INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY - 8th September
To help improve literacy levels in Zambia The Butterfly Tree has developed 13 new schools, advanced a further 40 schools and provided textbooks and support to over 60 rural schools in the Kazungula and Livingstone Districts of Zambia. Many thousands of orphans and vulnerable children, living in remote areas, have access to sound education.
Next week we are to start construction on a 1x3 classroom block at Musokotwane Secondary School and a 1x2 classroom block at Katubya Primary School.
I am delighted to receive an award for the best Youth Education Non-profit Organisation for 2023-24 on behalf of The Butterfly Tree. Thank you to the London & South East England Prestige Awards. In the past three years we have won three Prestige Awards.
2022 - We were voted the best HIV prevention charity of the year for the Central England Prestige Awards
2021 - The Butterfly Tree was selected as the best orphan charity of the year for the Central England Prestige Awards.
I dedicate this year’s awards to all the youths who have been on our orphan sponsorship programme and completed high school, college, or university. They embraced the challenge and succeeded. Many have since sort employment.
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After reporting that 2022-23 was a highly successful year for The Butterfly Tree I am pleased to say that this year, so far, is going exceptionally well. More schools are being developed or expanded and orphans that have been supported by the charity from an early age have gained employment.
Two community schools, Malombe and Katubya in the Kazungula District of Zambia, had only mud and pole constructions. Neither had access to safe water. Malombe now has a 1x2 classroom block and a borehole (well). The construction was built by two skilled builders who was sponsored by the charity. This week a borehole was installed at Katubya and construction of a 1x3 classroom block will commence this month.
Two secondary schools, River View and Musokotwane, that were developed by the charity are to receive additional support due to the increase in pupil numbers. River View now has in excess of 1,700 pupils from early learning to grade 12. The Ministry of Education is splitting the primary and secondary to make two schools, each will have their own head teacher. We are about to construct a 1x3 classroom block for the secondary section, this will also be built be our trained youths.
More young people under sponsorship have recently completed skill courses. The courses included hotel management, catering, forward and clearing, and building. One of the young men on the building course was awarded 'student of the year.' He will shortly join the team at River View to gain experience.
During a recent recruitment by the Zambian army eight young people who were sponsored by The Butterfly Tree have been enrolled. This is quite rare for an orphan or vulnerable person from a rural village to be selected.
The special education class at Mukuni had a treat when a donor offered to fund a party for them. A cake, sodas and biscuits were given out and the children danced to music. There are 27 children in the class, and each has been given a school jersey as it is currently winter season in Zambia.
Our sincere thanks to all our donros who continue to support this worthwhile project which is helping to change lives for the better.
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Last week I returned to the UK after spending three weeks in Zambia checking on our many projects and sourcing new ones. I find it hard to believe it is now over seventeen years since I first visited Mukuni Village. Starting with an orphan sponsorship programme The Butterfly Tree branches have grown significantly. We have projects throughout the Kazungula District as well as Livingstone and Zimba Districts.
Today we are building entire schools, health posts and community houses. We install boreholes and water reticulation systems, and sanitation for remote schools and communities. We provide support for HIV prevention and Girls’ Empowerment and initiate sustainable income-generating enterprises for women and youths. We help the global fight against malaria.
None of this could have been achieved without the generous support of our donors, some have been donating since 2006. The money we raise comes from grant aid, trusts, individuals, corporate, schools, clubs and other organisations. Every donation we receive, whether it be big or small counts, and helps to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable children on the planet.
We have a wonderful team of volunteers both in the UK and Zambia who are committed to our grass root cause and have been paramount in the charity’s success. Working alongside our Zambian team gives me an incite into how much time is needed to initiate, manage and monitor the projects on the ground. I drove over 1,200 km while in Zambia to visits schools, communities and health posts. To access these remote areas, the tracks are often hazardous, during the rainy season some become impassable.
These journeys give me the opportunity to meet pupils, teachers, and medical staff and and to engage with the local communities. I see first hand the need but always ask the people what is required rather than telling the people what they should have. The difference a school borehole or classroom can make is remarkable. The difference a rural health post makes can be life-saving. Below are some of the main objectives we achieved during the past year.
PROJECTS FROM MARCH 31ST 2022 TO 1ST APRIL 2023
AWARDS 2022-23
Many thanks to all our global donors, fundraisers, trustees and volunteers, both in the UK and Zambia, for making this another outstanding year for The Butterfly Tree, and most importantly for its beneficiaries.
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The theme for International Women’s Day 2023 - ‘Embrace Equity.’
Today we are celebrating all the girls who have been sponsored by The Butterfly Tree and rose to the challenge. Hundreds of young women have completed high school education and college, many have sought employment. One of them is a volunteer for the charity and manages our orphan sponsorship and girls' empowerment programmes.
There are 1.2 million orphans in Zambia. Since 2006 The Butterfly Tree has sponsored orphaned and vulnerable boys and girls from rural villages in Zambia. Girls traditionally marry at a young age and have children in their teens. Those living in extreme poverty can easily fall pregnant through lack of knowledge or be enticed into early marriages.
Our orphan support programmes give girls an opportunity to be educated, to have choices and to learn about girl empowerment. Training peer educators is the best way to educate girls about the dangers of HIV, teenage pregnancies, and drug and alcohol abuse. We have role models who have completed high school and now are giving back to their communities.
After completing high school girls have gone to university or college studying a variety of subjects, including teaching, business and hotel management, nursing, and journalism.
As we celebrate this day The Butterfly Tree aims to support more vulnerable girls from remote villages who would not normally have an opportunity to complete their education. With our support their lives can change for the better.
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The new school year in Zambia is now underway. I am pleased to report that most pupils on our orphan support programme have passed their grade 7 and 9 exams, with some gaining very good results. A further six pupils from Mukuni and three from River View completed high school in December. Their grade 12 results will be announced next month. Eight students are currently attending universities and colleges, while those who took skills courses last year, are doing work experience.
More orphans and vulnerable children are being supported this year at Mukuni, River View, Ngandu, Kamwi, Ndele and Senkobo schools. If we can support their education then they can remain in the villages rather than having to go into an orphanage. Most are looked after by their grandparents or aunts or uncles.
The Butterfly Tree initiates workshops to teach the pupils about the dangers of HIV, teenage pregnancies, and alcohol and drug abuse. We also include girl empowerment so that the girls can challenge offer of early marriages. During the Christmas holidays three football tournaments took place for U-17 girls in Mukuni, Senkobo and Nyawa, and one for U-17 boys in Mukuni. All participants of touraments, sponosred by The Butterfly Tree must attend our HIV prevention workshops.
To further advance the education in Zambian rural schools in the Kazungula District the following projects were completed in 2022:
Our aim for 2023 is to reach out to new areas where there is a need for education facilities and to support more orphans and vulnerable children in rural villages so that they may complete high school. This will enable them to have a better chance of seeking employment or being able to apply for further education.
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