1. Susan Fay-Wilcox Said,

   What a moving experience it was to visit Mukuni village with Jane! The Butterfly Tree is helping these wonderful, industrious people to accomplish so many important things like building a new clinic, school rooms and wells for clean water. One of the highlights of my visit to Africa was having these lovely children sing “Welcome to Mukuni” to us and the very warm and open people we met throughout the village.

2. Ann Sutton Said,

   I visited the Mukuni Village in early October 2008 whilst on holiday in Zambia and it was an extraordinary experience. We all see images on the TV and read articles, but to actually witness first hand the conditions these resilient people live in is truly humbling. But at the same time it was uplifting and heartwarming - all of the villagers that we met were so kind, welcoming and proud, with smiles that lit up their faces. Back at our lodge we discovered more about the Butterfly Tree project and its tremendous achievements, and once home I contacted Jane - she has made the whole process of sponsoring an orphan’s education very straightforward, and it is good to know that 100% goes to the project.

3. Debbie Goacher Said,

   My husband and I visited Mukuni village as part of our holiday in South Africa-it was an organised trip and we were the only people on it! The guide was a very pleasant young man who made us feel very welcome. The experience made us feel vey humble. I was only too pleased to help the Butterfly Tree in their work by sponsoring several children as soon as we arrived home. The visit was certainly something I will always remember.

4. Margaret Bax Said,

   I vacationed in southern Africa July 2008 with my husband and 2 daughters. We had an incredible trip Africa including amazing safari and camping experiences in Botswana. However, the highlight and most memorable part of the trip was an unscheduled visit to Mukuni village with Jane who I met at our hotel near Victoria Falls. The Mukuni people were so warm, friendly and genuine. They are quite poor and have to work hard every day just to get by, yet, I sensed a strong sense of pride, community and respect as well as incredible energy and optimism. When I found out that we could sponsor an orphan for a year in school for about the cost of a good pair of running shoes, my family decided that we’d each sponsor a student. And the really great thing about Butterfly Tree is that all of the money goes directly to the people and projects.

5. Caroline Lindsay Said,

   In July 2008 my husband retired we went on a 3 week holiday incorporating a tour of South Africa and a visit to the Victoria Falls in Zambia

   Our tour can not be described as a holiday; it was a kaleidoscope of experiences.
   We saw the awesome power and beauty of the Victoria Falls, and watched the most beautiful sunset as we cruised on the Zambezi River. It was a truly magical experience.

   Whilst our overall tour had been exhilarating and memorable, the trip to the Mukuni village was the most touching and unforgettable event, in fact the highlight of our holiday.

   It is hard to believe that in this day and age people are still living in one room mud and thatched huts with no running water, no toilet, and basic cooking facilities in spite of this all the people in the village had such dignity and pride.

   Little groups of boys and girls followed us as we toured the village. They were the most beautiful, gentle, and happy children. We gave one little boy a bottle of water and he automatically shared it with his friends. This was such an unselfish act.
   Meeting these lovely people was a very humbling experience.

   I am so pleased that through the Butterfly tree I am able to sponsor 2 children and to help these children as much as possible

6. Hilary Patrick Said,

   As part of a short trip to Zambia last year we visited Mukuni village and school. What a contrast to some of the luxury we experienced but for me the most memorable part of the trip.

   The people of the village welcomed us with warmth and pride; for their history, their community and their achievements. It is with a mixture of emotions that I walked around the village, joined by a giggling band of children. You can only begin to imagine the hardships each day must bring and yet witnessing the community spirit and the time families share with each other you can’t help wonder - who has got this right?

   As a primary school teacher I feel great admiration for the job done by all invoved at the school. There are few classrooms, a library that consists of one bookcase and classes catering for double the number of children allowed in UK schools. Success is reflected in the appreciation of the children, many of whom walk a 2 hour journey each way to school.

   During our visit the school was presented with text books and - great excitement, a number of footballs. The children played without any falling out. A lasting picture I have is of a young boy who showed me his ball made out of stiched rags, still his pride and joy.

   It seems a small gesture in the scheme of things but we have been fortunate to have the opportunity to sponsor an I still find it quite shocking that for the price of my son’s bus fare to school for a term we can support a child in Africa for a year.

7. Alexandra Cross Said,

   After reading about The Butterfly Tree on this website I contacted Jane to ask if it was possible to do some volunteer work in Mukuni village. I stayed in Livingstone for 6 weeks and used the local minibus transport to get to the village every day. I taught English at the school in the village - the headmaster very kindly organised a timetable for me and welcomed me as a temporary member of his staff. Word spread quickly that there was a new teacher and all the children wanted to be in my classes. It was an incredible experience as they are all desperate to listen and learn because education is so important to them in Mukuni.

