Healthcare in Zambia

Posted on November 14, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Many of us frequently complain about our National Health Service; after numerous visits to Zambia I really appreciate having this facility and no longer take it for granted. During my visitis to Mukuni Village I have come across countless situations where people are too sick to walk to a clinic, too poor to be able to afford transport to hospital or too broke to purchase a much needed perscription. Nothing however upset me more than the plight of two baby boys, Vincent and Elvis born last month.

The infants’ mother, from Kamwi Village, was seven months pregnant when she went for a routine check-up at Mukuni Maternity Clinic, funded by The Butterfly Tree. A simple test showed that she was suffering from anaemia and she was subsequently referred to Livingstone General Hospital. Two days later, having gone into premature labour, she died in child birth with one of the three triplets. Due to the lack of scanning equipment no one knew that she was expecting three babies. The distraught grandmother left the hospital leaving the medical staff to care for the two remaining baby boys. For twenty-four hours they were given only water until their father’s mother arrived taking them under her wings. Relying on ‘well-wishers’ she set about nurturing the two boys, each weighing just over one kilogram.

Mukuni Babies – Vincent

The infants were to remain in hospital for two months, however there was no formula available and no support on offer from social services. They were too small be be taken to an orphange. After two and a half weeks the infants, weighing only 1.4 and 1.6 kgs, were discharged! Having previously sent blankets and clothing, kindly knitted by Solihull Inner Wheel and mosquito nets and baby products donated by Mellors Chemist in Warwick, I went to visit these new arrivals at their rural home in Kamwi Village, some seven kilometres from Mukuni and twenty-three from the hospital. I learnt that the father was unemployed and that they had sufficient funds for just one week’s supply of formula and only two feeding bottles. I was reduced to tears when I saw these helpless infants with no mother, lying on their grandmother’s bed; it was heartbreaking and impossible for someone from the West to comprehend how little these people have. Pieces of torn material were being used for nappies, Lifebouy soap for washing them and only a minute paraffin flame to assist the grandmother during the night for their three hourly feeds.

Three weeks old – Elvis

Hence my shopping mission in Livingstone – nappies, feeding bottles, formula, brushes, clothing, blankets, baby products and Milton; all the things that we take for granted and have readily available when caring for newborn babies. To give the father a chance to support his sons the charity has donated a bicycle so that he can collect charcoal to sell in the village and has also given seeds to grow maize. The grandmother accepted money for food to keep up her strength. For the first time in two weeks I saw the father smile having been in complete shock after his tragic loss. The rainy season is under way, which increases the risk of diarrhoea, pneumonia and Africa malaria, so it is crucial that they are well protected.

Before I left Zambia I took them for a review at the hospital – Vincent’s weight had remained the same and his brother Elvis had gained, both now weighing in at 1.6 kilograms, but no loss! The nurse was very happy with their progress. The baby boys will now be put on The Butterfly Tree under-fives’ feeding program and have weekly check-ups at Mukuni Health Centre. These infants have a long way to go before they are out of danger, but I have no doubt that the father and grandmother will do everything they can to help them to survive.

August Newsletter

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

August is usually a quiet month for charities and fundraising, not so for The Butterfly Tree and Mukuni. I have just returned from a visit to Zambia and the development taking place in several of the schools is amazing. My first stop was to Kamwi, a village just five kilometres from Mukuni Village, but so underdeveloped that it could be fifty. As soon as I pulled up in my 4×4 Sylvia, the deputy head teacher said ‘Come quickly Jane your children are waiting for you’. As we turned the corner of our newly built classroom, the entire school members were waiting, holding banners – then the pupils broke into songs especially written to praise and thank The Butterfly Tree for the bore hole, the 1×2 classroom, the teacher’s house and the feeding program. I was overcome with emotion, tears filled my eyes as I listened to the children singing, knowing that this long awaited project was now complete, which will enable the school to upgrade, shortening the distance many pupils have to walk.

