More Zambian children living in rural areas will shortly have access to primary and secondary education. A new secondary school at Nguba and a primary school at Bbombe Lyangoma will open next term.
Nguba primary school has 923 pupils from early learning to grade nine. Classrooms are crowded and there is a shortage of desks. The Butterfly Tree is about to complete a new secondary school in this remote area, which will reduce the burden for the primary school, as the advanced facility will cater for grades eight to twelve. The project includes a 1×3 classroom block, a teacher’s house, toilets, and a borehole with a solar-powered water system to enable the school to create a sustainable feeding programme.
Other secondary schools developed by The Butterfly Tree are at Mukuni, Riverview and Musokotwane. We have also provided funds to expand Nyawa and Kauwe secondary schools. Currently pupils at Bbombe Lyagoma primary school have lessons in a basic structure built by the community. The new 1×2 classroom block will improve the learning environment. A teacher’s house will shortly be added to accommodate trained teachers funded by the Ministry of Education.
Though education is fundamental in overcoming poverty children must also have clean drinking water, sufficient food and access to healthcare. As previously reported Zambia is suffering from a severe drought. Hunger is widespread and water sources are drying up. Three more boreholes are to be drilled this week for Kauwe Rural Health Centre, and for Siangula and Sichifulo communities. Sicifulo school has 923 pupils, their borehole is having to accommodate neighbouring villages with a total population of 2,692. If these drills are successful, The Butterfly Tree will have donated 26 boreholes so far this year.
We are receiving daily requests for food donations. As soon as funds are available we help as many people as possible, sharing it equally in Mukuni, Nyawa, Sekute and Musokotwane Chiefdom. One man, who has four children plus two nephews and four orphans to look after, told our volunteers that they had not eaten a proper meal for five days.
Our research and surveys have not found any other organisation donating food in these remote areas where people would normally grow sufficient food for their own consumption, and to earn a living. Schools in Kazungula tell us that they are not receiving enough support from World Food Programme, only a few say they received ground maize for one term this year. Consequently, some children are not attending school due to hunger.
Thanks to substantial grant aid and donations received from the Overseas Aid and Development Commission of Guernsey, private individuals and the Murphy Family Foundation more food security projects are being initiated. The most recent ones are at Zalu, Kanchele, Sekute Central and Zwanga. Each group of women have been given a borehole, solar-powered water system, seeds and fertilizer. The next phase will be to construct workshops and to purchase grinding mills. Other food security projects in Musokotwane, Senkobo, Simabalele and Mukuni are progressing well.
A recent project to empower young people with mental health and physical challenges is underway after a delay due to the drought. Last week participants in Mukuni received training to learn all about chicken rearing. This will provide the group with food, and a sustainable income. Two more projects will be initiated this month for young people in Ngandu and Kamwi villages. We are grateful to our Canadian partner, Give a Hand for this generous donation.
Our sincere thanks to Jackie, one of our trustees who held a fundraiser, to the Murphy Family Foundation, Kampango, Cosham Inner Wheel Club, and all the individuals who have donated money to provide bags of ground maize for families who are suffering from hunger. If you would like to make a donation, a 25kg bag of ground maize will feed a family of four for a month and costs just £10 ($13), please click on this link or contact jane@thebutterlytree.org.uk
100% WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE VITAL FOOD AND WATER FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED.
Jane Kaye-Bailey
Founder
