Today we celebrate the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton and wish them a long an happy life together. Between them they will no doubt be able to help numerous charitable causes. Earlier this month I felt very privileged to represent The Butterfly Tree at a celebration for his HRH Prince Phillip’s 90th birthday at Windsor Castle. The event was hosted by the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club with Windsor and Eton Rotary Club. This was followed by a dinner hosted by St James’s House, the London publishing company. The Butterfly Tree has been selected to be featured in the 2012 Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Year Book in their new philanthropy section. We are hoping that this will bring about some new philanthropic travellers to visit our projects in Mukuni Village.

Another great fundraising opportunity came about last week after winning a free place to participate in Cyclothon UK. Initiated by Victor Umbogo, the former England rugby player, the event should enable us to raise substantial funds for the orphans in Zambia. We  have three volunteers who have offered to participate - we are hoping to add a sporting celebrity to gain publicity for our team. The Paris marathon also took place and local girls Vicky and Rachel Sampson raised over £800 for the charity’s orphan support program.

Fundraising: Items donated for Machenje pre-school from South African tourists

Several groups and individuals have recently visited Mukuni – not only have they been humbled by the plight of these vulnerable people, but also impressed by the work the charity has done to improve the lives of these rural communities. The Brady Corporation, hosted by Incentivise UK kindly donated $2000 worth of stationery and blankets and Canon Australia have offered support after meeting the Mukuni school children. All our projects centre around the orphans, which includes orphan sponsorship, providing improved healthcare and education as well as safe water and feeding programs. Being able to improve their basic needs gives them a chance to move forward.

Visit the pupils at Mukuni Basic School

There are numerous ways to fundraise besides sporting events – hosting small events like Mutsa Murau who has organised a Swap Shop on the 8th May. Alex Weatherley’s parents set up a Just Giving page to invite guests attending Alex’s Christening to donate to the under five’s feeding program instead of giving presents. This can also be done for birthdays, anniversaries or any celebration. We have a number of church groups, schools and clubs as well as individuals and corporates who enable us to continue our vital grassroots projects in Zambia, through fundraising activities, donations and sponsorship.

If you would like to some fundraising for The Butterfly Tree and need any further details or advertising materials please email jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk

Today is World Malaria Day. The Butterfly Tree is committed to continue helping the fight to reduce the burden of malaria, the biggest killer of man. Although the number of deaths have declined over the last decade 75% of deaths caused by malaria are children under the age of five in sub-Sahara Africa. Zambia is no exception. 

Malaria disease caused by P. falciparum may result in death within hours or a few days of infection especially in those with a low immunity such as children, pregnant women, people with AIDS and travelers with little or no malaria. It can also result in the miscarriage of pregnant women, low birth-weight infants, developmental disabilities and other complications.

World Malaria Day: help prevent Paddington from contracting malaria

Until a cure is found prevention is the only way to avert this dehabilatating disease, which is the leading cause of school absenteeism. Providing mosquito nets, malaria tests and educational workshops effectively reduces the number of new cases. Saga Charitable Trust donates annually to our malaria prevention program, enabling us to provide this vital aid. The Zambian government’s aim is to distribute mosquito nets every child under five as well as pregnant women. Sadly the supplies are insufficient and there is a massive shortfall. UCL GDI members recently hel fund-raising events during One World Week and donated the money to our program.

Just £5 ($8) will buy a mosquito net and could save a child’s life. The Butterfly Tree has produced a charity CD, called ‘Change for the Better’  this can be downloaded for £2 or £3 for a CD – all proceeds go to the malaria prevention program.

My recent trip to Zambia proved to be both fruitful and challenging. With persistent heavy showers throughout the month, driving to some to the outreach villages was difficult to say the least. The six major projects initiated in 2010 are now complete – a 1×3 classroom block for Mukuni, upgrading of Siamasimbi and Kamwi schools with new classrooms, teachers’ houses and latrines, an entire new school for Mandandi, a pre-school for Machenje and a staff house for N’songwe clinic. This was achieved by substantial grant aid from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission.

Sadly in the mainstream school many children who had passed to go into the next grade failed to do so due to lack of funds and have not been able to attend school this term. The Butterfly Tree has offered to support a further thirty pupils in addition to the four hundred who have received orphan sponsorship. Fifty of these orphans are being supported by a group of people from Australia.

The most rewarding part of my time in Zambia was to see the Special Education classroom, funded by The Besom, in full use. Stanley Safari Lodge provided the equipments and furnishings. To see these children with impaired hearing and learning difficulties is a humbling experience and a rare opportunity for children in remote villages. Fountaindale School in Nottinghamshire organised a teacher exchange to assist this program, both parties benefitted from this experience – it was a pleasure to welcome Reverend Presley Mulenga and Thomas Chanda to England in February and to join the UK teachers during their visit to Mukuni.

 Siamasimbi 1×3 Classroom              Special Education Class – Mukuni 

Some of you may remember the plight of the premature baby boys who lost their mother and triplet sister in childbirth. I am delighted to say that after five months of providing powdered milk, clothing and equipment the twins are strong and healthy. Funding healthcare continues to be one of our main priorities – the invaluable under-fives feeding program, the provision of mosquito nets, and treatment for sick children and most importantly HIV/AIDS prevention support.

On the 8th March I hosted a lunch and workshop in recognition of World Women’s Day. Many of the key issues were discussed, predominantly the need to empower women. We have initiated a number of sustainable income-generating enterprises through micro-financing. One of these is a goats’ milking project funded by Margaret Bax and Casey Short.

        Twins Boys – Vincent & Elvis                     World Women’s Day

Once again I was able to escort a couple of Saga groups to see our projects. Saga Charitable Trust continues to generously support our malaria program and in addition they are donating $5 for every Saga tourist to visit Mukuni Village. Many of these visitors have given individual donations or sponsor an orphan.

We are being inundated by requests for people who want to volunteer in Zambia. Most recently two medical students from Sydney worked in the clinic and Charlotte and Alissa from London who spent four weeks teaching at Kamwi School. This month they are walking to the top of Kilimanjaro to raise funds for The Butterfly Tree. Brendan Poynton, who is raising funds for a Music Centre at Mukuni, is holding monthly music events in London – there are many others who are working hard to support our cause.

We have a number of local volunteers helping The Butterfly Tree in Zambia and one that I am extremely proud of is Jacob Siatubitu. Jacob was sponsored by The Butterfly Tree to attend High School. After receiving good grades in all subjects he has applied to go into nursing. To gain experience while he is awaiting his interview, Jacob volunteers daily at Mukuni Health Centre cycling from his home in Kamwi Village, where he looks after his elderly grandmother.

Charlotte teaching netball - Kamwi      Jacob registering patients - Mukuni clinic

Thanks to another generous donation from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission 2011 has some exciting prospects in store – three new schools are to be constructed; a bore hole and a number of latrines in the Mukuni and Musokatwane Chiefdoms. A further bore hole and latrines have been donated by Just a Drop. Thank you to all of our donors, supporters and volunteers who has helped us to reach out to more orphaned and vulnerable children in these remote villages of Zambia.

Warmest regards,

Jane Kaye-Bailey