Seeds for Life in Zambia

As 2020, with all its challenges, comes to an end, schools in Zambia have hope for a better future. After the severe drought of 2019, the rains this year have come in abundance, just in time for planting, which traditionally starts on Christmas Day.

Thanks to receiving a substantial grant award earlier this year, The Butterfly Tree has donated seeds, fertilizer, and gardening tools to 25 schools in the Kazungula District. The Ministry of Education states that all schools must initiate a food production unit to sustain a feeding programme for their pupils. This is not easy when the poverty levels, made worse by the drought and COVID-19, are so extreme. As a result, many pupils are failing to pay school fees and only have one meal per day.

The food production units will not only provide a sustainable feeding programme, but surplus crops and vegetables will be sold to the community. Prophets from the sales will be used to pay school fees and uniforms for orphans and vulnerable children, and to purchase educational supplies.

Each school received a variety of seeds, including maize, the staple diet of Zambians, sorghum, which is less rain dependent than maize, and a mixture of nutritious vegetables.

Five of the biggest schools in the Kazungula District, River View, Singwamba, Katapazi, Matengu and Chaba received water reticulation systems, also funded by the grant aid, and an additional one at Musokotwane Secondary School, from a private donor. The solar powered submersible pump and storage tank will provide a constant supply of water during the dry season.

We are extremely grateful for the grant, which has boosted our “Seeds for Life” project and for all the individual donations which have enabled us to reach out to more rural schools. Our aim for 2021 is to raise more funds in order to supply additonal schools with water systems to assist for invaluable food production units, especially during the 6 month 'dry' period from April to November.

Wishing all our volunteers, donors, and beneficiaries a healthy and peaceful New Year.

Links:

• Submersible Water Systems