With the holiday season in full swing August in generally a quiet month for charities. However I am pleased to report that The Butterfly Tree is having a great month, funds are being boosted thanks to new and existing donors, fundraisers from church members to students raising money for the charity and volunteers are heading out to Zambia. Once again the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission has offered substantial support in the form of a Community Work Project to develop Ng’andu Basic School. This school was built in the early 1940’s and apart from the charity restoring classrooms and adding a bore hole and teacher’s houses very little else has been done. JOAC volunteers will assist in the construction of a new 1×3 classroom block, two teachers’ houses and latrines in May 2015.
Ng’andu Basic School to be upgraded
Cunninghams, another of our long term donors,continues to support a feeding programme at Mukuni Comprehensive school for 400 pupils and 50 boarders. As part of our malaria prevention campaign to help the fight against malaria, New Textiles Portugal has donated over 100 insect repellent t-shirts to distribute amongst children in areas where we have seen an increase in new cases of malaria.
Malaria Prevention and Early Testing are Vital in the Fight Against Malara
This year we have seen an increase in volunteering in Zambia. Most recently from the US Hanna Cohen and her two daughters helped at the Mukuni schools and raised funds towards a borehole. Neysa Murphy and Wiremu Sutherland from New Zealand assisted the NASAAZ interschools’ Drama, Poetry and Choirs competitions and have since offered financial support for the Festival and will set up a scholarship for talented performers. Currently three Enactus students from Sheffield University are initiating WASHcoms and soap-making projects at Ng’andu, Kamwi and Kasiya Schools to improve the water supply and hygiene standards.
Traditional Dancers compete at the NAASAZ Festival
Other donations have included invaluable blood pressure monitors from Medisave for Mukuni Health Centre and three large boxes of football strips from York City Football Club. These will be shared amongst the Mukuni United Football Club, who are presently top of their league and a number of rural schools. We are very grateful to all our supporters who provide vital funds and supplies to help with our projects in remote areas of Zambia.
A home made football – Chise Village
There are many ways you can help The Butterfly Tree, through fundraising or volunteering. If you would like any further information please click on this link to contact us.
