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 it! To reach Mukuni some children have to walk as much as ten miles each way often having no breakfast before leaving home, this is ok when you are sixteen but far too far if you are only six. I drove out to Siachilobe to actually judge the distance the older children walk from their village to Mukuni, it’s a long, long way especially when the temperatures soar to over 40 degrees.

The Butterfly Tree is currently supporting six schools in the Mukuni Chiefdom but we need more classrooms to upgrade these schools so that the children do not have to spend too many hours of their day walking. We are currently raising funds for a Science block at Mukuni to complete our high school project. Ngandu has been able to upgrade to grades 8 and 9 as a result of the charity renovating an old classroom, last month we have commenced develoment at Katapazi school.

Mukuni Education classroom in need of restoration

Now we needs funds for Kamwi and Siamasimbi two remote schools that receive no other support from the outside world. Siamasimbi becomes inaccessable during the rainy season therefore is is imperative to develop the school. We insist on community participation by asking the villages to make bricks, provide river sand and fetch water; the government provides the teachers therefore we also need to source funds for teachers’ houses.

Education is the key to developing these rural schools, building classrooms, providing safe, clean water and feeding programs. Sponsor an orphan and give a vulnerable child a chance in life.