Pupils at Kamwi Basic School Classroom for Special Education

Driving some fifty kilometres north west of Mukuni took me to Siamasimbi, a very remote village, which gets cut off during the rainy season when the rivers are too full to cross. The main bridge was destroyed through flooding and sadly has not been repaired by the local authorities. Numerous members of the community were providing unskilled labour to help with the construction of a new classroom and teacher’s house we have funded; here these African children finish their education around fourteen years of age, soon they will have an extra two grades along with the feeding program we are have introduced. Mandandi, half way between Siamasimbi and Mukuni has no such luxury, there is no school! This month the construction of our first entirely new school is taking place, it should be completed for the start of the new term in September, along with the teacher’s house. To improve sanitation all these projects will have pit-latrines added.

Siamasimbi Community Participation Mandandi eagerly await new school

Machenje Village, another particularly poor village will have a new pre-school. Not leaving out Mukuni a 1×3 classroom block has been added for the over-crowded grades 8& 9 who currently have four pupils sharing a desk. This will also have two offices and storerooms. All these building projects have been made possible thanks to the grant aid from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission. In addition to this is a classroom for Special Education, kindly donated by The Besom. Children with physical disabilities can go into mainstrean school, now children with mental health problems or impaired vision and hearing can also go to school. The Butterfly Tree pre-school will also have an additional classroom to cope with the ever-increasing number of attendees, which has now reached over 250. This has kindly been donated in memory of Sandra Challenger, a former employee of Saga, whose charitable trust support our African malaria program. There are also six community houses being built for widows and orphans.

As always funds are needed for the Mukuni Health Centre for the HIV/AIDS in Zambia and malaria programs we support. A number of children have been sent to hospital for treatment and physiotherapy. We have just added a new water pump and paid for new pipework at the clinic. N’songwe Village will be able to open their community built clinic once the staff house we are funding has been constructed. With so few supplies from the government we have also sent out a shipment of medical supplies, some eighty boxes contain dressings, autoclaves and other equipment, besides clothes for the orphans and books and stationery for the schools.

Girls’ 100 metre sprint Jane presenting ‘Change for The Better’ CD

Mukuni Basic School played hosts for the Kazungula District Sports held over three days at the end of term. The Butterfly Tree provided food for the competitors and transport for pupils from outreach schools. Sport is an essential part of the schools’ curriculum; unfortunately the facilities are very poor with most of the playing fields being dirt tracks. I was shocked to learn that the volley ball that we purchased in Livingstone cost £23 ($34), the only one available locally. All the children ran in bare feet and very few had team shirts for the athletics or ball games. I saw several children collapse at the end of a race, possibly due to lack of food and fluid before they took part. Energy drinks, so commonly used for sporting activities in the west are rarely seen. Despite all the problems the standard was excellent and many Mukuni pupils will go through to represent the Kazungula District in the Southern Province’s competition. I am delighted to say that some of the competitors on on our orphan sponsorship program, proving once again the importance of being able to receive an all round education.

Jane Kaye-Bailey

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Philanthropy in Schools

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

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’.

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Mukuni Village Tourists

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and one of the most stunning sites in Africa. Mukuni Village is just seven kilometres from this World Heritage site, a place of worship for the local Leya people. The forthcoming Lwiindi ceremony is celebrated by these indiginous people who call the falls ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit this wondrous site, staying at luxury hotels such as the Royal Livingstone and the Zambezi Sun, both owned by Sun International and for a taste of Africa, Stanley Safari Lodge or the Tongabezi Lodge. All of these companies are supporting the charityand the village.

Mukuni Village tourists: 3 young girls from the Leya tribe of the Mukuni Chiefdom

While visiting the area there is an option to take a cultural tour to Mukuni, to see the tribal people in their natural surroundings. Over the past four years The Butterfly Tree has received a substantial number of donations from tourists who have been moved by the plight of these people and inspired by the work of the charity. The Butterfly Tree team are able to give a guidied tour of Mukuni, showing them our many projects, the school children at work and the clinic in action, ending with a chance to purchase curios from the market.

Mukuni orphans receive tourists’ donations

After visiting the village there are many ways in which the tourist can get involved and become a philanthropic traveller. Either by a giving a one off donation towards a project, offering on going support or the most popular choice is to sponsor an orphan. Many of the orphans are on the orphan sponsorship program thanks to the generosity of tourists who have visited Mukuni. There is also the opportunity to return as a volunteer, something that several people have experienced and many wish to return. Saga guests include a visit to our projects as part of their itinerary and these tours have been extremely fruitful. For our American philanthropers there is now an opportunity to donate through GlobalGiving US, an organisation that helps non-profits to obtain US donations using a 501 (c) 3 certificate.