   I also spent some time in the medical centre helping to sort out prescriptions for patients. The nurses really appreciated this as there are always so many people who need attention and an extra pair of hands meant they could see more people than usual.

   Everyone in the village was very friendly and welcoming and people would call out greetings to me as I walked to school each day. During my stay I became part of the community and I became very close to some of the villagers. They invited me into their homes and showed me their way of life; it is so simple and basic it was humbling.

   I would recommend this experience to anyone who is interested in volunteer work - it was so rewarding. My time at Mukuni will stay with me for the rest of my life.

8. Leonnie Mangan Said,

   As I am a teacher and my sister is a nurse in England we wanted to experience the differences of teaching and nursing in a remote village in Africa. Jane organised for the head teacher and medical centre officer to look after us during our 2 week stay.

   We stayed in a youth hostel near by and travelled on 2 mini buses each day to the village. This was an experience in itself! It really enabled us to make friends with the locals and gain an insight into their daily lives, as we chatted to them on their journey to and from work.

   Once at Mukuni Village, I was given the opportunity to teach children from the ages of 3- 19. The classrooms were so basic and over crowded but the children were keen to learn and enthusiastic. The head teacher (Presley) was a great support and was always close by if I needed him.

   At the medical centre I helped with the prescriptions whilst my sister Ebonie gave injections and treated patients. There was an obvious lack of resources at the medical centre but the staff still do their best with the equipment that they do have. Ebonie was also involved in testing patients for HIV. The patients spoke to her and through this Ebonie gained an insight into some of the issues that the people there face everyday.

   As well as working at the school and medical centre the people at the village also invited us into their homes and were so generous with the little that they had.

   A memory that stands out for us is when we were invited to the ceremony that the vice president was attending. We were given African tribal costumes and taken on big lorries along with all of the high school students to the ceremony. It was a great day of African music, dancing and food!

   Two weeks went so fast yet felt like a life time. We went to give something to the people at Mukuni Village………………… but they gave us much more than we could have ever given them!

9. James Bond of New York Said,

   I visited Mukuni Village in March of 2007. I was moved with compassion
   at what I saw. The people were humble with a beautiful spirit. I could see
   there were many needs. There was a new school in the village (for science and home economics) that was not yet in use because it had no electric. When I asked about the new school and who hepled to build it, I was told that there was a woman in England who was helping. I began to call this woman “Jane of England”. At my request the headmaster of the school helped me to get in touch with Jane the founder of Butterfly Tree. I wanted to help. I eventually met Jane and was able to assist. Jane has done an AMAZING job in helping the Mukuni People. These people have many needs and deserve our help. Butterfly Tree is a dedicated organization that has done some wonderful things to help people in need. The contributions of Butterfly Tree to Mukuni has and will continue to have a profound effect on the lives of these people.

10. paul claxton Said,

    im visiting livingston in june and as i was born in livingston and lived in mukuni village till i was 5 id like the oppurtunity to visit and give some finance to help in your work i feel its time to give some help to those who are less fortunate than myself

11. Jeff Lum Said,

    I traveled from Seattle with my wife and 3 teenage kids to Africa in 2007, and while in Zambia we stumbled upon Mukuni Village. After seeing the conditions that the people lived in we decided that we wanted to provide help in some way. Our dilemna was ‘How’ to help from such a long distance. We knew that sending money directly to someone in the village would not be a good idea. We found The Butterfly Tree via the internet, and Jane Kaye-Bailey has done an amazing number of things to provide additional shelter, water, buildings for schools, housing for teachers, and pit latrines throughout the village. Jane has been instrumental in helping us fund some housing for villagers, and partially funding some teacher housing. Jane was also incredibly helpful in helping me plan my second trip out to the village in November 2008. She set me up with her village contacts (Presley and Martin), and I had a wonderful week in the village working on housing, distributing used clothing, providing transportation for villagers into town for hospital visits, picking up medical supplies, shopping for food supplies, etc. I also had a chance to purchase a printer in Livingstone for the high school so they can print their tests on paper instead of writing them out on the blackboards. Jane, as well as others, have done so much there, but there is always lots more to do.

12. Chama Said,

    I was greatly moved after reading the articles on your website, you are
    really doing a great work in Mukuni vilage in assisting the less fortunate
    in our society.

