Happy New Year

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

2015 has been a year of considerable development for The Butterfly Tree and our rural communities in Zambia, most especially the national launch of the new malaria prevention project. Below are images showing some of this years achievements.

New Malaria Prevention initiative for Zambia

One of two women’s shelters – Singwamba

Ndele Primary School – 1×2 classroom block

N’gandu Junior School – 3 classrooms, 2 teacher’s houses and latrines

Singwamba School – 2 classrooms and latrines

Muchambile School – further educational development

82 global volunteers – including World Challenge and JOAC

School Bore Holes – Bunsanga, Siachakubi and Simsimuku

School in a Bag Partnership – River View School

Sustainable feeding programmes for 15 schools

Manchester United donate 500 football shirts to N’gandu School

5 Houses for elderly and widows looking after orphans

One of two sponsored students to complete teacher’s training courses

Kamwi Twins reach their 5th birthday

Thank you to everyone who has helped to make these developments possible. Wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year!

Development News from Zambia

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

In January it will be ten years since I first stepped foot on Zambian soil. Little did I know that the country and its people would play such an important role in my life, that I would gain first hand and often heartbreaking insights into how people in remote areas cope with extreme poverty. This has enabled me to convey to you what is really happening on the ground and to continue our vital work to help these vulnerable people.

Two thirds of Zambians live on less than £1 per day

We have made tremendous progress in many areas, most especially by adding bore holes to schools, most recently to Siachabuki and Simuka. With the prolonged drought, which has caused considerable food shortages through the Southern Province, bore holes are essential, not only to provide safe drinking water, but also to enable irrigation for school gardens. This year thanks to a generous donation from Jane Keil and her family in Australia, fourteen schools are to receive seeds and fertilizers to develop sustainable feeding programmes.

New bore hole and hand pump – Siachakubi School

During my visit we hosted a wonderful group of donors from Attraction Tickets Direct. Their substantial donations have provided funds to expand Nampuyani, Singawamba and Kauwe Schools. The group brought with them vast amounts of school supplies and equipment.

Ollie Brendon and Attraction Tickets Direct Group – Singwamba School

One of the highlights of my trip was to distribute almost 500 football shirts, generously donated by Manchester United and organised by one of JOAC’s volunteers. Every pupil at N’gandu School received a shirt along with other items donated by JOAC. The school development at N’gandu is almost complete with the addition of a 1×3 classroom block, two teachers’ houses and latrines. This was funded by a grant from JOAC Community Works Projects.

Manchester United Donation – N’gandu School

Other schools that recently received funding are River View, who were given desks and text books. This school was also chosen as a beneficiary for a new project with our partners ‘School in a Bag’. 100 pupils received school bags containing all their educational needs. Kasiya School has new latrines, a teacher’s house has been restored at Kamwi and a new 1×2 classroom block at N’dele funded by BFSS. We are reaching out to 29 schools in four Chiefdoms.

School in Bag Partnership – River View School

So much development has taken place these past few months that I am going to write a separate post on our health projects. In the meantime to raise further funds for the projects, we are once again selling charity calendars. The cost is £5 per calendar, plus postage. In addition Manchester United has donated David de Gea’s kit from the pre-season tour, which we are currently auctioning. If you would like to place a bid or buy a calendar please contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Charity Annual Report 2014-15

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Chair’s Report…

2014–15 has been an extremely successful year for The Butterfly Tree, with donations and grant aid increasing by 30%. We gained many new donors and have reached out to several new schools and communities. I am astounded by the continued support from our loyal donors, volunteers and fundraisers, who have generously donated money and free time to help us continue this vital work. The grass root projects, which include education advancements, bore holes and improved healthcare, have also continued to grow. Our exciting new malaria prevention project is shortly to be launched.

Please follow the link to view the full Annual Report, Photos and Accounts: Annual Report 14-15

JANE WITH MICHAEL DAVID – NAMED AFTER HER TWO SONS

For the past twelve months we have been working with Vectorcide (a UK company), the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Zambian Malaria Control Centre and the Ministry of Health, to introduce two innovative malaria prevention methods that are perceived to be the most superior products currently available globally. This is a huge opportunity for us and most humbling to know that we have the potential to help save thousands of lives. The first distribution will be going to the Mukuni Chiefdom in July. In addition we received a donation of repellent t-shirts that offer a further form of protection.

