As ever it has taken me awhile to get around to writing this newsletter, but I have had a reasonable excuse. Planning the most busy, lively and vibrant wedding I have ever experienced. This brought together community, some lovely friends and family and many past volunteers. Craig was there, our heroic person that had so much to do with the setup of our very succesful info room. Theresa, an old chef who many will remember and love, and who has a final year of Pasteur training. Rowan, who has helped so much wih the funding of projects and who came and got very involved new  sewing ideas fo the widow's group. My dear mum who does so much bringing, as ever, masses of baggage and support. Katie whose efforts enabled Chikale School to get a new school block. The school is so close to finishing that the children will be learning inside in about a week. It has had a few set backs, and has been a mission but it will all be worth it when we can get the kids in and be able to provide resources as its is a lockable classroom.

Colin is also back, He blessed us with a stage when he was here, for the youthe club, which since has seen many performances. This time, his project is a kitchen at the nursery school. He has come with the finances after fundraising independently. He made a slow start as my wedding got in the way, but now with a full team and a week in, he has made amazing progress. Kumbu and Willard, his trusted helpers, have seen his vision and been completeing what he set out to do, He has had a full team of helpers Sam, Thomas, Matius, Ryan, and Kirsten. The idea was to feed the older class so that school can continue for longer hours. After having a meeting withe the mothers it seems porridge will be in popular demand so we wil try and feed 50 children every day of school. The mothers were so happpy about this initiative that they have come up with a committee  that will take turns to cook each day for the children. The porridge has been bought from Ekwendeni hospital and costs about £15 for 25kg. It has soya in it and also added vitamins and minerals which are important for little minds.Currently many children in Malawi are malnourished. Until we start I am not sure of the exact portions but I am approximating that this bag will last 2 weeks. If anyone wants to spoonsor this new feeding programme, please get in touch.

The nursery school education goes from strength to stregnth with the wonderful array of poeple that offer their time and skills. Diane and Megan who are two students from Cape Town University studying to be preschool teachers, came for some weeks to help. They spent time with the teachers as well as the students. Lesson planning has improved and they prepare and devise themes that have made a complete change to the monotony of school life. Their motivating efforts encouraged many others to get involved. Sari, joined them for some time and then made conscious efforts to get back re-enforcements from Emily.They continued where the others left off with another girl Amy who was directed through the web site. As a trio they worked so well, again fuelling the teachers as well as students. It's such a contagious activity as we all sit down making fun resources for the school, drawing silly pictures, and playing games.

There is a new volunteer there now, called Nita who will be around for some months. She has had the support of Mel for a week and they have made a promising start. Volunteers are also interested in the nursery garden and have gone up under the instruction of the new gardener, Memory, who is very green fingered and such a character. There is a lot to be watered and nurturted during this dry season. He has planted ground nuts with Josie and more fruit trees and maintains the flowers as well as the surrounding area. Josie is constantly busy around the garden and is madly watering to keep her hard work alive.

Nita has also dedicated her time to helping with the special needs school. I can't express how wonderful the developments of this group are. With the outreach programme that Nemone set up, we don't just have Mondays, the children are visited and assisted much more and a few have been given opportunitites of work and life skill training. I will endeavor to put each profile on the website as I'm sure there are more specialised people that can further these developements. It really was a God send when Moyna and Yvonne, two occupational therapists came for two weeks. Of course I kept them extremely busy seeing to all the clients and more being brought to them as they made home visits. This group of people are so vulnerable in Malawi and it was a real eye openter to see all the positive things that can be done. They devised their time as best they could and worked around the clock, visiting, massaging, and writing up programmes and reports. The amount of people that have benefitted is great and I am sure that's not the last of them. They will be back with other skilled volunteers as they left their hearts here when tey  saw how much there was to be done.

I have also made a great link with MAP Malawi Against Physical Disabilities. They come to Nkhata Bay hospital every two months and assess people. We took one boy Mwoana who can crawl but not walk at 20yrs. We went to fit kneee pads that they provide free of charge but found out about wheel chairs and were able to purchase him one thanks to kind donations. He recieves it next week and will get training from another community member who is wheelchair bound. There are so many people to take to the next session, one girl in particular who I found randomly this week who worried me the most. It was one of my most shocking experiences, she can't sit up and is 20yrs. When I went to visit her I found her in a corridor which she is dragged to each morning by her grandmother who is old and also struggling. She obviously cares for her but cannot provide the special care she needs throughout and then then drags her back to bed at the end of the day. She has agreed to join the Monday group and will definately be one of hte people I get to MAP this month.

