Jane visited Mukuni Village in 2006, after which she vowed to find a way to support the overwhelming amount of orphans. She has a great deal of experience in fundraising for various causes in the UK and has travelled extensively. Seeing the vast scale of deprivation and poverty Jane founded the UK charity and NGO in Zambia in February 2007 and is chairman of both committees. She travels regularly to Zambia, meeting the people and learning of their needs, returning to England to source further donations. Jane promotes awareness of the plight of these vulnerable people, giving talks to schools, clubs and businesses. She has a wonderful relationship with the Chiefdom who bestowed her with an honorary title.

In November 2018 Jane received the Prime Minister’s Points Of Life Award for her work with orphans and malaria prevention.

January 2020 – Jane has been selected as a finalist for the Chartered Institute of Marketing Excellence Awards for their ‘Marketer of the Year’ award.

Jane retired as a Director of a UK leading Epos Systems and Technology company in 2014. She is an experienced public speaker and has spoken at the Global Luxury Forum, the World Travel Market and in at the European Travel Distribution Summit, speaking on Philanthropic Travel and The Butterfly Tree in order to further involve the travel industry in the fight against world poverty. In 2011 Jane was invited to Zurich by a global corporate to give a presentation and receive a substantial donation. The Butterfly Tree had been selected as the charity, working in Africa, with the best proven record of transparency.

In 2012 Jane hosted HRH The Princess Royal at Mukuni Village, after The Butterfly Tree was chosen to receive a visit during The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year.

Jane personally funds the administrative costs in the UK, adds all the content and photos on the website and insists that the charity is run entirely by volunteers. She has had the same team both in the UK and Zambia with her since 2006. Jane has engaged individuals, organisations and corporates in supporting The Butterfly Tree. She promotes the cause in Zambia and has shown numerous tourists the various projects in Mukuni Village and beyond, as well as engages local tour operators and hoteliers. The Butterfly Tree projects in Zambia have become a popular destination for global volunteers from all walks of life.

Message from a loyal supporter:

‘Jane always good to hear from you and witness via your regular emails the success and growth of The Butterfly Tree Charity & it’s concrete achievements. In my small way I am proud to be counted among your supporters! Sincerely , Roger’

When travelling around the villages Jane often has to deal with some heartbreaking cases and none more so than hearing about twin boys who lost their mother and baby sister during childbirth. The twins each weighing a little over 1 kg were not expected to live. At just two weeks old they were discharged from hospital to the village of Kamwi to be looked after by their grandmother, who had very little means. Jane, after seeing these vulnerable children went to Livingstone to purchase formula, clothes, blankets and a torch so that the grandmother could see to feed them during the night. As of February 2020 the twins were nine years old and attending Kamwi Primary School.

Jane was interviewed on Sky News headlines for malaria prevention in October 2013. Throughout 2014-15 Jane has campaigned extensively to promote malaria awareness and to help the global fight against malaria, working with a UK corporate to bring two safe new products to Zambia, a Portuguese company who make protective clothing and two Professors from a University School of Medicine.

During a visit in January 2015 Jane drove to several remote villages to evaluate developments within schools and clinics and sourcing new projects. She attended Malaria Prevention cross-border initiative with the Ministries of Health for Zambia and Zimbabwe.

July 2015 The Butterfly Tree launches the new innovative malaria prevention project in Zambia, with the Ministry of Health, at the Avani Victoria Falls Hotel. This will be a nationwide project to provide advanced protection to help the global fight against malaria.

Jane is passionate about helping orphans and continues to be an advocate for malaria prevention. As a result of the new innovative project, which she introduced to Zambia in 2014, the products are now being used globally to help the fight against malaria. She continues to promote travel philanthropy, hosting 15 donors and volunteers from Canada, Australia, USA, UAE and the UK in March 2017.

In November 2018 Jane presented The Butterfly Tree’s malaria prevention project at the AidEx Global Innovation Challenge. Competing against over 50 corporates the charity was runner-up.

Jane, you have given a bright future to our children. You have brought hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless. You have transformed the lives of many. Am a teacher at one of the schools that have greatly benefited from your assistance (Riverview Primary and Secondary School), Kazungula District of Southern Province in Zambia. – Samwinga Heimer

‘I want to express my genuine gratitude and sincere thanks to you for sponsoring me. You have been a constant support and inspiration. I am grateful and humble. You are mother to the orphans. I will try to do my best concerning my studies to become a nurse.’- Matilda Godwe