By Jane Kaye-Bailey | Founder
I have just returned from Zambia after a three-week trip to check on the orphans, the schools we are building, and to see first hand the impact that the severe drought is having on rural communities. Our priority, as always, is to ensure that the orphans and vulnerable children on our orphan support programme have sufficient food, and to check on their progress.
The first trip was to visit Ngandu primary school where we have been focusing on reducing the number of teenage pregnancies and providing extra textbooks. Far too often I see pupils learning solely from a blackboard instead of having their own textbooks, which are essential for homework and exam revision. The testimonial below is from Edwin Sililo, Head Teacher, Ngandu Primary.
‘The pupil-book ratio has tremendously improved to 2 pupils to 1textbook. Self-research and discovery methods using new textbooks. Additionally, the books added to the value of quality education.’ ‘As regards pregnancies – Peer education workshops were conducted, the prevalence of teenage pregnancies among girls was high. With the peer lessons initiated by The Butterfly Tree among girl children, this year 2023, the school has only recorded one pregnancy. They also helped girls and boys from the risk of contracting sexual transmitted diseases.'
Our fully trained peer educators visit schools throughout the Kazungula District to educate pupils on some of the challenges they face. The aim is to reduce the number of HIV cases, teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and drug and acohol abuse. The programme is run by volunteers who have compeleted school after being spronsred by the charity.
A new primary school at Bbombe Lyangoma will open at the start of the school year in January. A 1x2 classroom block and toilets has been completed and the facility will shortly have a teacher’s house. A teacher’s flat at Singwamba is currently under construction, which is desperately needed as most teachers leave the school due to distance from town, and lack of accommodation. I drove 180 km, of which 60km was off-road, to the school where we were greeted by pupils, the choir, and traditional dancers.
At Kamwi Primary school I met Elvis and Vincent. Celebrating their 14th birthday last month, the ‘Kamwi twins’, are now in grade 7. Sadly, their mother and sister died during childbirth. Since 2010 The Butterfly Tree has sponsored the welfare and education of these vulnerable boys who are being looked after by their grandmother.
I also visited three of the secondary schools developed by the charity, Mukuni, Musokotwane and Riverview. Pupils are preparing for their examinations including grade 12, after which they will have completed their education. More schools have received boreholes (wells) this year due to the drought. These include Kamusiku, Katondo, Manono, Masmu Muyumu, Siamuya, Sianjangulu, Luwe, Muule, Service Centre and Mulindi Primary and Community schools, and the newly constructed secondary school at Nguba. The water facility will provide clean drinking water and irrigation for the schools' vegetable gardens.
The support we have receive this year has been amazing and has enabled us to reach out to more rural areas where there are orphans and vulnerable children.
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By Jane Kaye-Bailey | Founder
By Jane Kaye-Bailey | Founder
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