KAMWI TWINS, VINCENT & ELVIS NEED PROTECTION FROM MALARIA

Over the years we have gained a sound reputation for transparency and for getting the job done! When in Zambia I drive to all the villages we are supporting. Sometimes it can be hazardous, but this way I am able to report first hand the remakable difference The Butterfly Tree is making. Earlier this year we received a substantial grant to develop N’gandu School, which dates back to 1947, and is in dire need of expansion. Further grant aid enabled us to expand N’dele School, a substantial donation paid for extensive development at Nampuyani School and one for restoration at Manyemuyemu.

NAMPUYANI SCHOOL EXPANSION

We continue to sponsor the education of orphans in several schools. We are extremely grateful for the on going support from our many sponsors, some joining us way back in 2006. Personally I believe one of our greatest achievements is to see former sponsored pupils attending teacher’s training college and other further education establishments. Three of them have returned to Mukuni to do work experience at the school. Others are studying agriculture and engineering, some are volunteering in schools and clinics, while others have sought employment.

Volunteers & Fundraisers Galore!

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

For the past few years the number of volunteers we receive in Zambia has increased considerably. During the next eight weeks some fifty people will be volunteering at Mukuni, N’gandu and Kamwi Schools in the Mukuni Chiefdom. Recently Chris and Kiara, two HandsUpHoliday clients, staying at The Royal Livingstone Hotel, have funded and built a community house for a widow with orphans.

Volunteers build a community house at Mukunui

This month will see four schools groups partaking in volunteering. Tring School, through World Challenge, has generously donated funds to build a school shop and restore the old classrooms at Kamwi. While Outlook Expeditions are sending school groups from Gyfum Emlyn and Longbridge in Wales, to build four community houses at Mukuni, they will also assist in the classrooms.

Pupils at Kamwi School

In August we welcome the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission Community Works volunteers. A Grant has been given by the commission to expand N’gandu School, which will benefit greatly fwith the addition of a 1×3 classroom block, two teacher’s house and latrines. The groups will be staying for three weeks and will camp at the school. Also in August Muze Trust will send two volunteers to offer music workshops for young people in Mukuni.

N’gandu school built in 1947 undergoing expansion

We also have a number of fundraisers who are currently supporting our cause – Alison Adams, a Scottish teacher, is raising funds for a much needed special education unit at Kauwe School. On August 1st Alison will be undertaking the National Three Peakes Challenge. Faris Alwan and Rebecca Hodgson aim to raise a substantial amount of funds for housing projects. Claudia Emmanuel is raising funds on her birthday for a community house. Errina Foley-Fisher is raising money for a bore hole and will volunteer later in the year. Several medical students will be helping at the clinics and once again we welcome Sydney University students at the end of the year.

Kauwe School in need of special education unit

The Butterfly Tree teams both in the UK and Zambia are made up entirely by volunteers, having these extra volunteers not only offers financial support but expertise as well. We are so grateful to all these generous people, who give up their free time to offer invaluable support to both The Butterfly Tree and the local Zambian communities. In return this can be a life-changing experience for all participants. If you would like to volunteer, fundraise or donate to one of our causes click on this link or contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk or carolyn@thebutterflytree.org.uk for volunteer work.

Donors and Volunteers

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

With the holiday season in full swing August in generally a quiet month for charities. However I am pleased to report that The Butterfly Tree is having a great month, funds are being boosted thanks to new and existing donors, fundraisers from church members to students raising money for the charity and volunteers are heading out to Zambia. Once again the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission has offered substantial support in the form of a Community Work Project to develop Ng’andu Basic School. This school was built in the early 1940’s and apart from the charity restoring classrooms and adding a bore hole and teacher’s houses very little else has been done. JOAC volunteers will assist in the construction of a new 1×3 classroom block, two teachers’ houses and latrines in May 2015.

Ng’andu Basic School to be upgraded

Cunninghams, another of our long term donors,continues to support a feeding programme at Mukuni Comprehensive school for 400 pupils and 50 boarders. As part of our malaria prevention campaign to help the fight against malaria, New Textiles Portugal has donated over 100 insect repellent t-shirts to distribute amongst children in areas where we have seen an increase in new cases of malaria.

Malaria Prevention and Early Testing are Vital in the Fight Against Malara

This year we have seen an increase in volunteering in Zambia. Most recently from the US Hanna Cohen and her two daughters helped at the Mukuni schools and raised funds towards a borehole. Neysa Murphy and Wiremu Sutherland from New Zealand assisted the NASAAZ interschools’ Drama, Poetry and Choirs competitions and have since offered financial support for the Festival and will set up a scholarship for talented performers. Currently three Enactus students from Sheffield University are initiating WASHcoms and soap-making projects at Ng’andu, Kamwi and Kasiya Schools to improve the water supply and hygiene standards.

