Orphan Education Support - Zambian Villages

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.

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."

This month most of us will be frantically buying presents and getting ready for the Christmas festivities. The stores are stacked with merchandise, delicious food and an abundance of drink and yet we still struggle to find that special present with a difference. One way to overcome this problem is to give a charitable gift and there are many ways this can be done. Each year hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of unwanted presents get tossed in the trash - money, time and effort all spent in vain.

If you want to find a worthwhile present, which not only offers pleasure to both the giver and the recipient, but can benefit a third party who is less fortunate, then you may like to consider one of the following options: Sponsoring an orphan in Zambia will provide an education for a child, donating a mosquito net could save a child’s life or build a house to accommodate an entire family. There are many other ways to help the orphans – donate funds for a bicycle for a child who has to walk a long distance to school, donate funds for a bag of maize for just $15 or donate a blanket for the cold winter nights for only $23.

For most Zambians the highlight of their Christmas Day will be going to church, very few will have a celebratory meal or exchange presents. Two thirds of the population lives on less than one pound per day – their stress is not brought on from deciding what present to buy their family members, but whether they will have enough n’shima (ground maize), vegetables and ground nuts to feed the whole family. One young boy, just fifteen years of age, from Mukuni, recently tried to take his life because he could no longer cope with being constantly hungry. Please give this a thought when you are filling your shopping cart – for the price of that extra bottle of wine you can help a child in need.

Education is the key to making the change. Through the orphan support program we have given hundreds of orphans an education. Many had dropped out of school due to lack of funds and to date we have sponsored over 400 individual orphans. In addition thousands more have been helped in fifteen schools throughout the Mukuni and Musokotwane Chiefdoms. We have build classrooms for mainstream and special education, teacher’s house, latrines and supplied vast amounts of stationery and equipment. 

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree

Dear Friends of The Butterfly Tree,

During my recent visit to Zambia the nation’s general elections took place. With a change of government it is believed that Michael Sata, the new President, will increase aid to deprived areas and stamp out corruption. Although I never involve the charity in political matters, measures to improve health and education sectors need to be addressed. In the past five years I have seen a reduction in funding for  both rural schools and clinics, which have to rely more than ever on international aid for development. I came across a woman who had walked 37 kilometers, taking 13 hours, to reach Mukuni maternity clinic from Chuunga - she was nine months pregnant.

Thanks to substantial grant aid from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission we are in the final stages of completing three new rural schools. The villages of Silelo and Matengu in the Musokotwane Chiefdom had to rely on unskilled teachers operating in mud hut structers. It was amazing to see the transformation, each school has three classrooms, two teachers’ houses and latrines. The community participation had been impressive and once approved these schools expect to open in January 2012. A third school at Malima, in the Mukuni Chiefom, has been given the same funding with the addition of a bore hole.

The highlight of my entire trip was to see the Kamwi twins, who lost their mother and sister during childbirth. Vincent and Elvis celebrated their first birthday this month.  Last October, when I first set eyes on them, I feared they would not survive; they each weighed just over one kilo. At barely two weeks old they were sent to a remote village, after being discharged from hospital because they could offer them only water. I could not refuse to support to these helpless infants. For twelve months the charity has provided formula, clothing and blankets and all their requirements, while their grandmother has lovingly nurtured them. They have been tested free of HIV and both are happy and healthy and are testament to the vital role we play in these vulnerable communities.

October sees the start of the rains and many mud huts cannot stand up to the deluge. This is particularly hard for old people supporting orphans. In the past few months we have build an additional nine homes. Two of them have been donated by one of the volunteers, James Ashley, who helped construct the houses. Five of them were funded by ENRC marketing who have also funded a teacher’s house, HIV and AIDS prevention projects and the under five’s feeding program, which has also received support from Brady Italia. One home was donated by LSR Rotary Club, one by Aurora and the other through the Cyclothon Challenge.

I had the pleasure of working with a number of volunteers, Casey Short and Margaret Bax, from Oregon, returned for a third year to continue the goat’s milk project. Mutsa Marau, a young lady from London, is spending four months at Mukuni teaching peer education in HIV and AIDS prevention. Petteri Alppi a former UCL student from Finland has documented the work of The Butterfly Tree in addition to writing a much needed Maths and English Revision guide. Claire Richardson and Hannah Lainton spent time teaching business skills to women’s groups. I have been so impressed with their hard work and dedication and thank them for helping us to make a difference.

