I have just returned from Zambia after checking on our latest developments and sourcing new projects for 2015. It was wonderful to be back, despite it being the middle of the rainy season I was able to access most of the villages. As always it was extremely rewarding to see so much progress being made.
Thanks to a private donor Muchambile school has undergone vast improvements. The addition of a bore hole, classroom block, teacher’s house, latrines and a school shop has encouraged more children to enrol at school. The Head Teacher has introduced an adult class, as many of the older generation are uneducated. Later this year four parents will be sitting grade seven exams with their children. The donor also funded a health post for this community.
New classroom for Muchambile pupils
In March 2014 a group of employees from Attraction Tickets Direct visited Nampuyani School after donating a bore hole through our partner organisation, Just a Drop. Seeing first hand the need for support, the company gave a generous donation to improve the facilities. Two classrooms blocks and a store room have undergone restoration, a teacher’s house has been added along with two double latrines.
Pupils drawing safe clean water – Nampuyani School
A new classroom block for N’dele Primary School is currently being constructed kindly funded by the British and Foreign School Society. Development at N’gandu School will shortly commence with the addition of a 1×3 classroom block, two teachers’ houses and four double latrines. This is funded by the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission through their Community Works Programme.
N’dele School pupils carrying water to the building site
There are many more rural schools that need support. A new roof has been added to a classroom at Manyemuyemu, but this 1937 school needs further funding. Children at Bunsanga Community School are being taught in a mud hut while pupils at River View School are using tents! Reverend Presley Mulenga has recently been posted to River View School after serving as an impressive Head Teacher at Mukuni for the past twelve years. Presley will remain a full member of The Butterfly Tree.
River View pupils using tents for classrooms
Malaria prevention remains a major priority. We are in the final stages of getting the full licenses for the new malaria products from Biotech International. I was saddened to learn that malaria is again on the increase in the Southern Province. We will step up our programmes, my team reported that the repellent t-shirts donated by New Textiles have really helped. Horwich Rotary Club kindly donated a motorcycle and kit for Mrs Meseke, our Environmental Officer, which will enable her to reach remote malaria ‘hot spots’. A private donor funded her training with Riders for Health.
Mrs Meseke, Environmental Officer and member of The Butterfly Tree
More orphans have been added to our orphan sponsorship programme. A number of school leavers have been successful in seeking employment, some now doing teacher’s practice at our schools and others are volunteering for The Butterfly Tree.
N’gandu School pupils on our orphan sponsorship programme
We are making substantial advancements with education in rural areas. With your help we have sponsored several hundred individual orphans, built five new schools, expanded a further twenty schools and added four special education units with a fifth one scheduled for this year. We will endeavour to raise funds to help these vulnerable children – education is the key to alleviating poverty!
Jane Kaye-Bailey