Traditional Dancers compete at the NAASAZ Festival

Other donations have included invaluable blood pressure monitors from Medisave for Mukuni Health Centre and three large boxes of football strips from York City Football Club. These will be shared amongst the Mukuni United Football Club, who are presently top of their league and a number of rural schools. We are very grateful to all our supporters who provide vital funds and supplies to help with our projects in remote areas of Zambia.

A home made football – Chise Village

There are many ways you can help The Butterfly Tree, through fundraising or volunteering. If you would like any further information please click on this link to contact us.

May 2014 Newsletter

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The Butterfly Tree has been given a licence to import two safe new malaria prevention products which could potentially save the lives of thousands of children in Zambia. The products Mozzimort and Larvamort, produced by Biotech International can not only help to prevent malaria but also river blindness (Onchocerciasis), also known as Robles disease, which is caused by a black fly. One in ten people suffer from this condition in the Northern and Western Provinces of Zambia and up until now there have been no preventative methods available.

This project dominated my three weeks in Zambia. With the assistance of Stain Musungaila, a local volunteer for The Butterfly Tree and his invaluable contacts, we presented the data to the Ministry of Health’s Enviormental Agency, the Food and Drugs Department and the Malaria Control Board. The products have been approved and we are being granted licencing for the importation, storage, transport and distribution, which will last for three years.

River blindness is prevelant where in areas of fast-flowing rivers

Sadly there has been a huge increase in the number of new cases of malaria in the region. Mukuni Chiefdom alone has reported over 200 new cases, in the past three years the number has been less than five. This has been caused by a number of factors – lack of insecticidal spraying, insufficient mosquito nets and prolonged heavy rains. Other clincis in the Kazungula District have reported a simular picture, which has created a great deal of concern. Our aim is to get these new products rolling before the onset of rains in November.

New case of malaria – young boy at Simango Rural Health Centre

With all the excitement created with the malaria prevention project I still had time to visit many other of our projects, most importantly that of water and sanitiation. Accompnied by James Baldwin and Peter Marsh, two civil engineers from our partners Just a Drop, we addressed the situation. To date we have installed some fifteen bore holes in rural schools and villages, but there are many more areas of need, one of those being Nampuyani where school children are drinking our of shallow wells shared by domestic animals. This causes diarrhoal disease, therefore we intend to add a bore hole and VIP latrines for the school.

Drinking water – pupils at Nampuyani Community School

During my stay I had the pleasure of meeting the Larsgard family from Norway, who have been supporting our orphan sponsorship program for the past five years. They came to Mukuni Village and were introduced to seven of the ten orphans they are sponsoring. As always the sponsor an orphan program plays a vital roll in our work to create sustainable futures for the communities. Some three hundred individual children are currently being sponsored and five students are partaking in further education. We are introducing a workshop to teach skills for those for are unable to seek employment.

Thore, Marie, Peter and Gro Larsgard – generous donors from Norway

On the 7th and 8th May William Anderson and twelve of his former school friends, celebrating their 50th birthday year, spent two days volunteering for The Butterfly Tree. They had raised funds to built four community houses for widows looking after orphans. In addition they played sport with the children and donated educational supplies and clothing. William, the creative Director of The Team Works mentored grade 12 pupils and schools leavers.

William Anderson and his volunteers from the UK, Zambia and Australia

As always it was both a rewarding and humbling experience visiting the many schools and villages we support. Once the new malaria prevention project takes off we aim to reach out to thousands more communites to prevent the dehabilitating malaria and Roble diseases.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

Founder

Orphan Support Needed

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

All the work of The Butterfly Tree is aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable and orphaned children. Since the charity started we have helped thousands of children in remote villages but many more are suffering as a result of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, poverty and malaria.

Orphan Support – River View Basic School Pupils

During the build up to Christmas we are increasing our efforts to raise further funds and there are two ways you can help:

Double your donation – Through the Big Give Challenge (5-7th Dec)
Buy a charity calendar – All funds go directly to the cause.

Double Your Donation

December is the time to donate to The Butterfly Tree as if you donate via The Big Give Challenge we can double your donation.

How does it work?

Between the 5th to 7th December we need to raise £10,000 via The Big Give – if we reach this amount during that period our donations will be doubled to £20,000 – so we need your help.

When – 10am or as close to 10am as possible on the 5th, 6th, 7th December – as the donations close once an amount is reached.
Where – to The Butterfly Tree’s ‘Orphan Support’ project on the Big Give website
How – on line using a credit or debit card on the Big Give website

If you would like us to keep you posted re The Big Give Challenge and when to donate drop us an email: jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Charity Calendar

To highlight our work during the year and raise funds once again we have produced our lovely desk top calendar – on sale at just £4 plus postage.

