop will enable us to build a bore hole at Libala Basic School which was was closed last year, by the education authorities, due to lack of safe drinking water. It is sad to think that these pupils have been deprived of education for almost six months. Water is an essential part of life, one of our aims is to provide safe clean drinking water for all the schools and villages we operate in. This donation also includes two additional double pit-latrines for Mukuni Basic School. Sanitation is a huge problem in rual communities where many people rely on the bushes. Schools that have insufficient latrines can be closed down.

Fundraising: Water is life – dried stream Mukuni Chiefdom

We have a number of current fundraisers who deserve recognition: Brendan Mission is raising £10,000 to build a music centre at Mukuni to create awareness of orphans and HIV/AIDS prevention which will be used for concerts, drama and worshops. On the 1st March Brendan is hosting a Music Earth Rise event in London; if you live in the area please go along. Margaret and Casey from Oregon have raised funds for a goats’ milk project to support our under fives’ feeding program, which replaces breastmilk in HIV positive mothers. Next month will see University College London supporting our orphan sponsorship and malaria prevention programs. Members of their Global Development Initiatives Society have selected The Butterfly Tree to be recipients of their annual ‘One World Week’ fundraiser.

Recipient of the orphan sponosrship program – Mukuni Village

We are delighted that so many people are giving up their time to provide vital funds for our work in Zambia and are grateful to everyone for donating time and funds to help us. Without this support we could not have achieved so much. Thousands of orphaned and vulnerable children are now receiving an education, have access to safe clean drinking water and improved health facilites. If you would like to get involved, sponsor an orphan or fundraise for The Butterfly Tree all the details are on the website or for further information contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk Last year Facebook featured ‘our story’ to go out to their 500,000 million users – please join The Butterfly Tree community page so that we can get further recognition from Facebook.

Mukuni Teachers Visit UK

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

This past week we have had the pleasure of two visitors from Mukuni – Reverend Presley Mulenga, Head Teacher of Mukuni Basic School and member of The Butterfly Tree and Thomas Chanda, their Special Education teacher. Hosted by Fountaindale Special Education School in Nottinghamshire the teachers attended classes, church meetings and social events. The school obtained a local grant to fund an exchange with the two schools and gave them an insight to education in the UK. Presley said ‘everything is so much more advanced than Zambian education’.

Mukuni teachers – Thomas & Presley visiting the Tower of London

Last year thanks to a grant from The Besom we were able to build a classroom for children needing Special Education. Prior to this there was very little hope for these vulnerable children. Stanley Safari Lodge have donated equipment, learning materials, furniture and toys to assist with the development of this class. Children with learning difficulties, ones who are partially sighted and ones with impaired hearing can now be taught in a happy and colourful enviroment. Thomas is an excellent teacher dedicated to improving the lives of these special pupils.

The charity funded physiotherapy for Joseph who has cerebral palsy

The last two days of Thomas and Presley’s visit were spent in Warwickshire and London. A whirlwind sight-seeing trip to the capitol, where my sons and I took them to virtually every major attraction, gave them an insight to a very different world to that of village life in Mukuni. It was a humbling experience for us most especially seeing them enjoy a variety of food so very different to the three meals of ground maize which is all their meagre salaries can afford.

Next month the two Fountaindale teachers are to visit Mukuni Village. Fountaindale also donated many items for the classroon and have vowed to set up an ongoing project to benefit both schools. We are very grateful for this support and found it an absolute pleasure having Presely and Thomas visit us.

Greetings from Mukuni

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Christmas in Mukuni will be very different to what many of us will experience tomorrow. Apart for going to church it will be like any other day sharing a meal of n’shima, vegetables and gound nuts with family and friends. There with be no turkey, Christmas pudding or gifts under the Christmas tree nor has there been weeks of preparations to make everything perfect for the festive Day. So who has got it right? Do we really need to put ourselves under so much stress for just one day? The true meaning of Christmas has been overshadowed by the need to spend more and more money on food, drinks and gifts, often resulting in bank overdrafts and credit card debts.

