Hiv and Aids in Zambia | The Butterfly Tree Charity

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.

In a recent program the Big Give set up a scheme in schools to inspire the next generation of philanthropers, using the Dragon School in Oxford as a pilot. After researching 6000 charities on the site three were selectecd as the finalists. This is the email we received from the school ‘We have been engaged in a project to encourage philanthropy in schools via the Big Give, of all the 6000 charities on their site, I choose The Butterfly Tree because I really like the work that you are doing and I believe that you will spend the money in the right way’.

Philanthropy in Schools: Machenje pre-school children

This is just one of the many schools offering support to the charity. I recently spoke to my local village school, Wolverton Primary, for the fourth consecutive year. The interest they have shown in our projects and desire to learn about the orphans effected by HIV and Aids in Zambia is truly inspiring, the school also sponsor an orphan from Mukuni Village. Other schools to offer support are Fountaindale Special Education School, Farlingaye High School, Arden School, Marston Green Primary School, Monikie Primary School and Cromwell Junior School to name but a few.

Jube Musonda on The Butterfly Tree orphan sponsorship program

Education is not free in Zambia and it is important for children in western countries to realise how fortunate they are. Education is the key to improving the lives of African children without it there is little hope. There are a number of ways for schools to support The Butterfly Tree – by fundraising for a specific project, sponsor an orphan or through social networking such as Facebook. I recently submitted a story to Facebook, after learning that they are creating a new page, to highlight causes that have been enhanced through Social networking: ‘We liked your story so much that we’d like to feature it on a new page on Facebook we’re creating from people like you around the world’.

Join The Butterfly Tree Facebook Group