Orphan Education Support - Zambian Villages

The past year has been challenging for everyone not least for the charity sector. Though our funding was down on previous years I am delighted to say that we have made a great start to the new financial year. Since the first of April we have received a substantial boost for our health, education, including orphan support, and community projects.

As always, our aim is to better the lives, and offer opportunities, for orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia. This year we will be sponsoring further education to many more pupils. Those that have been on The Butterfly Tree’s sponsorship programme and completed school in 2020, are being offered an opportunity to go to university, or college, to gain an academic degree, or a skilled-based diploma.

Currently we are supporting 9 students at university and college, studying the following topics: teaching, biomedicine, nursing, forward and clearing, and hotel management. Musenga, who was head boy at River View School, has just commenced a three-year nursing course. Owen from Mukuni, was recently awarded a good degree in biomedicine. We are also sponsoring 227 pupils at Mukuni, Ngandu, Kamwi, Ndele, River View and Kazungula Boarding School. 

Lack of textbooks in a huge problem in rural schools and often pupils fail exams due to not having a textbook. This month The Butterfly Tree has donated textbooks to 13 schools with a further 13 schools receiving next month.

Kamwi Junior School is under a development. Currently the school goes up to grade 7, after which pupils must walk a distance of 9 km, each way, to join grades 8 to 12 at Mukuni Secondary School. This will make a huge difference, especially for girls, who are vulnerable when walking alone. Expansion is also taking place at Muchambila and Muyunda Primary Schools, where teacher’s houses are being constructed.

Some of the schools we support are in malaria hotspots. Our ‘mosquito nets for schools’ helps to eliminate malaria. 900 mosquito nets have recently been distributed in Bunsanga and Singwamba, and a further 800 are on order.

After a reduction in COVID-19 Zambia are experiencing an increase in cases this month. We have supplied 13 schools and 10 rural health posts with PPE. We continue to be mindful of our local Zambian team that they are taking care to prevent contracting coronavirus, while waiting to receive the vaccination.

As always we are grateful for you continued support the orphans and vulnerable children in the Kazungula District of Zambia.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree's Education Programs