Working in one of the poorest nations on the planet, where thousands of children have been orphaned through the HIV and AIDS in Zambia pandemic, makes me realise that we have got it wrong. These desperately poor communities need food, water, health and education. Fortunately for many people in Mukuni Village life has improved considerably this year. The charity has built extra classrooms, more orphans have been sponsored and much has been done to improve the education and health facilities for Mukuni and several other outreach villages.

Greetings from Mukuni: Lillian Mweene with her daughter

2011 promises to be another successful year for The Butterfly Tree kicking off with substantial grant aid once again awarded by the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission. This grant will enable us to build three new schools in remote areas; one in Mukuni and two in the Musokotwane Chiefdom. Saga Charitable Trust has also ensured that our Africa malaria program continues with another generous donation for next year. Many of our supporters have sent Christmas donations and some sponsor an orphan, making it our most successful year to date.

Jane with children from Mandandi Village

On behalf of the team and Mukuni Village I would like to genuinely thank everyone for your bountiful support and wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year.

Christmas Gifts

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

For many of us choosing Christmas gifts can be quite an arduous task, wondering whether or not you have chosen correctly. Recently I heard on the radio that this year almost half a billion pounds of unwanted Christmas gifts will end up in the bin. Scandalous! That amount of money could be used to feed millions of starving people. What has happened to the true meaning of Christmas? What used to be a joyous occasion has turned into a manic marketing campaign with Christmas cards on sale at the end of summer, Christmas songs playing at the beginning of November and Advent calendars on sale for dogs! Where did we go wrong?

Christmas Gifts – donate a gift to help these vulnerable children

Christmas Day in developing countries, such as Zambia, means going to church to commemorate the birth of Jesus. No one eats special food; there are no gifts to open and no activities taking place. On the 25th December, like any other day, life is a struggle. Poverty, disease and hunger are hard to overcome. If you are struggling to find that perfect gift for someone special who has everything, perhaps you would like to consider the following:

Sponsor an orphan, donate a mosquito net, buy exercise books, build a house for a widow with orphans or buy a bicycle for a child who walks long distances to school. Whichever you choose 100% of your donation will go directly to the project, no fees or administrations costs will be deducted. If you would like to give someone a ‘stocking filler’ and help the charity at the same time our popular calendar is available to order for just £4 plus postage or our charity CD, ‘Change for The Better’ for just £3 plus postage.

Do something different this Christmas and donate your gift to a Zambian orphan, it will most certainly be put to good use and most definitely will not end up in the bin!

For more details on how to get involved or purchase a gift contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk or simply donate using our secure online page, your help however small will be greatly appreciated.

WORLD AIDS DAY

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The latest figures show that there are over 33 million people living with HIV and over half of them will die of AIDS before they are 35 years of age. A staggering 2.3 million children under 15 are infected. Although advances in treatment and HIV and AIDS Prevention have been made I have seen first-hand the destruction caused in Zambia, where every family, if not infected, is affected in some way. It is one the worst nations with one in six adults being HIV positive. There are 33,000 children infected with HIV and over 700,000 are orphaned as a result of the HIV and AIDS in Zambia pandemic.

World Aids Day: An HIV positive orphan sponsored by The Butterfly Tree

HIV and AIDS education is the key, particularly in developing countries. Providing educational workshops, helping to remove the stigma and voluntary testing is crucial. Unlike malaria HIV is slow to develop, therefore many do not take it seriously. Women are four times more likely to be infected then men, not only putting themselves at risk but also their unborm babies. For the past four years The Butterfly Tree has successfully run an under-fives feeding program in Zambia for HIV positvie mothers. This gives them the opportunity to replace breast milk with formula to prevent mother to child transmission of the virus. This method has proved to be very effective as all the children on this program since 2007 have been tested free of HIV. It also encourages more women to come forward and be tested.

Children free of HIV on the under-fives feeding program

In the UK there are over 90,000 reported cases of HIV, many more are undiagnosed. Understanding the facts of HIV, removing the stigma and knowing your status are essential motives to not only protecting your own health but to the well-being of those close to you. Today in recognition of World Aids Day our charity is funding a workshop in Mukuni Village.