Seeds for Life in Zambia

 Due to COVID-19 pandemic The Butterfly Tree has applied the following measures:

• The running of the UK charity will continue as normal as all the Trustees and volunteers work from their own homes
• Fundraising will continue – many people are still suffering from the affects of the drought
• Food will be distributed, and assistance given to rural health posts during the pandemic
• We are doing everything we can to support our Zambia NGO Trustees and volunteers, supplying them with hand sanitizers and soap, and giving them daily updates
• As of the 14^th March all international travellers were no longer able to visit, or volunteer for The Butterfly Tree’s projects in Zambia, before May, this will then be reviewed
• We have asked our local team to limit their movements in Livingstone with it being an international tourist destination and a border to Zimbabwe
• Projects that are ongoing or under construction will be limited unless essential, such as food distribution and healthcare
• All of the above we be reviewed on a daily basis

On a happier note The Butterfly Tree has received a substantial grant for our Seeds for Life project, through the GlobalGiving platform. This has given a tremendous boost to everyone concerned, most especially Zambian schools and communities where we work.

The grant will enable us to increase the number of school gardens we support, to create sustainable feeding programmes and for schools to raise money by selling produce to generate income. Five schools with largest numbers of pupils will be given water reticulation systems. We will also be adding more boreholes to schools that have no access to safe clean water. 

The Zambian Ministry of Education recently announced that schools must become sustainable and provide income-generation to support the needs of the school. This grant will enable several thousand school children to have sustainable school gardens to provide provide feeding programmes, which will greatly benefit children who walk long distances to seek an education.

As soon as it is deemed safe to do so we will commence the implementation of these projects, which will play a vital role in helping schools and communities to recover from the drought and the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Food distributions continue to take place to help those still suffering from hunger, with priority being given to orphans and vbulnerable children, women-headed households and the elderly. The threat of the spread of COVID-19 in Zambia increases the need for support. Zambia has reported three cases of the virus brought in from outside the nation.

We are extremely grateful to have received this grant and other donations, which provide much needed funds for our Seeds For Life project.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree Water Projects