Orphan Education Support - Zambian Villages

Twenty years ago, this week I visited Zambia for the very first time. Little did I know that this trip would be a life-changing experience, not only for me, but for the thousands upon thousands of orphans and vulnerable children whose lives have been transformed.

After visiting Mukuni Village and learning of the high number of children that were unable to attend or continue their schooling after losing their parents, I wanted to do something to help. In March 2006 I returned to Zambia with David, my younger son, to distribute items we had collected, and to donate the funds we had raised to sponsor orphans, for Mukuni primary school and for the health centre.

Initially my aim was to find sponsors for orphans. However, after learning that there was no secondary school in the entire Kazungula District we set about raising money for one in Mukuni, which opened in February 2007. We have since developed secondary schools at Riverview, Musokotwane, and most recently Nguba, and advanced the facilities at Kauwe and Nyawa secondary schools.

To date we have provided support to 78 schools. Many schools, like Silelo, Bunsanga, Ndele and Simukumbwa that were originally mud and pole structures, have permanent infrastructure. Others have been given additional classrooms, science labs, computer rooms, staff houses, boreholes, toilets, educational supplies and sports equipment. The Ministry of Education employ the teaching staff, an ongoing cost that we do not have to provide.

We have also received funding to build another 1x2 classroom block from one of our regular donors. Construction is underway for a special education unit at Mukwela Primary School. The unit will be bigger than the one we opened in 2009 at Mukuni which has enabled children with various challenges to gain a sound education. The grant includes funding to expand the training of teachers in special education.

The first training session was initiated in 2024 in Kazungula District as a result of seeing for myself how these special needs children are neglected. I thought of the idea of training teachers on how to ‘teach children with physical and mental health challenges in an inclusive education system.’ Most have no option other than to attend a mainstream school where class enrolment can be 60 to 100 pupils, if they are to gain an education. This is tough if you have hearing or visual difficulties, or intellectual impairment.

In early January teachers from 190 schools in the Kalomo District received training on the above and each school was given a training manual which we produced last year. A report from the Head of Special Education for this district included these words: ‘The training was attitude changing on the way society perceives people living with disabilities.’ As a result, schools indicated that they were going to accommodate learners in inclusive classrooms and open special units for learners that may not benefit from inclusive classrooms.

I cannot thank our donors, trustees and volunteers enough for their generosity, loyalty and commitment. I once read this African proverb 'If every little person did a little bit, the world would be a better place.' Your donations, however small, have helped to sustain The Butterfly Tree for twenty years.

I have just returned from three weeks in Zambia after visiting many of the Butterfly Tree's project and meeting orphans and vulnerable children. It was wonderful to be there and see the progress taking place.

This year we are adding further infrastructure to three secondary schools. An additional 1×3 classroom block will shortly be completed at Riverview secondary. Prior to our support there was no secondary school at Riverview. We first built a 1×4 classroom block in 2015. This was followed by a science lab and three more 1×3 classroom blocks, two boarding houses and toilets. The pupil enrolment at the secondary school is now 1,038.

We funded another boarding house for boys, and toilets for girls at Musokotwane secondary school. Another donor helped us with an additional 1×3 classroom block and a boarding house for Nguba secondary school, which opened in January 2025 and continues to enroll more pupils.

Further development is taking place at Simukumbwa community school. The second classroom block, feeding shelter, staff houses and toilets are under construction. The new water system is in place. This is a substantial project and a huge bonus for this remote community in Kalomo District. I did not manage to reach the site this time due to the distance and heat but one of our local volunteers visits the site regularly and reports back to us.

As always it was a pleasure to meet up with pupils being sponsored by The Butterfly Tree. I visited them at the following schools: Mukuni, Ngandu, Kamwi, Riverview, Kazungula Boarding school, Senkobo and Musokotwane. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to meet all of them due to examinations taking place. A further twenty pupils on sponsorship will complete grade twelve in December.

Last but not least, some of the sponsored pupils who completed grade twelve and were offered university and college courses gained degrees last month! Charity was awarded a teaching degree and is currently doing her work experience at Riverview, the school she attended up to grade twelve. Henry gained a degree in Bio-medicine, while Kenneth and Christopher gained degrees in accountancy. Esnart gained a college diploma in journalism and Bright a diploma in accountancy. This was a rare opportunity, which they all embraced, and potentially life-changing.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree - November 2025