Sincerely,

Jane-Kaye Bailey

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree website
• Facebook - The Butterfly Tree Charity

We  have  just  received  our  figures  for  2010-­‐2011  and  I  am  delighted  to  say  that  we  have  raised  an amazing   £270,000   (US$445,000);   this   is   our   best   year   to   date.   All   the   money   has   gone   directly   into   our   grassroots   projects  in  Zambia.  Our  annual  report  and  accounts  will  shortly  be  circulated.Despite   a   quiet   start   to   the   new   financial   year   our   funds   have   had   a   great   boost   from   both   individuals   and   corporate   who   have   visited   Mukuni   Village   in   the   past   few   months.   Having   gone   to  the   village  as   part   of   a   cultural   tour,   many   took   the   opportunity   to   visit   The   Butterfly   Tree   projects.   Donations   of   blankets,   sports   balls,   stationery   and   clothing   have   helped   a   number   of   vulnerable   people.   Two   companies,   Brady   Italy   and   Canon   Australia   have   generously   offered   ongoing   support.   Others   came   in   individual   donations   and   orphan   sponsorship  from  the  UK,  US, Europe  and  Australia.

The  three  schools  we  are  currently  building,  two  in  the  Musokatwane  Chiefdom  and  one  in  Mukuni,  are well   under  way  and  should  all  be  completed  by  the  end  of  this  year  ready  to  open  in  January  2012.  This has  been   made  possible  thanks  to  grant  aid  from  Jersey  Overseas  Aid  Commission.  We  are  now  reaching out  to  fifteen   schools  in  the  Kazungula  District  in  addition  to  three  clinics  and  a  number  of  rural  villages.

Many   existing   donors   have   generously   continued   their   support   to   sponsor   orphans.   The   first   of   the   sponsored  orphans  have  now  completed  grade  twelve  and  our  aim  is  to  source  the  funds  so  they  can  go onto   further   education.   The   Mukuni   Village   Fund   in   South   Australia   is   now   sponsoring   fifty   orphans  through   The   Butterfly   Tree   program.   However   many   more   sponsors   are   needed.   Due   to   the   global   recession   and   lack   of   employment   in   these   outreach   villages   far   too   many   children,   even   those   with   parents,   have   failed   to   pay   their   school   fees.   We   have   increased   our   support   to   keep   them   in   school.   This   summer   we   have   seven   volunteers   who   are   working   at   the   Mukuni   schools   to   tackle   the   HIV/AIDS   problems   and   improve   the   education  standards  and  also  some  of  them will be working with women's groups.

This  month  I  was  invited  to  Zurich  to  receive  a  substantial  donation  from  ENRC  Marketing  AG.  Unknown  to  us   their   employees   had   held   a   fundraising   campaign   and   the   beneficiary   was   to   be   an   NGO   working   in   one   of   the   many   countries   where   their   company   operates.   After   sifting   through   hundreds  of   charitable   organisations,  amazingly  The  Butterfly  Tree  was  selected  for  having  the  best  record of  proven  transparency   and   for   the   fact   that   we   are   all   volunteers   both   in   the   UK   and   Zambia.   The   male   employees   had   to   grow   mustaches  and  beards,  all  the  staff  gave  generously with matched funding provided by ENRC's head office in  London.  This  was  an  amazing  achievement  especially  as  it  took only  one  month  from  concept  to  reaching   their   target.   The   funds   raised   totalled   US   $27,000   and will be used to build a teachers house at Mukuni   Village,   five   community   houses   for   orphans   in   the   Chiefdom  and   to   support   our   HIV/AIDS   programmes   for   children,  which  include  peer  education,  workshops  and feeding  programs.

Saga, whos charitable trust is one of our major donors, are  challenging  their  employees  to  raise  funds  to   build a  bore  hole  and  a  shelter  for  boarders  at  Mukuni  who  have  to  long  distances  to  walk  to  school.  This   means  that  they  can  remain  close  to  the  school  during  the  week  and  return  home  at  the  weekend.    

                                                     
Next  month,  after  winning  a  team  place,  we  are  to  participate  in  Cyclothon  UK,  a  cycle  challenge  initiated  by   Victor   Umbugu   of   VU   Ltd   and   former   England   rugby   prop.   The   event   is   to   be   held   at   Brands   Hatch   on   15th   September.  Our team, The Flying Butts, need your support.  Donations  would  be greatly  appreciated  and  can   be  sent  to  The  Butterfly  Tree,  3  Gannaway  Court,  Norton  Lindsey,  Warwick CV35  8JR  or  made  using  our  Just   Giving  webpage:  http://www.justgiving.com/clythothonuk.  If  you  are  in the area  any  time  during  the  day  or   from   4pm   onwards   when   the   excitement   reaches   a   peak,   please   go  and   support   the   team   and   see   many   of   the  International  Rugby  players  taking  part.  We  are grateful to  CRB  Solutions,  Academy  Leasing  and  Geddes   and  Associates  who  are  our  three  of  our  main  sponsors.

 
Thank   you   to   all   the   individuals,   corporate,   schools,   clubs,   volunteers   and   philanthropies   who   have   given   so   generously  to  our  grassroots  projects,  which  have  improved  the  lives  of  thousands  of  children and  vulnerable   communities  in  Zambia.                   

Warmest  regards,     

 
Jane Kaye-Bailey

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree website

• August 2011 Newsletter (PDF)