http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:55:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en One billion people throughout the world suffer from hunger, a figure which has increased by 100 million because of the global financial crisis, says the United Nations. We are all complaining about the effect the world reccession is having upon us, but do we give a thought as to how badly people are affected ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/food-for-mukuni/ Although The Butterfly Tree is making great progress with a number of projects in the Mukuni Chiefdom, more HIV funding is needed. HIV and AIDS in Zambia is pandemic, one in six adults are living with HIV. Every person has been infected or is effected by this devastating disease. The government ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/hiv-funding/ The Butterfly Tree has achieved a huge milestone. In the three years since we have been working at Mukuni Village the charity has raised over £250,000. Alongside this amazing amount we have sent as much again in donated medical and education supplies, clothing, blankets and equipment. The lives of thousands of people in the ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/milestone-for-charity/ Winter in Zambia is between June and August, although the daytime temperatures can reach up to 25 degrees the nights can drop below 4 degrees. For many this is a very difficult time, with no money to repair thatched a roof, no mattress, no blanket nor warm clothes the cold ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/homes-for-mukuni/ Happy, smiling faces, big wide eyes, innocent. This sums up the African children I work with in Zambia. It is refreshing to be with children who are undemanding, unspoilt, who are so poor but somehow manage to be happy. They have so little - no TVs, no computers, no toys ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/african-children/ Losing a parent is heartbreaking for any child; then having to give up your education makes it almost unbearable. This is the case of many orphans in Zambia. In the six Zambian schools supported by The Butterfly Tree there are almost 1000 orphans. To date we are sponsoring 175 children and desperately need more sponsors ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/orphans-in-zambia/ I am delighted to announce that The Butterfly Tree is now an aid agency for Jersey Overseas Aid. The Commission funded by the people of Jersey firmly believe that it is their moral duty to care about other people and to help them help themselves.  We are honoured to working with such ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/katapazi-development/ Once again we are delighted that Eye for Travel has chosen The Butterfly Tree as the official charity for the Travel Distribution Summit Europe 2009, the world's biggest event for travel marketing, pricing and technology executives. This is being held on 19th-20th May at the Business Design Centre, London. Helping to reduce world ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/summits-official-charity/ For an orphan in Mukuni Village going to school is the highlight of their life. When you live in one of the poorest communities in the world there are no computers, IPods or TVS. Mud huts have no electricity, so school is the only place they can learn and they love ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/mukuni-education-is-key/ Today is World Malaria Day and marks the unified commemoration of the global effort to provide effective control of malaria throughout the world. Each one of us should be aware and support the United Nations target for 2010 to deliver effective and affordable protection and treatment to all people at risk of ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/world-malaria-day-2/ World Malaria Day is on the 25th April and The Butterfly Tree is helping to promote malaria awareness and appealing to everyone to donate just £1 ($1.50) to buy a malaria testing kit, which could save a child's life. According to the World Health Organization half of the world's population ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/africa-malaria/ The Butterfly Tree has been working closely with their partner Exquisite Safaris pioneers in Philanthropic Travel, through them we are delighted to have a mention in an article featured in Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Last June I took the Donlins from New York up to Mukuni Village to show them around the school and The Butterfly Tree projects, ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/philanthropic-travel-to-mukuni/ Two weeks ago Paul from Blackpool contacted me to say that he was going out to Zambia for a holiday and that he'd like to get involved with a charity working at Mukuni Village; by the end of the conversation Paul generously offered to fund a bore hole. Little did I realise that ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/special-orphan-sponsorship/ Whether it's a school meal or a packed lunch all our children receive something to get them through the school day. When you have to leave home at 4am for a three hour walk to school to start lessons at 7am by mid morning the hunger pains begin. There is no morning porridge ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/food-for-mukuni-schools/ During my visit to Mukuni I was fortunate to have Professor Doug Saunders from Sydney University acccompany for four days. After a brief encounter at Livingstone airport in May 2007 Doug was interested in my work, came to the UK to see me and this February funded a trip to Zambia to ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/health-care-at-mukuni/ Today marks World Water Day. Despite the UN's International Decade for Action 'Water for Life 2005–2015', there are still over a billion people who have not got access to safe, clean water. Water is life, a commodity that we take for granted in the west, but when you have to ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/world-water-day/ It is now three years since I