The build up to Christmas is truly under way – festive lights illuminating the high streets, TV and radio media advertising the latest computer games and supermarket crammed with treats. With so much turmoil happening around the globe, the raging wars, the natural disasters and the Ebola crisis, to mention but a few, it’s hard to get enthusiastic about Christmas. The unwanted gifts, the over indulgence, the unnecessary stress it all creates is it really worth it? There are so many good causes that need supporting and this is the perfect time for giving.
A recent quote from one of our orphan sponsors sums it up: ‘With all the excess involved in Christmas and even everyday spending on silly things, it is genuinely a delight to give money to people who really need it.’
Sponsor an orphan through The Butterfly Tree
This month The Butterfly Tree has received some amazing donations and grants. The British and Foreign School Society has approved a grant for a 1×2 classroom block and latrines for Ndele Primary School. This is just one of many education projects funded by the BFSS since 2007. Mukuni Special Education unit is to get a boost thanks to a generous donation from Pegnet, Germany and several more children have been added to our orphan sponsorship programme.
Ndele pupils to receive new classroom
November is Zambia is the start of the rainy season, after six months without a drop of rain the farmers and rural communities are rejoicing. This is the time for planting maize and other crops to secure enough food to store through the prolonged dry season. The downside is that the wet season increases the risk of contracting malaria. Chuunga Village has reported four new cases. We are working with Biotech International to bring new innovative methods of prevention to Zambia. Supported by Saga Charitable Foundation who has donated substantial funds to help boost this project, we aim to make the change. In addition New Textiles has donated over 100 protective t-shirts, which have been distributed amongst children at Mahalulu School.
Mahalulu pupils receiving protective t-shirts
This year we are not taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Many people found this very stressful and complained that they could not get the donation on in time. It is highly competitive and time consuming. Instead we have a private donor who has offered to match funds up to the value of £8,000. Anyone who would like to make a donation between now and the 8th December has a strong chance of getting their donation matched. Please click on DONATE to make a donation or contact jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk if you would like to make a bank transfer, send a cheque or require further details.
