Seeds for Life in Zambia

It is now over three months since the rains fell in Zambia and the dry season will continue until November or December. Due to climate change there is no guarantee that the rainy season will be good. Therefore it is vital that schools and communities have boreholes. This month we are to install a borehole in Katondo, a remote area in Nyawa Chiefdom, where we are about to commence construction of a health post, which will include two staff houses and a biodigester for waste disposal. This means that both the facility and health workers will have access to safe clean water.

The five water reticulation systems, installed earlier this year are working well in the schools we have supported. Ample crops are being grown for the schools’ feeding programme, with surplus vegetables being sold to the community. Profits are then used to pay school fees for orphans and vulnerable children.

Next month The Butterfly Tree will initiate a project for 200 women. A sustainable chicken and vegetable production enterprise will enable women in Sekute Chiefdom to be empowered and self-sufficient. The women will receive an income from the produce sales to pay for their children’s education. In addition to the chicken and vegetables, a moringa plantation will be established. This will provide a screen to shelter the project, a source of nutrition for the community, and can be used for chicken feed. A borehole and solar powered water reticulation with a storage tank will provide water all the year round.

Links:

• The Butterfly Tree's Sustainable Projects