The calendar is designed by Morphity Ltd and each page is sponsored, enabling all printing costs to be covered and all proceeds raised from buying a calendar go directly to the cause.

Big thank you to the following companies for their generous sponsorship:

Cunninghams – Epos Cash Registers
Morphity – Website and Systems Development
Saga
LCR Systems – Epos and Pos Systems
Casio UK
Executive Futures – Recruitment Consultants
Accountax
The Fell Group
INTL Global Currencies
Debt Clear Assoc – Debt Recovery Specialist and Insolvency Consultant
Black and White Accounting
Traditional Conservatories – Conservatories, Orangeries and Bespoke Joinery

To purchase the calendar follow this link to buy online or email jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Orphans Update

Joshua Muumba was so young when he lost his parents that he cannot remember them. Sent to Mukuni from the Western Province Joshua lives with his grandmother who struggled to pay his schools fees. For the past few years Joshua has been on the orphan sponsorship programme and is presently sitting grade nine exams for entry to Mukuni High School. Though Joshua is not highly academic he has excelled in music and leads the Mukuni Basic Choir as a skilled singer, songwriter and conductor. Providing these orphans with an education gives them hope for a better future.

Orphan Sponsorship – Joshua Muumba sponsored by The Butterfly Tree

Currently volunteering in Zambia to help with the orphans are Emma Kennedy and Jess Varley, who recently completed a 50 kilometres sponsored walk from Mukuni to Zwanga Village and back. This is a route that children walk daily to receive an education. Doing this challenging walk in the Zambian heat Emma and Jess have raised substantial funds for our projects.

Last week one of our main volunteers, Mutsa Marau, arrived in Zambia to continue her ‘Catch me I’m a Butterfly Tree” project which provides peer education for HIV prevention – an invaluable part of our work with orphans. In addition Mutsa will be holding sex education workshops in an attempt to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies.

an Emma and Jess after completing their 50 kilometres walk

There are lots of ways to help The ButterflyTree and every pound donated makes a difference to the lives of those in need in Zambia.

Orphan Sponsorship in Zambia

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

It is difficult to comprehend the scale of the decimation caused by the HIV and AIDS pandemic in Zambia. With a population of barely more than 14 million the nation has over 700,000 orphans, primarily as a result of HIV and AIDS. Virtually all of the Butterfly Tree’s work revolves around the orphans and we strive to give them hope for a better future. Our aim is to provide a sound, basic education for as many rural children as funds permit. It is not possible for every child to be accepted on our orphan sponsorship program as there are so many, but we can help in other ways by improving the education facilities in these remote schools and helping them to generate sustainability.

Twin brothers Siakuba and Aaron sponsored orphans

Creating global awareness is paramount – the poverty levels are extreme. Under normal circumstances Zambian families can support themselves by living a simple lifestyle, but when they have the addition of several orphans to feed and educate they are pushed below the poverty line. Two thirds of the entire nation lives on less than £1 ($1.5) per day. Our aim is to develop sustainability in rural schools and communities so that every orphan has a chance to be educated.

Every child has a right to be educated

We have many people helping us to achieve this through fundraising, sponsorship and volunteering. Last month we welcomed Thomas Mills High School, whose pupils raised funds to build a sustainable school shop for Mukuni Basic School. Camping out in the classrooms, two groups totalling thirty pupils from Suffolk, set about building the facility, which will be used to make and sell uniforms as well as school supplies. Students assisted in the classrooms and participated in creative activities and on the sports ground. Furthermore in July we had Kayleigh Blake and Vicky Higgs, two UK volunteers, assisting at Mukuni Basic School, as well as Saga Volunteer Travellers Gill Waterton and Richard Reid, who have also just completed a month’s volunteering. Their support and generosity was invaluable to grades seven and nine who will be sitting exams later in the year.

Students form Thomas Mills High School

While it is essential for these vulnerable children to complete their education it is not always possible to seek employment once they leave school. Mukuni Village is close to the mighty Victoria Falls, a major tourist destination, but there are not enough jobs for everyone and unemployment is high. To take advantage of the surroundings and the abundance of visitors to the area we are initiating an Ecotourism project. In July I visited Zambia with Jonathan Sedo, an Ecotourism consultant from Costa Rica, who is submitting a project plan to The Butterfly Tree. Volunteer, Emma Kennedy, an International Development student will assist with the initial stages of the project. This is a great opportunity for Mukuni orphans and school leavers to be involved in an income-generating enterprise.

