http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:30:43 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The last three months have been very eventful for The Butterfly Tree. In May we hosted a seminar on responsible tourism and philanthropic travel at the European Travel Distribution Summit; the organisers Eye for Travel named The Butterfly Tree as the summit’s official charity. This was a great networking opportunity ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/july-charity-newsletter/ New clinic at Mukuni Village The hightlight of any trip for an NGO has to be when a vision becomes a reality. For almost two years I have strived to complete a maternity clinic for the women in the Mukuni Chiefdom. Having heard that many Afican women die in labour, in their attempt ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/mukuni-maternity-clinic/ Fresh, safe water for Mukuni Chiefdom Of all the projects we have achieved in the Mukuni Chiefdom, providing a bore for rural villages has to be top of the list. Water, the most precious of commodities is taken for granted in our priveleged western world, but when you have to draw ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/water-for-chise/ Education is key to the HIV/AIDS fight in Zambia Although the HIV/AIDS in Zambia situation is not getting any worse it is not improving fast enough. Education is the key factor to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. A quote from Avert, 'as of 2005, although almost all adult Zambians know that HIV/AIDS ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/education-to-fight-hivaids-in-zambia/ Tourists give generously to Mukuni Village During my talks at the travel exhibitions I always state that if tourists were made more aware, by their tour operators, of the poverty surrounding their luxury resorts, then they would be more inclined to give a donation. One tour company, Exquisite Safaris and one of our partners insists on sending their ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/donations-from-victoria-falls/ No more babies suffering from malnutrition Twelve months ago, during one of my visits to Mukuni Village, I was saddened to hear that a baby had died from malnutrion. The infants father had passed away only a few days earlier, suffering from TB and her older brother was one of our sponsored orphans. I immediately ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/feeding-time-at-mukuni/ A work of Art The main source of income for the rural villages near the Victoria Falls is curio selling, most especially the beautiful wood carvings. There are two main areas where these can be purchased, one is the Victoria Fall Craft Village and the other is at Mukuni Village Craft ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/mukuni-village-curios/ The travel industry must awaken It was the first time that the European Travel Distribution Summit had a charity stand in their exhibition hall. Some attendees where surprised to see The Butterfly Tree exhibiting and many congratulated Eye for Travel for including us. Fellow exhibitors showed a keen interest offering a link to ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/poverty-awareness/ The Butterfly Tree - Stand 51 With five days left until the European Travel Distribution Summit, there is still time to register for the seminar hosted by The Butterfly Tree at 11am on Wednesday 21st May at the Business Design Centre, North London. A key aim of The Butterfly Tree is to reduce world poverty through ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/travel-distribution-summit-2/ Zambian DJs help fundraise  Last night I attended a fundraising event in Nottingham hosted by SWITCH and orgainzed by my son, Mike and his friends to raise money for a Science lab at Mukuni High School. The venue was Ecucha, one of Nottingham's top bars and Basement Crew, a live DJ set from Zambian ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/mukuni-high-science-lab/ Classrooms and teacher's houses needed During the recent teacher's strike I am sure that many of you had sympathy for the wonderful people who educate our children. If you think that they are badly done to in this country, in Zambia, where the average monthly pay for a teacher is £75, teachers have to ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/classrooms-for-zambia/ Donate a mosquito net   A child dies of malaria every 30 seconds. According to the World Health Organisation malaria epidemics kill more than 100,000 people of all ages every year; an estimated 10,000 of these women and 200,000 of their infants die as a result of malaria infection during pregnancy. “Malaria remains ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/world-malaria-day/ Helping Africa For centuries African countries have been exploited, many prospering from the rich natural resources found in countries such as Congo, Zimbabwe and Zambia. These countries are now some of the poorest in the world decimated by war and poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Now it is time for the West ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/earth-day-2/ Help reduce world poverty through travel Having previously been involved in the travel industry, since travelled extensively around the globe and now working in one of the poorest countries in the world, I have observed a great deal. Now that experience can be put to use at the seminar hosted by The Butterfly ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/poverty-reduction/ The Butterfly Tree - nominated charity I am delighted to announce that The Butterfly Tree is the nominated charity for Europe 2008 Travel Distribution Summit to be held on the 20-21 May at the Business Design Centre, London. Organised by Eye for Travel the summit is the world's biggest event for marketing, pricing and technology experts. Having ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/travel-distribution-summit/ Too many pupils unable to attend school Although there are over 100 orphans being sponsored by The Butterfly Tree, many more urgently need help. I was distressed to learn yesterday that out of 50 pupils who had past grade 9 to attend the new high school, only 20 had been able to afford to pay for ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/orphan-sponsorships-needed/ Overcoming the hardships through education The improvements in education made by The Butterfly Tree over the past two years at Mukuni Village is having a positive effect on the community. With the addition of a high school, now in it's second year, pupils are able to complete grades ten to twelve of ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/improved-education-at-mukuni-village/ Vice President of Zambia visits Mukuni Village I have just returned from an eventful trip to Zambia, which included meeting Vice-President Rupiah Banda during his visit to survey the areas devastated by the recent floods. Chief Mukuni invited me to attend the meeting when the Vice-President came to Mukuni Village. The Chief explained The Butterfly ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/meeting-the-vice-president-of-zambia/ More funds needed for Siamasimbi School Tomorrow I will be leaving for Zambia and I am looking forward to seeing just how much progress has been made since my last trip in