The last three months have been very eventful for The Butterfly Tree. In May we hosted a seminar on responsible tourism and philanthropic travel at the European Travel Distribution Summit; the organisers Eye for Travel named The Butterfly Tree as the summit’s official charity. This was a great networking opportunity especially as we are working so close to the Victoria Falls, a major tourist catchment area in Zambia.

We have had many people contacting us to do fundraising events and sponsorships, Mike Kaye with SWITCH raised a substantial amount of money at an event in Nottingham, where two Zambian DJs provided African music. This summer we have supporters participating in the ‘strong man’ competition, a sky dive and a marathon all offering to raise money for the charity. Also there are several volunteers from the UK and Norway going out to help at Mukuni Basic School and the health centre all of them are self-funding.

At last the maternity clinic, helped by a grant from KTCT is now complete with ante-natal, delivery room, toilets and showers. The Chieftainess performed a tribal blessing at the opening ceremony, attended by the department of health. We have been told that our successful under fives’ feeding program, supported by Avert, which replaces breastfeeding in HIV positive mothers, is the first in the entire nation. Our aim is raise funds for other areas, especially where many babies are suffering from malnutrition. The Mukuni Basic School’s feeding program, provided by The Butterfly Tree, is now supporting 230 vulnerable children; this number will increase in September.

 
  Butterfly Tree maternity clinic | Jane opening Mukuni maternity clinic

Water is being pumped at Chise village thanks to the new bore hole we were able to provide with assistance from Just a Drop. The Butterfly Tree plans to build three further bole holes this year in other remote villages; this is one of our top priorities. Read the rest of this entry »

New clinic at Mukuni Village

The highlight of any trip for an NGO has to be when a vision becomes a reality. For almost two years I have strived to complete a maternity clinic for the women in the Mukuni Chiefdom. Having heard that many Afican women die in labour, in their attempt to reach a rural clinic; I was totally committed and determined to see this project through.

Thanks to an initial grant from John Humprys’ Kitchen Table Charities Trust the building is finished, and is situated next to the Mukuni Village Health Centre. As often happens, the governments’ plans were way under budget and it has taken a substantial amount of additional funds to include ever-increasing costs for materials, plumbing, electricity and equipment. The Butterfly Tree has been offered an ultra-sound scanner, which will further enhance the project.

Maternity clinic for Mukuni Village

The Beyango, Chieftainess of Mukuni, performed a tribal blessing before I cut the ribbon to officially open the clinic. Members from the Kazungula district health office were in attendance along with village headmen and community members. Read the rest of this entry »

Fresh, safe water for Mukuni Chiefdom

Of all the projects we have achieved in the Mukuni Chiefdom, providing a bore for rural villages has to be top of the list. Water, the most precious of commodities is taken for granted in our priveleged western world, but when you have to draw water from a crocodile infested river, receiving a bore hole can make a huge difference to a remote community.

Testing new bore hole

For the people of Chise Village life is very hard; extreme poverty and unemployment affects every family, now at least they have fresh, safe water and it was a pleasure to visit these people and receive their apprecation. Just a Drop kindly provided assistance for The Butterfly Tree to initiate this project and a Zambian company was used to drill and build the bore hole.

New bore hole needed

We have done a survey of all the villages in the Mukuni Chiefdom and our aim is to provide them all with safe, clean water. For just £3200 we can provide an entire community with a bore hole complete with pump.