By Jane Kaye-Bailey | Founder
The Butterfly Tree's Annual Report is now available to view on our website. It is full of illustrations and details of projects that have been completed during 2017-18. Below is an extract from the Executive Summary, pertaining to areas where we support the orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia.
This year has been one of the most successful in the history of charity, not only for fundraising, but the fact that we ventured into new terriority where no other charity or NGO had previously visited. in July 2017, we reached the remote area of Moomba Chiefdom.
The Kazungula District is a vast area in the Southern Province of Zambia with a population in excess of 70,000. During the past twelve years we have expanded our work from Mukuni Chiefdom into Sekute, Musokotwane and Nyawa Chiefdoms, and now Moomba.
Whenever I discussed Moomba with anyone in Zambia they said: ‘the distance is too far’. However, after learning that 46% of the population had malaria in 2016, I felt I had to do something about it. In July 2017, accompanied by three of our Zambian team, we set off at 5.30am for the 300km journey. After driving 100km on a good tarmac road, the next 75km was pitted with deep pot holes, before we turned onto sandy terrain. I drove for seven hours, with just a 20 minute lunch break, until we reached Moomba Centre. We distributed mosquito nets and blankets for vulnerable children, discussed the malaria situation, and drove back to Livingstone, arriving at 10.45pm!
The invaluable orphan sponsorship programme continues to help these needy children to gain an education. As the older ones complete school new ones are added to the list. Over 250 individual children are sponsored annually. In addition, we are currently sponsoring 16 students in further education. I must single out three students, Johan and Austine, who gained university places in Lusaka, and congratulate Jacob, who successfully completed a four year agricutural course. Our eight young peer educators are being sponsored at college in view of setting up skilled-based enterprises in 2019.
Education is the key to success and vital for children in rural areas. We have built a new school at Bunsanga, classroom blocks at Chaba and Singwamba schools, and a Science laboratory, to add to the recent 1x4 classroom block, at River View School. A considerable amount of desks, text books and school bags have been donated.
We continue to promote travel philanthropy and our team in Zambia meet tourists and take them to see our projects in Mukuni Village and beyond, which often results in a donation to the charity. We also had volunteers from the UK, USA and Canada, participating in healthcare, teaching, painting classrooms, women’s workshops and building houses. Fourteen community houses were given to widows and the elderly looking after orphans, and one major donor for this project helped with the construction.
Safety is a primary concern for us, both for the volunteers and the children we help. In light of the shocking allegations made against several big charities regarding sex exploitation, we have updated our Child Protection Policy, which can be viewed on our website.
In November 2017 I was both delighted and honoured to have shortlisteed to the final four for a global award. Aidex Humanitarian Award took place in Brussels and though I did not win, the charity gained a corporate partner after hearing about our work in Zambia.
Obviously, without funds none of this could have been achieved. I am astounded by the continued support of some of our donors who have followed us since 2006. A huge thank you to all our supporters, whether an individual, a company, a school, a club, a church or an organisation. Each and everyone of you has helped us to provide the essentials in life for thousands of orphans and vulnerable people in Zambia.
‘Can I just say thank you for all the continuing work you do, best wishes to you and all your hard-working team without whom these children wouldn't have an opportunity to enjoy their lovely schools’ Gail.
Links:
By Jane Kaye-Bailey | Chairman
By Jane Kaye-Bailey | Founder
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