Volunteers at Mukuni

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

In the past twelve months we have been inudated with requests from people who want to volunteer at Mukuni. My son, Mike and his friend Lucy have just returned after spending two weeks working on The Butterfly Tree projects. Mike as a member of the charity, was able to check on our projects and visit several of the outreach schools where building construction is underway. The 1×3 classroom block at Kamwi Basic School is almost complete and a teacher’s house is currently being built; with the addition of a bore hole and feeding program, the children of this very poor, remote village will have a chance to improve their situation.

Volunteers at Mukuni: Lucy working at the pre-school Mike visiting lions at ‘Mukuni Big Five’

A visit to Siamasimbi was also included now that the rains are over and the village is again accessible. Mike spoke to the entire community who rejoiced when he announced that the charity is to build a 1×2 classroom block and a teacher’s house for the school. At Mukuni massive construction is underway – a 1×3 classroom block for grades eight and nine, a classroom for special education and an additional one for The Butterfly Tree pre-school. It was here were Lucy spent most of her days as a volunteer, teaching English to the young African children. With some of the funds she and Mike raised, three schools were presented with exercise books, pens and educational material.

New classrooms for Kamwi Basic School & Special Education at Mukuni

The remainder of the funds raised by Mike and Nigel Birch through their sponsored cycle, were used to set up a goat-rearing project for women. Half the profits will be used to create a self-sustaining income and the other half will be offered to help the disabled people of Mukuni Village. There is always an opportunity for volunteers to help either at the school, clinic or work on a community project so long as they fund their own travel and accommodation. Not only is there the opportunity to help these vulnerable people, it is an amazing place to visit. The village is just 7 kilometres from one of the most spectacular areas in Africa, the magnificnet Victoria Falls. We can give advice on where to stay, transportation and make the arrangements to work with the ground team. All we ask in return is for the volunteers to do some fundrasing or give a donation to a project of their choice. Many of these volunteers have expressed a wish to return to Mukuni or get involed with The Butterfly Tree charity. Some of them sponsor an orphan and others have donated generously. If you would like to find more about the chance to volunteer please contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Feeding Programs at Mukuni

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

Although the area where The Butterfly Tree works is not an area of famine there is a great deal of hunger, particularly amongst the children who have to walk a considerable distance to school. Leaving home at 4am, covering a distance of ten miles to reach school for start of lessons at 7am is not an easy task. This is to be followed by a full morning of lessons so by noon their stomachs are rumbling ferociously. For the lucky ones they will have brought food to school or been given money to buy something at the Mukuni Village market; for the less fortunate no food is available until after the return journey to their village.

Since 2006 The Butterfly has provided a nutritional feeding program, generously sponsored by Cunninghams for almost 500 vulnerable pupils at Mukuni Village. This year thanks to the generosity of Karen Lytle, a philanthropic traveler from Arizona four other schools, N’gandu, Kamwi, Siamasimbi and Katapazi have their own feeding programs. Mubiana Community School has also received funds donated by Placer Nature Centre. All of these schools, along with Mukuni, have been given seeds to grow their own vegetables to add sustainability. This year most of them had good crops of maize, the staple diet of Zambia. The maize has been dried, ground and stored for use during the dry season, now they are planting vegetables to support the feeding programs.

Feeding programs: Katapazi and Mukuni – two of the schools that grow their own maize

These feeding programs are essential, without them both attendence and performance is poor. We are encouring all the schools to become sustainable, each of them has been given a bore hole to support this program, the last to be completed is at Kamwi Basic School. This is a great boost for the schools, especially during the dry season when it is normal to go six months without rain. Once again we are grateful to Just a Drop for providing the funds for our water projects. Seeing fresh, clean water pumping from underground gives much joy to the communities and a healthier option than using rivers and streams contaminated with bacteria.

New bore hole & Indian hand pump for Kamwi Basic School

Both the feeding programs and water projects have made a substantial ‘Change for the Better’.

