I recently returned from Zambia after a beneficial and rewarding trip. It was wonderful to see the abundance of water in the streams and rivers, and most especially cascading over the spectacular Victoria Falls. After the severe drought of 2024 when there was barely a trickle of water to be seen, the site this year is absolutely breathtaking along with the mighty Zambezi River bursting its banks.
As always, I tried to visit as many schools and projects as possible, though some of the tracks to outreach areas were in inaccessible. After the successful construction of Katanda Health Post, funded by the Guernsey and Overseas Aid and Development Commission, I drove to a remote area in need of a medical facility in Musokotwane. The tracks were barely visible, streams were full and after checking with some villagers along the way, we were informed that we could only reach Mombeulia using an ox and cart! I decided this was two risky for our local team and myself. It was disappointing but it’s only the third time in 20 years that I have failed to reach a destination.
The highlights of the trip were to visit Riverview Secondary school and Mukwela Primary. Funded by the Murphy Family Foundation a third classroom block has been completed at Riverview and the enrolment has reached 1,037 pupils. The school held an opening ceremony and official handover with pupils providing entertainment in the form of song, dance and poetry. The school is vibrant – teachers are committed and pupils are motivated.
The following week I visited Mukwela Primary school where we are currently building a 1×2 classroom block for children with special needs, thanks to a generous grant from Give a Hand, Canada. I was deeply touched when two pupils welcomed our team using sign language. The school has 1,267 pupils and learning takes place in two old classrooms and one recently built by the community. I was taken into classrooms that accommodated between 110 – 140 pupils, the highest numbers I have encountered anywhere. Surprisingly the pupils sat in an orderly manner and appeared to be happy and receptive.
This impressive community had also installed a water system and planted two fields of maize to support a feeding programme for pupils. After a brief discussion with my fellow trustees we unanimously agreed that we should offer more support to this primary school. To ease the congestion construction on a further 1×2 classroom will commence next week, much to the community’s delight.
Kamwi Primary school has a new school garden ready to plant vegetables for a sustainable feeding programme after a successful fundraiser by Alissa, a former volunteer. Ngandu school received a donation of educational items from Make A Medic, while Mukuni Secondary benefitted from a donation from some visitors who I took to Mukuni and Kamwi Villages. Mukuni secondary also received a boost to their Home Economics department from Family, Career and Community Leaders of America in Virginia.
The final stages of Simukumbwa Community school will be completed this month and should shortly be upgraded to primary status. This is one of our biggest primary schools to date, funded by Victor Ubogu and donors attending the Pre-Lions Rugby lunch held in aid of The Butterfly Tree last June. The facility comprises of two 1×2 classroom blocks, a staff flat for two teachers, a head teacher’s house, a water system and feeding shelter. Desks, office furniture and textbooks have also been provided.
We received a substantial donation of school furniture from Waste to Wonder sent from the UK in a 40 foot container. Items included computer desks, cabinets, office chairs and 50 computer monitors. The Murphy Family Foundation kindly funded most of the shipping and clearing costs. The new classroom block at Riverview was fully equipped, other beneficiaries were Singwamba, Namachele, Mukwela, Simukumbwa primary schools and Nguba secondary.
We will shortly commence drilling boreholes and funding is in place for six sites thanks to Nick Bousliman and Alex Ottewell. In the meantime, we repaired water systems in Mukuni Village and their secondary school last month after a storm had caused damage. Despite the abundance of rain people living in rural areas who do not live close to rivers and streams must dig shallow wells. The water is polluted and can cause disease.
We have added more orphans to the orphan sponsorship programme after 17 sponsored pupils completed school in December. I met with orphans at Mukuni, Ngandu, Kamwi, Riverview and Muskowatane and wish to thank all the new and existing sponsors who generously support this worthwhile programme. Those awaiting details of orphans will shortly receive the information.
Last but by no means least we received further support from the Agnus Lawson Memorial Trust for our ‘Mosquito Nets for Schools’ programme to help prevent school children from contracting malaria. The organisation is currently funding our malaria prevention programme in Mulobezi District. Some other areas are reporting serious cases of malaria, and sadly, one boy from Nguba Secondary school recently died before reaching a health clinic. Mosquito nets have been sent to this school and nearby Singwamba Primary.
I am delighted to inform you that we have just completed our financial year end, which has been our second most successful year since the founding of the charity in 2006. As always, I am extremely grateful to everyone who has supported The Butterfly Tree and look forward to initiating more projects this year.
Jane Kaye-Bailey
Founder