September 2007. I recenty learnt from my NGO committee that this month the Ministry of Finance sent a delegation from Lusaka to ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/way-forward/ The Butterfly Tree has gained a global audience. Thanks to JuggleFrogs most generous donation of a new website we now have supporters from Hawaii to Australia. Miranda of JuggleFrogs has devoted weeks of her time to develop the website and we feel very priviliged to not only having such an advanced site but ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/global-audience/ Thousands left homeless One and a half million people have been affected by the recent floods in Zambia; several weeks of continuous rain have devastated many areas of the nation. On Friday of this week The Butterfly Tree is air-freighting huge amounts of medical supplies, blankets and clothing to help the victims. Cunninghams Epos ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/emergency-relief-for-flood-victims/ Risk of famine due to loss of crops The Butterfly Tree has launched an appeal to help victims of the recent floods in Zambia. The president has announced it as a national disaster and it is still raining! Due to the lack of information reported by the world press it is difficult ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/flood-appeal/ Prime Minister of Mukuni passes away I was deeply saddened to learn that Shadreck Mabote, the Prime Minister of the Mukuni Chiefdom, passed away yesterday. In the brief time I knew him I believe that he was a great man who was totally dedicated to his people and respected by all who ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/sad-loss-to-mukuni-cheifdom/ Area declared national disaster  As if malaria, HIV/AIDS and poverty are not enough problems to contend with; now much of Zambia has been devastated by severe floods. Several weeks of continuous heavy rain has resulted in thousands of homes, livestock and agricultural products being submerged under water. Although it is the ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2008/zambian-floods-declared-national-disaster/ Make a difference this Christmas The Butterfly Tree would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas.   The words ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ echo in my ears every time I here the music playing. If only there were more people like Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure the world would ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/do-they-know/ 1st December is WORLD AIDS DAY The Butterfly Tree is appealing to everyone to join the world fight against this incurable disease. 2 million people die every year Leaving thousands of children without any parents. 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, including 17.5 million women and 2.3 million children under the age of ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/world-aids-day/ Guest speaker on Philanthropic Travel On the 12th November I was privileged to be a guest speaker at The World Travel Market at Excel in London. I took part in a seminar entitled ‘Luxury Travel with a Conscience’ hosted by Morris Visitor Publications’ IN London magazine and Eventica’s Global Luxury Forum ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/world-travel-market/ 11 months and they finally arrive in Mukuni Village Last September David and I were photographed by local UK media as the parcels we had so carefully packaged were sent on their way to Zambia. Little did we know that they would take eleven months, all but two days, to finally ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/the-parcels-have-arrived/ Essential to life but in short supply Water – a chemical substance that is essential to all forms of life. How we all take water for granted. At the turn of a tap we can drink water, brush our teeth, shower, water the garden and wash the car; fill the washing machine, ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/water/ £85 will educate a child for a year The only way to overcome the HIV/AIDS pandemic, causing thousands upon thousands of children to be orphaned, is through education. I have visited the Mukuni Village five times in the past eighteen months and each time I find it more difficult to comprehend ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/orphan-sponsorship/ Sixth trip in the past 18 months In a few days time I leave for Zambia. I am really looking forward to seeing all my friends, visiting the remote villages and seeing the progress that has been made since my last visit in May.   I believe the pre-school is now complete, ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/trip-to-zambia/ Just £300 to build a new home The Butterfly Tree has a new project underway. One of the most noticeable problems I spot when walking around the villages, is that despite having an abundance of land many people are living in over crowded conditions. This is due to the fact that ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/housing-project/ School in desperate need of restoration Last October I visited the remote village of  Ngandu, also in the Mukuni Chiefdom and a ‘feeder’ school to Mukuni Basic and High Schools. Their school was founded by the Roman Catholics in 1939. The first pupils were taught under a tree, there were no books ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/ngandu-school/ We partner with Exquisite Safaris In April 2007 I was invited to speak at The Global Luxury Forum in London, where I introduced the concept of Luxury Philanthropic Travel pioneered by our partners Exquisite Safaris. Following the forum a number of companies have contacted The Butterfly Tree with offers of support. As ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/philanthropic-travel/ Mukuni village association to Victoria Falls The Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is a world heritage site. I thought it might be of interest for people to know about the history that connects the Falls with Mukuni Village. Photo: Victoria Falls in October 2006 before ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/victoria-falls/ Under funded and supported The Mukuni Village Health Centre has to cover for a population in excess of 7,000 people. When I first visited the health centre in March 2006 is was in an appalling state. The clinic had one thermometer and one blood pressure monitor.   Photo: Outside Mukuni Village health ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/mukuni-health-centre/ The Tusole Lwangunko support group The Tusole Lwangunuko Support group was formed by people living with HIV/AIDS who came together to join the world community in the fight against HIV/AIDS through sensitisation activities in the Mukuni Chiefdom in a bid to promote VCT and positive living and eliminate stigmatization and discrimination ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/hiv-aids-support-group/ Philanthropic travel opens my eyes A rural community in Zambia has become an important part of my life after visiting the area during a business incentive trip. The contrast of staying at the beautiful Royal Livingstone Hotel on the edge of the Zambezi River overlooking the magnificent Victoria Falls and visiting ... http://www.thebutterflytree.org.uk/pages/2007/how-it-all-started/