Special Needs for Mukuni

Life in Zambia is tough for a school child, especially if you an orphan and have little financial support to pursue your education. Life is is even tougher if you are a child with physical or mental disabilities. The Butterfly Tree has been working on a number of ways that we can help these disadvanteged children. Now thanks to some amazing offers we are able to set up a Special Education department.

The Besom has generously donated funds to buy the materials for a classoom block to be built at Mukuni Basic School. The charity and community will supply the labour costs. We have also received a grant from St James Place Foundation Newbury Office, which will pay for materials and uniforms for the pupils. Fountaindale Special School in Mansfield, who caters for children with severe disabilities are offering on going support through fundraising and the provison of materials. They have held a number of events to raise funds for these African children who they believe to be worse off than they are. I am so touched by the genorosity of this school as their pupils need so much care and yet their selflessness will improve the lives of children who need special education in Mukuni Village.

Special Education for Mukuni: Siabajene has learning difficulties

This will be a great advancement for Mukuni and Zambia education as very little is available from the government who will only provide a teacher. To further enhance this project you can donate a donkey to transport a disabled child to school or sponsor an orphan.

In most western countries children with physical or mental special needs are able to receive an education, African children are less fortunate. Last year the Zambian government provided Mukuni Basic School with a special educational needs teacher and that was all. No materials, no equipment or transportation for children in outreach villages who are physically disabled, life is tough for these special African children.

Special Needs for Mukuni: Idrin Gani is disabled and now rides a donkey to school

Fortunately thanks to two generous offers The Butterfly Tree is now able to set up a new program for these disadvantaged pupils at Mukuni Basic School. St. James’ Place Foundation has given us a generous donation to purchase materials and equipment, after one of their partners and his wife visited Zambia.

Leonnie Mangan who works for Fountaindale School in Mansfield, a Specialist SEN  School and the largest in the UK, volunteered to go out to Mukuni with her sister in July 2008. Working on behalf of The Butterfly Tree they assisted at Mukuni Health Centre and school. After seeing how little funding the special education teacher had to run her classes, on her return home Leonnie got her own school involved. Fountaindale have offered to provide some of the essential books and materials and are currently looking into setting up a teachers’ exchange program. The children at this school have also raised funds, one little boy who has to be intranenously fed said that he’d like to raise funds so that the African children could have some nice food.

This is a great boost for Mukuni. The Butterfly Tree is also raising funds to purchase donkeys to transport the disabled children who are unable to walk to school. If anyone would like to donate a donkey the cost is £70.