first went to Mukuni Village, which resulted in the founding of The Butterfly Tree. Having just spent three weeks in Zambia overseeing our programs and sourcing new projects it is very difficult to prioritize when there is so much need. However two of ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/march-2009-newsletter/ Today I am leaving for Zambia to oversee on The Butterfly Tree projects, catch up with all the children on our orphan sponsorship program and source new projects. It an exciting time for the Mukuni Cheifdom; thanks to generous donations from W Charitable Foundation through Just a Drop and a family from ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/feeding-time-at-mukuni-3/ The Butterfly Tree has partnered with Buy One Give Twice, the UK's premier charity auction site. If you have any unwanted Christmas presents, having an annual Spring clean or want to donate event tickets or holiday accomodation to raise money for The Butterfly Tree contact us and we will sell ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/raise-funds-for-mukuni/ “Informing you that I am a girl, aged 15 years and was born on the 18th April 1993. My father died when I was one year and six months old and my mother died when I was three years old. Am a person who likes going to school and I ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/annastasia-mutongo/ "From the time you chose me to be one of the people to be sponsored I have really moved a step forward in my life. Since my father died on the 8th September of 2003, my life entirely depended on my cousin, who also has a family to look after. Now you ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/mukabalengu-siachinene/ When I met Idrin Gani at Chise Village in the Mukuni Cheifdom last October she had a terrible limp and one leg was much thinner than the other. I enquired as to what was wrong with her leg and she lifted her skirt and showed me her thigh which was covered in ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/new-shoes-for-idris/ Jesse Musowe lives in Kamwi Village with her mother, twin brothers & step-father who is 76 years of age. She is eleven years old and in grade four at Mukuni Basic School. Although Jesse is not really an orphan she is from an extremely poor family. To earn money to provide ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/jesse-musowe/ Oliver Kamwi lost his father when he was very young. His mother in order to earn money to feed her young, gave herself to men in return for payment, she has five other children to support, Oliver is the oldest. When he first arrived to start grade seven at Mukuni ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/oliver-kamwi/ The Butterfly Tree website has got some great new additions, thanks to Miranda at Juggle Frogs who donates hours of her time and skills to helping the charity. Being a web designer she is able to use all the latest techonolgy keeping our website moving with the times. Along with the numerous ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/music-for-mukuni/ Underneath a mango tree is where Zambian education is started for many children. I came across this little group of pre-school children when driving out to some remote villages in the Mukuni Chiefdom close to the Zambia-Zimbabwe border. Siachilobe has a population of just over one hundred, each day the older children ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/education-under-a-mango-tree/ Mukuni Village lies just seven kilometres from Victoria Falls, accessible by a good gravel road and home to the Leya people. For a site-seeing tour with a difference a visit to Mukuni Village is a popular choice for toursits traveling in the Southern Province of Zambia. Sadly most of the children from Mukuni ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2009/philanthropic-travelers-to-mukuni/ When I asked someone at Mukuni Village what they did for Christmas she simply answered 'we go to church'. 'What else would you do?' she replied. How do you describe the presents, feasts, parties and manic shopping lasting for several weeks before Christmas to someone living on less than 50 pence ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/christmas-at-mukuni/ I would like to thank everyone for your cards, email, letters, flowers and offers of support since my husband, Lawrence, was tragically killed last month. The Butterfly Tree has received over £5000 in donations in his memory, which will go a long way to improving the lives of the vulnerable people in the ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/mukuni-benefits-from-tragic-loss/ Education is the key to overcoming HIV and AIDS in Zambia. The Butterfly Tree is now supporting five schools in the Mukuni Cheifdom and hopes to offer assistance to many more in the future. Ngandu School built in 1939 by Roman Catholics, was taken over by the government in 1966. Sadly very little ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/mukuni-education/ Today is World AIDS Day 2008, 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV and the numbers are growing. Zambia has one of the highest statistics, with one in six adults infected and 710,00 children orphaned. At Mukuni Village alone there are over 400 orphans, without the help of The Butterfly ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/world-aids-day-2/ The Butterfly Tree Charity Calendar for 2009, featuring photographs from the Mukuni Chiefdom, is ready to order. The calendar has been sponsored by the 12 companies named on each month. Calendars are £4 - and all money raised goes directly to the cause. How to order Calendars can be ordered on line and posted direct to you.  UK postal ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/charity-calendar/ http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/mukuni-song/ Working in a country such as Zambia where funerals are a weekly occurence and more and more children become orphaned through HIV/AIDS makes you realise how precious life is. Loosing my husband has made me more determined than ever to help these vulnerable people, especially the orphans. Only this month ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/orphan-sponsorship-expands/ I am deeply saddened to announce the loss of my biggest fan and finest supporter. Lawrence Bailey, my husband, tragically died yesterday in a horrific accident and will be missed by everyone who knew him, most especially his family. As moved as I was after our first visit to Mukuni Village in March 2006, ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/tragic-loss-for-charity/ I have just returned from Zambia and yet again I am amazed by the resilience and spirit of these humble people. I have many stories to tell but I think the most touching of them all is the one about how an elderly man provides for his family. While driving through ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/october-charity-newsletter/ When I first met Davison Simalonga on my recent trip to the Mukuni Cheifdom he was carrying two large, heavy sacks tied to a pole, which he placed across his shoulders. I insisted that we pulled over to offer him a lift to his home, and learnt that he lived in Kamwi Village. ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/helped-the-aged-in-mukuni/ We have all complained about the heavy rainfall this summer, not giving a thought to the fact that our rivers and reservoirs are full, enabling us all to have an abundance of water for drinking, bathing, washing and watering the garden. When you have to rely on unpurified river water for drinking, ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/water-for-mukuni-villages/ Although The Butterfly Tree did not win the Charity Times Award it was a great achievement to have been shortlisted to the final five and to be present amongst many of the well known charities. These big organisations do a terrific job, but it is the smaller charities such as ours that are needed to ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/feeding-time-at-mukuni-2/ Shilla Mwanakwaba is 11 years old and comes from Mukuni Village, she lost her mother when she was 6 and comes from a large family. She has been sponsored by The Butterfly Tree since December 2006. For the past few years she has looked after by an aunt who also ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/kevin-sabata/ The Butterfly Tree has had an extremely successful year raising donations through grants, corporate and indivduals; the number of tourists who visit Mukuni Village has also boosted the funds. To view our annual report and accounts visit - click here Much of the success is down to two factors: 100% of all ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/the-butterfly-tree-charity-annual-report/ I am delighted to announce that The Butterfly Tree charity has been short listed for the prestigious Charity Times Awards. This is a tremendous achievement as the judges commended the high calibre of entries in this year's Awards. These Awards acknowledge and encourage best practice in the management of charities and not-for-profit organisations. The Butterfly ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/charity-times-awards/ With the successful Beijing Olympics, costing over £20 billion to stage, finally over, it is truly amazing to see the likes of Kenya and Jamaica in thirteenth and fifteenth place respectively on the medal table. Both extremely poor countries and yet they have produced many of the finest and fastest record-breaking runners on ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/mukuni-olympians/ President Mwanawasa passed away today in a Paris hospital, aged 59. Vice-President Rupiah Banda, who I personally met in February, is expected to be announced as the acting leader. He is a close friend of Chief Mukuni and I was invited to meet him during his visit to Mukuni Village. ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/president-of-zambia-dies/ When I first visited Mukuni Village in March 2006 as a tourist wanting to gain a cultural experience I never dreamed that the village and its people would become such an important part of my life. Now Mukuni is like a second home to me and the friends I have made are ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/responsible-tourists-visit-mukuni/ The Butterfly Tree charity believes that every child has a right to education and by introducing an orphan sponsorship program we have given 120 children a chance to be educated through our charity. There are over 710,000 children orphaned in Zambia, primarily as a result of Aids and in the area where I am ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/sponsor-a-child/ Olbert Kamungondo was born in 1986 and when he was just five months old his mother and all other passengers were killed in a bus accident, where Olbert was the only survivor. His father took his old brother and moved away from the Mukuni chiefdom, leaving Olbert with his grandparents. ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/189/ Kevin Sabata was just seven years old when he needed a sponsor to educate him at Mukuni Basic School. His father had been diagnosed with TB and both his parents were HIV positive. On hearing this information, The Butterfly Tree provided support for the family, though sadly it came too ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/sponsored-orphan-kevin-sabata/ Mukuni's Katapazi Clinic has three clinics to assist the people living in these rural villages. For the past two and a half years The Butterfly Tree has raised funds to support the Mukuni Health Centre improving the facilities, building a maternity clinic and providing vast amounts of medical supplies, which have been ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/mukunis-katapazi-clinic/ Victor Simango is nineteen years of age and was unlikely to have completed his education without the assisatance of a sponsorship. In October 2007 Victor had to drop out of school as his mother had no spare funds to pay for his education, his father had died. This was devastating ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/188/