Orphan Education Support - Zambian Villages

I have just returned from Zambia where much of my time was spent meeting the orphans we are supporting, mainly at Mukuni, Kamwi, Ngandu and River View Schools. This past year our priority has been to ensure that they all have food as many of them live alone or with elderly grandparents. The new school year commenced in January and some of the orphans progressed to grades 8 and 10 after sitting exams. Unfortunately, some failed and will re-sit their exams later in the year. The drought has worsened the poverty in most areas and many parents have been unable to enrol their children in school this year. However, we recently had an increase in people wanting to sponsor orphans, subsequently we will continue to include all children that are vulnerable.

More children in Kazungula will shortly be able to attend school. Since our involvement at River View School the enrolment is now 1,600 pupils. The facility in Kazungula, the only township where we have a project, cannot take any more pupils. The new satellite school is almost complete and will take the overflow from the lower grades as well as children who have never been to school. The boarding shelters, funded by the same donors, accommodates over 40 pupils from outreach villages.

Twenty houses for orphans, disabled people and the elderly are currently being constructed by our youth builders. Funds have been donated to build a shop/workroom for uniform-making in Mukuni Village and five girls are to attend college as a result of a grant.

Thousands of children are receiving advanced education where previously they were taught in a mud and pole schools by untrained teachers. Our aim for the coming months is to provide food security for schools and communities, install more boreholes and expand educational facilities in rural areas. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported The Butterfly Tree.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree Orphan Support Programme

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS!

I have always believed that ‘every child has a right to education.’ After working in the rural areas of Zambia for almost fourteen years it is apparent that there are still far too many children unable to attend school, despite education being free up to grade seven. From grade eight upwards school and examination fees are required, as well as uniforms, shoes, books and educational materials.

In many areas of the Kazungula District I observe children being taught in traditional dwellings with only an untrained teacher from the community attempting to teach them the curriculum. Since 2006 we have built entire new schools, and expanded others, for one sole purpose – to provide advanced educational facilities for orphans and vulnerable children living in one of the poorest countries in the world.

The Zambian school year has just ended – throughout 2019 The Butterfly Tree constructed and developed more rural schools than ever before. According to the Ministry of Education we are the biggest contributor to education in the entire Kazungula District. The following projects have now been completed.

• River View Secondary School – addition of 1×2 classroom block & 2 boarding houses
• Muyunda – new community school, classroom block, borehole and latrines
• Nyawa Secondary School – addition of a science lab
• Nakawa Pre-school – complete facility for early learners – borehole, classroom and latrines
• Kawewa Primary School – 1×2 classroom block and latrines
• Mukuni Secondary School – addition of a boarding house
• Bunsanga Community School – addition of latrines complete the school

The two boarding houses at River View, and one at Mukuni, will allow more pupils from outreach villages to attend high school. We have also donated numerous desks, textbooks, equipment and much more. Chilaba school received a borehole with funding in place to provide clean water for four more schools.

In addition, we are sponsoring some 250 orphans from six schools, more grade 12 pupils completed school this month. We have funded nine students at colleges and universities – Esther and Lillian gained their teaching certificates. Four sponsored youths are now certified builders and have constructed the above boarding houses and latrines. Natasha, previously on sponsorship, is a main member of The Butterfly Tree team and runs the orphan support programme.

Supporting the  United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 our aim for 2020 is to build and expand more rural schools – construction is underway for a new satellite school close to River View. With 1,500 the school are unable to increase their enrolment, and 280 more pupils need accommodating!

Thank you to everyone for your invaluable support.

Links:

• The Buttewrfly Tree's Education Projects