School leavers with Jonathan Sedo learning about Ecotourism

The orphan sponsorship program has been running since 2006, many of the children have now reached high school, some have already completed school whilst others are just starting. We have extended the program to help children in the following schools: Mukuni, N’gandu, Kamwi, Siamasimbi and Ndele and many more need help. If you would like to sponsor an orphan please click on the link.

Travel to Zambia

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

This is the time of year when people are seeking travel options and looking for warmer climates to escape the long British winter. As always we have received a number of volunteer requests to assist our projects in Zambia. Most recently from The TeamWorks who are raising funds to build community houses in Mukuni. Not everyone can spare the time to participate in volunteering, a much easier and less time consuming option is to be a travel philanthroper. This means adding a couple of hours to your itinerary to visit a charity project in the area of your travels.

Travel to Zambia: Victoria Falls – during the dry season

Where we work is close to the mighty Victoria Falls and Botswana’s Chobe National Park. There is an abundance of things to do in the region with a good selection of hotels, including Sun International’s The Royal Livingstone and the Zambezi Sun, as well as accommodation for backpackers like JollyBoys in Livingstone. Many tourists have visited our projects in Mukuni Village and said it was the highlight of their entire trip. Zambia is rapidly developing in tourism, which we hope will benefit the rural communities and most especially the orphans seeking employment on completion of school or college. We aim to involve these young people in sustainable Ecotourism so that they can protect their environment as well as earn an income to support their families.

Visiting a rural village can result in a life-changing experience

We have generated a vast amount of income through our travel philanthropy program, most especially through Saga Travel. Others have sponsored an orphan, donated money or funded a bore hole after visiting our projects. Business incentive groups have offered ongoing support, most mentionable is Brady Italia and Cunninghams. We engage our donors and give regular feedback, showing that the money has gone directly into grass roots projects with no administration costs being deducted. We have a number of options, whereby individuals, groups or businesses can sponsor a specific project, these include constructing houses, building classrooms or funding school feeding programs and of course visiting our work in Zambia.

Traveller’s funds have built classrooms for this pre-school at Mukuni

Thank you to many of our existing donors who have offered to sponsor another orphan or increase their funding after reading my last post on this website.

Volunteering at Mukuni

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

The Butterfly Tree is a charity and not a volunteer business. However we do allow dedicated and committed people to volunteer for the charity at Mukuni Village, seven kilometres from the mighty Victoria Falls. Unlike businesses there is no charge for this opportunity though we do ask participants if they would like to give a donation to one of our many projects or take with them to Zambia items for the school or clinic. Over the past four years we have had a number of people from all walks of life who have made a substantial contribution, which has helped both the charity and the community in Mukuni. These include students, individuals and professionals from the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and Finland.

Volunteering at Mukuni: James from the UK and Petteri from Finland

This is how it works – we are very flexible as you will be independent, though you will be working alongside a teacher, medical officer or a member of the team. There is no time scale so you may stay as long as you wish. If you are interested in working at both the clinic and the school we suggest you help at the clinic in the mornings and school in the afternoons. Please note that the schools are closed for the Christmas break during much of December, a month at Easter and for the month of August. There is also the opportunity to assist with community-based projects such as constructing houses, painting classrooms, holding workshops or working with women’s groups.

Wendy, an accountant, gave advice to women on income-generating enterprises

There are no facilities or accommodation available in Mukuni therefore we recommend that you stay in Livingstone at either of the backpackers places: Fawlty Towers or Jolly Boys or Chanter Lodge if you want somewhere reasonably priced. For those seeking a more up market type of accommodation our partners Sun International have two hotels next to the Victoria Falls and Stanley Safari Lodge half way between the Falls and Mukuni. These arrangements along with flights will be your responsibility. To get to the village you can either take the local bus, which changes at the Victoria Falls and takes about an hour – it’s around £3 or £4 return or you can do a deal with a local taxi to take you for around £15 return. Zambia is very safe compared to most countries and the local people are extremely humble, friendly and obliging.

Mutsa from London spent four months teaching peer education for HIV Prevention

All volunteers have loved this life-changing experience vowing to return and many have joined our cause to help improve the lives of these vulnerable people. Besides working with the charity the area has an abundance of activities including safaris, white water rafting, elephant-back riding and micro-liting over the Victoria Falls. It is also close to the Botswana border where some of the best game in Africa can be seen at Chobe National Park. If you would like to volunteer for The Butterfly Tree please send an email to jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

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