First of all I would like to apologise for the issues we have recently experienced with our website and emailing. We are currently in the process of updating the entire system, which will include a new website, with support from Steven Waller, an IT volunteer. We also welcome Anthony O’Neill, a long-term donor of The Butterfly Tree, to our board of Trustees. Anthony has supported our education projects for several years and is keen to find ways of providing solar power to clinics and schools in Zambia.
The Butterfly Tree also has a new address: 6 Walnut Tree Close, Banstead SM7 1QT. The telephone numer remains the same 0203 161 5877 and will be in operation once BT connect it on the 18th November! In the meantime if you wish to contact the charity please call 07535 424416 or email jane@thebutterflytree.org.uk
After the completion of the health post at Katondo we are thrilled to have be awarded further grant aid from the Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission to construct a health facility at Boombwe, a remote area in Musokotwane where currently people must walk 24km to seek medical attention. The area becomes inaccessible during the rainy season when women must deliver their babies at home. One senior headman’s comment after hearing the news – ‘this will be a first in my lifetime’, he is 65 years old. The project will include a clinic, two staff houses, a biodigester and equipment. The Butterfly Tree will fund a borehole. This will be the fourth health post funded by the Commission, others we have developed are at Sikaunzwe, Bunsanga and Katondo.
BOOMBWE COMMUNITY BRIEFED ON THE NEW HEALTH POST
The rainy season is about to start in Zambia so we are currently busy working with the Ministry of Heath to get malaria prevention interventions in place. Moomba, with the highest prevalence of malaria, is our priority. Houses are to be painted with a safe insecticidal coating. Larvacide will be applied to streams and ponds to prevent the larva developing into mosquitos. The schools in Boombwe area, the location for the new health post, are to receive mosquito nets. Every pupil and teacher will be given a net. Our ‘mosquito nets for schools‘ project is proving to be highly effective in helping to prevent new cases of malaria.
After a receiving a further donation from the Murphy Family Foundation two teachers’ houses are under construction at Musokotwane high school. Our trained youth builders are being paid to do this work. The Murphy Family are also supporting seven university students who are studying accountancy, pharmacy, engineering, teaching, and journalism. More students are participating in skills, including five girls sponsored by Their World, another three are studying nursing and carpentry. A classroom has also been built at Mukuni Primary school.
NEW CLASSROOM – MUKUNI PRIMARY SCHOOL
We have an exciting project underway for some of our former sponsored students, funded by the Murphy Family Foundation. In May, Jonathan Sedo, a toursim consultant who has volunteered for The Butterfly Tree since 2013 flew to Zambia to initiate a youth project at Mukuni Village and the Victoria Falls. Every year around one million tourists visit this magnificent World Heritage site, known locally as the Mosi-Oa-Tunya Falls.
The aim of the project is for the youths to take visitors on a tour of Mukuni Village and the Victoria Falls. Tourists can gain an insight into the traditional culture of the Leya people from youths who were born in Mukuni, and learn about their culture.
SIX FORMER SPONSORED YOUTHS AND MANAGER OF THE TOUR GUIDES
The latest community project for women entitled ‘Hope for a Better Future’ has taken off and proving to be lucrative. Funded by our Canadian partner, Give a Hand, women in Sekute grow maize and vegetables, and rear chickens. Situated close to the town of Kazungula and the Botswana border these enterprising women have found a demand for rape, a vegetable high in calcium and phosphorus, and chickens. The project includes a grinding mill for maize which can be used by other communities for a small charge to add to the women’s income. Previously the nearest grinding mill was a distance of 8 kilometres. These women are now able to support their families and have ‘hope for a better future!’
As always we are grateful to everyone who has supported our grass root projects, which are impacting the lives of thousands of vulnerable children and communities.
