Zambia is estimated to have 1.2 million orphans and with a population of barely over 18 million this is an daunting statistic.
According to the Centre of Disease Research in Zambia ‘Adolescents and Young People Account for 50% of the Recorded New Annual Infections in Zambia.’
The Butterfly Tree orphan sponsorship programme has sponsored over 1,000 individuals orphans and vulnerable children and hundreds more need your help.
It costs £110 (£10) to sponsor an orphan – all the money will be used for the child’s educational needs, including uniforms, shoes, books, school bag and a blanket, and bags of ground maize when food is in short supply.
All children on our orphan sponsorship scheme are carefully selected by our local Trustees and teachers. Due to the high number in need of support, the most ‘critical’ cases are chosen. The orphans can be immediately start or be reinstated in school once funding is in place. Natasha, a former sponsored orphan and one of our local Trustees, manages the programme and oversees the welfare of these vulnerable children. The Butterfly Tree holds workshops for those on sponsorship and school children in general about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancies, and alcohol and drug abuse.
Since 2006 we have sponsored orphans and vulnerable children attending the following schools: Mukuni, Ngandu, Kamwi, Ndele, Riverview, Lumbo, Chaba, N’songwe, Mahalulu, Chuunga, Senkobo, Siamasimbi and Kazungula Boarding.
Orphan sponsorship will make a huge difference to a child’s life. ‘Children don’t ask to be born’ and when you are born in a country where one in six adults are living with HIV, into a family that has been infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, your life can be challenging. With commitment and hard work below are some of the young people who took advantage of our sponsorship.
This is a message from Gertrude who completed grade 12 and has sought employment at a Missionary Hospital:
‘Thank you for picking me from being a street child to who I am today, I lost both her parents when I was young and had no hope of going to school. I went on to complete grade 12 with 3 merits and 4 passes because of The Butterfly Tree.’
This is a message from Matilda who completed grade 12 in December 2020, subsequently being sponsored at college studying nursing:
‘I hereby write this special letter to you. I would like to thank you for sponsoring me because it is not an easy think to do and I really appreciate all your help. Therefore, everything has finally come together because of your support, love and care and I am ready to open the doors to the public by taking care of them. Thank you for all your kind help and I will always be grateful to your organisation for the help you have extended to me.’
The messages are from two friends who were sponsored from grades 7 to 12, following on through university where they both gained teaching degrees and volunteered for The Butterfly Tree. They have now been accepted into the army – we wish them every success in their careers.
‘Alone success would have proved failure but you stood up for us from young age till now, that’s not easy and unbelievable to me. Thanks very much.’ – Austine
‘Thanks so much for everything that you have done for us from the beginning up to this point we really appreciate, it was not easy but you made it possible.’ – John
Elizabeth Simasiku thanks The Butterfly Tree
The charity sponsored Josias to complete high school and teacher’s training college. He has since volunteered at Ndele School, as a primary school teacher and is one of our original HIV prevention peer educators. His passion is journalism and he has managed to fund himself through college and has now graduated.
‘Thank you so much Jane for your support in all I do.
Teaching taught me a lot and the project too.
The short skills training with William too added.
My honour is to the Butterfly Tree Charity.
Thank you!’
Josias Muuba
Meet a few of the courageous children on our orphan sponsorship program – click image for their story:
