Seeds for Life in Zambia

The Butterfly Tree continues to distribute 25 kg bags of ground maize throughout the Kazungula District to help people who are suffering from the severe drought. Thanks to substantial donations from many individuals, we have provided food for thousands of people suffering from hunger in remote areas of Nyawa, Mukuni, Musokotwane, Sekute and Moomba Chiefdom.

In addition, we donated bags of seeds and fertilizer to dozens of families and women’s groups who have no funds to grow vegetables and crops, another challenge caused by the drought. This will provide food security for thousands of people.

Water shortages have reached an all-time low with rivers, streams and even boreholes becoming dry. This year we installed a record number of boreholes in schools and communities, 30 in total. After visiting a site in October where young people were climbing down into a well to draw water, we drilled a borehole last month. The people of Mukumba and neighbouring villages now have access to free clean water and will no longer need to drink polluted water.

We have funded food security and safe water projects for women in Zalu, Sekute Central, Zwanga and Kanchele are progressing well. Other food security projects in Siambelele, Senkobo, Musokotwane and Mukuni are successfully producing vegetables. Women have readily available food for their families and profit from the sale of vegetables to educate their children.

The Youth Empowerment project for young people with physical and mental health challenges is finally making strides after delays caused by the drought. Three groups of young people with varying forms of disabilities are running a chicken rearing project at Mukuni, and goat rearing projects at Kamwi and Ngandu. Some of the participants are receiving professional training in business management with the aim of making this a sustainable income-generating enterprise.

As always, we have launched a Christmas appeal asking people if they would donate a 25kg bag of ground maize, which will feed a family of four for one month. The cost is just £10 ($13).

We are forever grateful for the overwhelming support we receive from long-term donors and all the new ones who have made contributions to our cause. We sincerely thank you and all our volunteers both in the UK and Zambia who are committed to helping improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable communities, most especially through the period of drought. The good news is the rains are coming....

Wishing you all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and good health in the New Year.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree Christmas Newsletter

Education is fundamental in overcoming poverty, but children must also have clean drinking water, sufficient food and access to healthcare. Zambia is suffering from a severe drought. Hunger is widespread and water sources are drying up. Three more boreholes are to be drilled this week for Kauwe Rural Health Centre, and for Siangula and Sichifulo communities. Sicifulo school has 923 pupils, their borehole is having to accommodate neighbouring villages with a total population of 2,692. If these drills are successful, The Butterfly Tree will have donated 26 boreholes so far this year.

We are receiving daily requests for food donations. As soon as funds are available, we help as many people as possible, sharing it equally in Mukuni, Nyawa, Sekute and Musokotwane Chiefdom. One man, who has four children plus two nephews and four orphans to look after, told our volunteers that they had not eaten a proper meal for five days.

Our research and surveys have not found any other organisation donating food in these remote areas where people would normally grow sufficient food for their own consumption, and to earn a living. Schools in Kazungula tell us that they are not receiving support from Food Programmes, only a few say they received ground maize for one term this year. Consequently, some children are not attending school due to hunger.

Thanks to substantial donations from a commission, private individuals, and organisations more food security projects are being initiated. The most recent ones are at Zalu, Kanchele, Sekute Central and Zwanga. Each group of women have been given a borehole, solar-powered water system, seeds and fertilizer. The next phase will be to construct workshops and to purchase grinding mills. Other food security projects in Musokotwane, Senkobo, Simabalele and Mukuni are progressing well.

A recent project to empower young people with mental health and physical challenges is underway after a delay due to the drought. Last week participants in Mukuni received training to learn all about chicken rearing. This will provide the group with food, and a sustainable income. Two more projects will be initiated this month for young people in Ngandu and Kamwi villages.

Our sincere thanks to Jackie, one of our trustees who held a fundraiser, and all the individuals who have donated money to provide bags of ground maize for families who are suffering from hunger. If you would like to make a donation, a 25kg bag of ground maize costs just £10 ($13).

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree - August Newsletter