Orphan Education Support - Zambian Villages

Everything we do revolves around the welfare of the Zambia orphans. 1.2 million children have lost one or both parents through HIV and AIDS, malaria and poverty related issues.

We take a holistic approach when working with orphans and rural communities, looking to see how their water, food, health and education facilites can be improved. We have made tremendous progress in many areas, most especially by adding bore holes (wells) in schools, most recently to Siachabuki and Simuka. With the prolonged drought, which has caused considerable food shortages throughout the Southern Province, bore holes are essential, not only to provide safe drinking water, but also to enable irrigation for school gardens. This year fifteen schools have received seeds and fertilizers to develop sustainable feeding programs.

Major projects completed in 2015 include the school development at N’gandu with the addition of a 1×3 classroom block, two teacher's houses and latrines. Other schools that recently received funding are River View, who were given desks and text books, and 100 pupils received school bags containing all their educational needs. Kasiya School has new latrines, a teacher’s house has been restored at Kamwi and a new 1×2 classroom block at N’dele.

In December a number of orphans, being sponsored by the charity, completed school and will receive their results in March 2016. Charity Muuya, completed her third year at Teacher's Training College and will be volunteering for The Butterfly Tree while she await employment. Over the Christmas period we have engaged school leavers, who were sponsored by The Butterfly Tree, and having been trained as peer educators, to run HIV prevention workshops.

We are reaching out to 29 schools in four Chiefdoms. Thousands of orphans and vulnerable children, throughout the Kazungula and Livingstone Districts, now have access to improved water supplies, feeding programmes, better education and healthcare.

Links:

• Pictures showing some for our achievements in 2015

There are 1.2 million orphans in Zambia, primarily as a result of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. All the work done by The Butterfly Tree in Zambia is designed to improve the welfare of these vulnerable children. Every school we work in has orphans - Mukuni Village has the highest number with a staggering 600 children, over 50%, losing one or both parents!

In October 2010 I had to deal with one of the most heartbreaking situations I have ever encountered. Baby boys, Elvis and Vincent, were born two months premature, after their mother went into early labour. She died during childbirth with a third baby. The hospital could not help them, so when they were just two weeks old, each weighing less than 3lbs, they were sent home, to the remote village of  Kamwi. The Butterfly Tree has supported these vulnerable boys ever since. I am overjoyed to tell you that this month they are celebrating their fifth birthday!

Our program has helped hundreds of orphans, and has enabled them to stay with their friends instead of having to go into orphanages. The first orphan we ever sponsored was Peter Liyungu, who went on to complete high school and is now being sponsored to go to college. Peter and another sponsored orphan called Charity, recently did their work experience at Mukuni and will shortly become qualified teachers. Josias, who has already gained his certificate, is volunteering at N'dele School, whicle awaiting a permanent teaching post.

To prevent new cases of HIV we fund workshops in schools. This project teaches peer educators all about the dangers of HIV, sex education, teenage pregnancies and alcohol issues. Once trained these young educators visit other schools and teach the pupils everything they know about HIV prevention. We are seeing very good results.

As always education is the key to overcoming poverty and its related issues. Your support has enabled us to pay for school and exam fees, buy uniforms, school shoes, bags and books. We are very grateful to all our sponsors, the guardians who look after the orphans and the volunteers who oversee the welfare of these very special children.

Links:

• The Work of The Butterfly Tree