13. paul claxton Said,

    iv just returned from a visit to makuni village to see the projects i have
    sponsored. i was given a wonderful welcome by all the butterflytree team.
    they were so warm and friendly,it was a privelage to work with them . the
    work they do as volunteers is incredible. charity founder jane and her team
    are doing so much to help the village and their orphans ,but need more
    sponsors to continue their amazing work . i hope by you reading this that
    you will come and join us to continue this fantastic project. thank you jane
    and all at butterflytree for giving me this chance to make a difference to
    these lovely warm people.

14. Julie and David Pritchard Said,

    We visited Mukuni village in April 2009. What a warm greeting we received! Children from the school had come especially to sing their songs of welcome, even though it was the Easter holiday. Presley and Martin kindly showed us around the village and everywhere we went we were met with warm smiles from adults and children alike.
    Jane and her supporters have achieved so much in such a short space of time. The improvements to education and medical facilities are impressive. Yet the villagers deserve even more help. Anyone who feels they could contribute money or time to this worthwhile cause would be making a real difference to the lives of these lovely people.

15. Karen Lytle Said,

    I volunteered to join an Australian couple this past September to help at the clinic or schools of Mukuni Village. Prior to this commitment, I had not heard of Mukuni Village or The Butterfly Tree organization. For some reason, I felt called to join the effort.

    I am thrilled to have played a small role in helping this charitable group. The integrity of their work and Jane’s “hands on” approach is contagious. I witnessed first hand that every single dollar makes a difference. The villagers are eager to learn and willing to work, they simply need a boost to get started. Water, which Americans are privileged to have by simply turning the faucet, is a precious resource to Mukuni villagers. Often they will go days without any running water, waiting patiently for funds and expertise to make necessary repairs to the well head. No one complains. They wait patiently.

    The villagers are proud, beautiful, hard working people who enjoy life at the most basic level. Their needs and wants are few. It was rewarding to spend a couple of weeks lending a hand where needed. Thank you, Jane and The Butterfly Tree, for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of your amazing adventure.

16. Doreen White Said,

    I shall be visiting Mukuni in September 2010 with Saga (UK) and I wonder how many packets of tissues I’ll need because I wept just reading about the life-changing experiences of so many visitors. Such good work done by so few but with profound effects for the villagers. It’s efforts like this that restores faith in human nature which, so often these days, adopts a me, me, me, philosophy. I’m so looking forward to my visit - I wonder if I’ll want to leave!

17. Brendan Poynton Said,

    I visited Mukuni and surrounding villages in June/July 2010. My original plans for Zambia had fallen through and I came across The Butterfly Tree very last minute. I called and spoke with Jane, whom after I explained my situation, went through all the projects they are involved with and provided me with relevant contact numbers for my arrival. This was my first visit to Africa and first trip that had a philanthropic theme.

    Jane needed to get some calculators out to Zambia so I sourced them before I left and took them over in my luggage to save on shipping costs. This was such a rewarding task and set us off (me and my travel partner) to Zambia to deliver them to the school on behalf of The Butterfly Tree.
    The first day at village we met Presley (Mr Mulenga) and he gave us a great welcome and spent the whole day taking us around the various projects and took us to various villages, some further out than Mukuni where Jane and The Butterfly Tree are reaching.

    We met an old lady whose home was built by The Butterfly Tree and when Presley mentioned the name ‘Jane’ her face lit up with such happiness. We met the Dr and support workers at the clinic and they sat with us chatting about their work, we then went on to see the maternity ward built by The Butterfly Tree. I cannot describe what that first day was like other than it will stay with me for the rest of my life in a positive way.

    During the following days I started music workshops in the school. I was very nervous to begin with but after a few classes I suddenly realised a pattern and what worked. They loved music and the guitar proved to be a big hit especially when I offered if anyone wanted to have a go. Once they were shown a few a chords, the confidence of having a go was inspirational not to mention the natural talent coming through. We noticed that most of the children were using just one book for eight subjects so the following week we bought 200 school books with 80 pages in each book as a donation to the school. One day when we were leaving I was about to get into the taxi to go back when a child spotted a pencil in my rucksack pocket. They asked me if they could have it, however when I pulled it out I was then surrounded by children. It was an absolute eye opener to see the excitement over one pencil which really highlighted and put things into perspective on how precious these basic learning materials are.

