I am thrilled to announce that The Butterfly Tree is the winner for ‘Volunteering Abroad Specialist of the year 2020‘ for United Kingdom, at the Travel & Hospitality Awards. Every year the charity attracts volunteers, donors and visitors from all over the world to help with our fundamental projects in Zambia.
JANE WITH KATIE, FOUNDER OF COPPER ROOT COLLECTIVES
This is an amazing accolade to receive and I would like to dedicate this award to our local team, without them none of this could happen. If I am not in Zambia Mupotola, Martin, Presley and Natasha look after the volunteers and visitors, and organise volunteering experiences for them.
PRESLEY, MARTIN AND MUPOTOLA – OUR ZAMBIAN TRUSTEES
The activities range from helping to build or restore classroom blocks, community houses or health centres. Nurses, doctors and medical personnel work alongside local health practitioners, and teachers and students volunteer in rural schools. For many this is a life-changing experience. Two of our UK trustees and two volunteers joined The Butterfly Tree after visiting and volunteering in Zambia.
BELGIAN LAWYERS FOR AFRICA DONATING MAIZE AND BOREHOLES – OCTOBER 2019
I am currently working with tourism consultants to see how we can improve the tourism experiences to Mukuni Village and the Victoria Falls, looking at ways to attract more tourists and generate employment once the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.
THE MIGHTY ZAMBEZI RIVER AS IT APPROACHES THE VICTORIA FALLS
With all the news surrounding COVID-19 I am pleased to say that the charity is doing really well. Our Canadian partner, Give a Hand, has approved a grant application for an ambitious project for 200 women in Musokotwane and surrounding villages. This will be based on products from mango trees, that grow profusely in rural areas. It will provide extra nutrition during the dry season and a sustainable income-generating activity for these women to support their families.
200 WOMEN IN MUSOKOTWANE HAVE A NEW PROJECT TO LOOK FORWARD TO
Copper Root Collective, another Canadian partner, has donated funds for a borehole to be installed for the above women’s project. We are currently engaging drilling companies for a further 7 boreholes for schools and communities.
BOREHOLE AT MUKALAHANI VILLAGE – DONATED BY COPPER ROOT COLLECTIVES
The maternity ward and mother’s shelter built last year in Simonga Village will receive further donations from Blooms The Chemist, Australia. This will include water improvements, more equipment and a monthly allowance for supplies. Posworks, Australia, recently donated an ultra-sound scanning system – an invaluable addition to this facility.
MATERNITY WARD – SIMONGA VILLAGE
On the 22nd June The Choirs of Pembroke College, Cambridge held a spectacular 24-hour fundraiser for Mukuni Village, entitled Bach-for-Zambia. The organiser, Anna Lapwood, staged amazing virtual organ recitals with world-class organists participating from around the globe. The videos can be seen on the YouTube Channel. The funds will provide maize for the Mukuni people who have no income due to the impact of COVID-19 on tourism.
VIRTUAL BACH FOR ZAMBIA FUNDRAISER 60 PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING SOME OF THE TOP ORGANISTS
Due to the food shortages we have donated a further 300 bags for all the orphans and vulnerable children on our orphan sponsorship programme. Grades 7, 9 and 12 are now attending school after we donated the required protection. My apologies for the delay in sending out details of new orphans and updates on existing ones on the programme. Our priority is to ensure they have food and safety during these challenging times.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO ORPHANS – MUKUNI VILLAGE
More donations have come in from Inner Wheels Clubs from all over Great Britain and Ireland, for our vital malaria prevention prgramme. We are grateful to have been chosen to work with the Association, along with Medical Aids Films, for a second year.
Thank you to everyone who has continued to support our vital projects in Zambia and all the new offers recently received. The support has been both humbling and overwhelming.
Jane Kaye-Bailey (Founder)