Fundraising for Mukuni

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

One of the great things about running a charity to help orphans is the enormous amount of interest and support it attracts. Now that we have been operating for over four year and have been able to achieve a great deal, we are getting a considerable amount of offers from individuals, schools and churches who genuinely want to help us make a difference. Besides collecting donations, they are doing their own fundraising activities to assit our programs in communities such as Mukuni.

On the 2nd May Mike Kaye and Nigel Birch set off at 06.00, from London’s Trafalgar Square, to cycle 165 miles to Nottingham. Much of their journey was cycling in torrential rain, facing north-easterly winds with temperatures barely reaching eight degrees. An arduous challenge to complete in one day. At 22.10 they finally arrived at Escucha in Nottingham to down a few well deserved pints! Mike is now on his way to Zambia with Lucy Machin to volunteer at Mukuni Village, the funds raised will be used for sport and educational materials. Later this month Jake Wilson-Gunn and Andrew Mottram will be cycling from Lands End to John O’ Groats. Others have done sponsored walks, swims and the iron-man challenge. Several schools have raised funds to sponsor an orphan and supplied bicyles for children in outreach villages to travel to Mukuni schools. Several churches have donated their collections to buy educational materials as well as supporting the orphan sponsorship program.

Fundraising for Mukuni: Mike & Nige cycled 165 miles from London to Nottingham

The local Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs have also been a great support, particulary building hokmes for the vulnerable. This month Basement Entertainment and the UK Zambian community held a fundraising event in London, where our charity song ‘Change for the Better’ was launched to increase global awareness and raise funds for our malaria program. One new fundrasing initiative we have started is to collect empty ink cartridges and old mobile phones for recycling. Empty Cartridges will provide a pre-paid envelope with The Butterfly Tree logo for you to send to them for recycling; in return they will donate to the charity for every item received. Any amount, however small or whichever way you chose to help, can improve the health and education of the those less fortunate in Zambia.

Donated bicycles for long distance travel New home for widow with orphans

If anyone is interested in doing a challenge or an event, it need not be as strenous as a marathon or a cycle ride, a sponsored walk or simply making cakes as Lucy did and raised almost £100 by selling them to her office colleagues! We can provide you with advertising material, sponsorship forms and suggest ideas. The Butterfly Tree team is very grateful to all those generous people who have already participated and especially to the ones who are offering on going support.

Change for the Better

Posted on April 2, 2010 by Jane Kaye-Bailey

It is now four years since I started working at Mukuni Village and three years since the founding of The Butterfly Tree. What began as a project to help a few orphans and to raise funds to build a high school at Mukuni has surpassed any expectations I may have had. Little did I know that The Butterfly Tree would grow and grow, attracting global support from Hawaii to Australia or that we would be sponsoring almost 300 orphans, supporting eleven schools, three clinics and reaching out to a population in excess of twenty thousand.

Change for the Better: The Butterfly Tree orphan sponsorship Program

This year we have received enormous funding which has enabled us to expand our health and education projects, constructing classrooms to upgrade schools will be our main focus. Amongst them will be the opening of a new school at Mandandi, a pre-school at Machenje and a special education classroom at Mukuni Basic School. Education is the key and the only way for the people to overcome the hardships caused through the HIV/AIDS pandemic and Africa malaria, the biggest killer of man. These two devasting diseases cause so much destruction at every level, from remote village communities to goverment officers. We are undertaking a massive appeal to mark World Malaria Day on the 25th April to promote global awarenss and raise funds for this vital cause.

Mosquito nets are needed to protect young children like this girl from Mukuni

To assist Zambia in the global fight against malaria The Butterfly Tree is launching a charity song, entitled ‘Change for the Better’. This is performed by Zambia’s top artist TY2 accompanied by Crystal Shaun, George Mukwita and Lillian Mweene from Mukuni who was on The Butterfly Tree orphan sponsorship program. We have teamed up with Basement Entertainment to promote and market the song, which will be available to purchase on both websites. All the proceeds collected will be used to purchase mosquito nets and malaria testing kits. Next week a pre-order form will be added so please support this appeal, which could save the lives of thousands of young children. In four years The Butterly Tree has made many Changes for the Better – your support will help to make many, make more.