    On the way back to Ngandu village school we were given a fantastic show which included a choir and a play which was another moment when I was blown away and felt privileged to be part of this exchange in creativity. On the final day I held an in depth guitar lesson with 10 children, who will become the ‘Mukuni Music Group’. It was great towards the end of the day to see them passing the guitar around and teaching each other the chords from the diagrams. I then donated the guitar to the school.

    This journey was fantastic from the moment I came across The Butterfly Tree website, speaking with Jane, meeting Presley Mulenga, Martin Mushabati and all those I spoke and shook hands with. Experiencing the Zambian culture and people was a joy and being a volunteer, offering skills I have to be part of a cultural exchange was like a breath of fresh air. Although in philosophy terms they say ‘nothing is certain’…….. one thing is for sure. If I am able, I will return.

18. Jane Said,

    This comment was made by Troy Smith a student from North Carolina and a volunteer working with Global Giving US who recently visited our projects:

    So aside from my Victoria Falls bungee jumping adventures and seven-dollar-a-night hostel experiences, I did get a little bit of work done in Livingstone, Zambia.

    Taking off from my luxurious hostel at seven in the a.m. I traveled to Mukuni village, happy to escape the hordes of guys peddling copper bracelets on the Livingstone streets.

    Just a note–these guys are, by far, the most persistent salesmen I have ever seen. Literally, these fellas will walk and talk with you for an hour without ever mentioning their product. Good strategy? Who knows, but you at least get a good conversation out of the experience.

    Anyway, Mukuni village, tucked right by the falls, is by village standards, gigantic. Literally thousands of people inhabit this village that has existed for centuries upon centuries. The people, who depend largely on selling local crafts and agriculture, have developed a very strong relationship with UK-based non-profit, The Butterfly Tree.

    Just strolling through the village with Mr. Presley Mulenga, member of The Butterfly Tree and headmaster of Mukuni Basic School, the name “The Butterfly Tree” is ever-present. Be it latrines, schools, clinics, etc. there is no escaping the influence this charity has had on this large, yet tight-knit community.

    When I first arrived, I found myself in a room with 7-8 women, all of whom were HIV positive. Some looked completely healthy, but others were clearly struggling in the fight, a look I have come to notice too easily while in Africa. Working through a Leya translator, I learned that The Butterfly Tree has helped with funding of the village clinic, obtaining antiretroviral medication for villagers, and has established a brand new maternity ward.

    Most importantly, I believe, the organization has helped provide these women with the means to start their own sensitivization organization—try saying that five times fast. This support group travels throughout the area, telling their stories, and holds HIV seminars for both infected and non-infected individuals. So far, the results have been amazing, both for the listeners and for the ladies.

    “It has been fantastic. There used to be such a stigma, but now it is getting better. When you have HIV, keeping busy allows you to finally feel normal again,” says Cynthia, support group secretary and primary school teacher.

    Cynthia was paralyzed just years ago. With The Butterfly Tree’s help she was able to keep her head above water with a growing stack of medical bills. With their help, she now walks.

    However, their work doesn’t stop there. The face of education has been completely transformed thanks to the presence of these development lovin’ Brits.

    They have established several basic schools in both Mukuni and elsewhere, providing children in rural areas with accessible education. When I arrived they were working on one brand new classroom block–a classroom for children for disabilities, and are on the way towards opening a high school for local children.

    Some children were walking as far as 21 km to attend the basic school in Mukuni. For my fellow Americans, that is approximately 13 miles….one way. These children, leaving long before sunrise, are often in direct danger during seasons of elephant migration. Thanks to The Butterfly Tree, the Kamwi School is close to being finished, cutting short that unbelievable commute.

    The organization has also been working extensively with an orphan program, sponsoring children so that they may live healthy, educated lives.

    Now at this point it may seem that I’m done praising The Butterfly Tree’s work. In all honesty, if I had to fully explain all that The Butterfly Tree does, you all wouldn’t be willing to read that beast of an article.

    However, for your benefit here are just a few more highlights of work being done—The Butterfly Tree has established an under-five feeding program and has put several playpumps in place (a contraption that allows kids to play on playground equipment while simultaneously pumping water into a reservoir). The Butterfly Tree helped to create a chicken farming operation, install countless latrines, council HIV-stricken mothers, help with prosthetics and individuals suffering from leprosy, shoe the shoeless, and build over 30 homes in the area.

    Impressive, huh? That’s right, these people are non-profit superstars.

    An organization providing this scale of influence is seldom seen. The Butterfly Tree has influenced literally every facet of Mukuni society, fighting HIV/AIDS and poverty from every possible angle.

    A big-time organization that deserves some big-time attention—The Butterfly Tree.

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