We finally had to say goodbye to our translator George. He has some mental issures of his own and has had a problem with taking his medication. I wil try to continue supporting him but to be in charge of the vulnerable group is just not possibnle anymore. We do however have a new employee, Isaac and he seems to be perfect for the job. He is patient and hepful with teh students and readily available. I had a visit from a trained specialist of learning difficult children who has given isaac some days training that seems to have had a really psoitive impact on how he works with the students.

Jeff and Erica, a couple from the US fell in love with some of the amazing Monday characters. Their energy and vibe fit right in at Butterfly. They became so part of the special needs group every Monday and Jeff became the driver of the new blue truck that will be used for pojects and also act as a fundraier if people want to hire it. They also did daily tutorials for the able youth club as it was school holiday and then opened the doors to many new members having lots of fun. They were head first in the info room too, giving computer lessons as well as writing up 'do it yourself' sheets for their wotk to continue. Over all, they became really good friends and would help with anything. If you are reading this, we send lots of love and people are still asking where you are, so come back!!

The youth club also saw Kat who is a drama teacher from my home town. She came so prepared and didn't need any hand holding. I put a poster up before she arrived which attracted some lads from Vizara, when she visited, they had a really developed set up and have some real talent. I hope to contine this link she has set up as they really appreciated her training and were encouraged by her efforts. She also worked with Butterfly youth, with many games and the performance of Macbeth. I feel I have made a real friend in her and know we will be in touch. She was also very keen on the chicken idea of mine to help get eggs for the F.A.W.N.S. Her leaving gift was a new chicken for the pen and some feed. "Sorry Kat, she didn't make it but new ones are on the way." Two other volunteers did manage the chicken pen. Liam and Sarah. They were jack of all trades and helped wherever they could all over, youth club, radio gathering, and the nursery.

Another volunteer who really worked independently was Robin from Australia. She had linked up with another NGO in town-Chimwemwe Umbrella.She worked so hard for them, visiting their various groups painting their new building, devising ways to fundraising for their rent, putting on lunches, and teaching the widows group.The widows that meet here at butterfly learnt so many new designs to sell for some income, including reversible sun hats, purses and house slippers.She and I finally got the sanitary towel project underway. Ryan paid for and brought all the materials needed, nylon, towel etc. and Robin made the design and we got busy sewing. Many women and youth club bmembers have also learnt how to make them and taken them home. Menstrual perdiods stop a lot of young girls from going to school because of embarrasing leaks so the new design is eco friendly as it can be washed and used again and is much less obtrusive.

I have started a new project that also gets kids in school. We have always been supplied with firewood by young children in the local area to light our showers. These children have been picked as the under privileged and they have been sent out to make a bit of money.They walk very far and are often barefooted and complaining of being refused at school for not having a uniform. We call it 'fuel for shcool'. Of course we will still pay them fo the firewood but they will also get uniforms if they need it, soap. pens and books for school and even haircucts at this is also a reason that they may be refused schooling.

It has been really great to see Butterfly employees get involved in the projects and volunteering going on around them.Ophanuel as always offers his constant support and guidance, we could not operate on so many levels without him. Thank you! Happy, the newest chef has started a small cookery school, where each day he uses the youth club to teach a young gruop of students how to be chefs. Kwame the new barman, has really got involved with the radio initiative which ahas about 12 active members. Josie set them up and there has been continued interest thoughout. They gather the news togethr and send it off to Mzimba to be broadcasted.They have already covered many topics like the HIV couselling, Tonga cultural gatherings, traditional healers who are working illegally, Chindoswa School , and the new road that is being constructed.They meet three teimes a week and have shown great enthusiasm and passion for journalism.They look forward to a workshop from the professionals at Mzimba at month end.We have high hopes of having our own radio station one day in Nkhata Bay as there is only half an hour each day dedicated to Tonga each day on the national radio.

There has also been hectic renovating work around the Butterfly Site. One of the dorms collapsed and we had a month to get a new one built before we were booked out. One Friday evening we had people moving into one side as the biulder was still finishing the top of the wall.Struggles aside, we now have a new beautiful dorm with a gorgeous deck out front to relax and take in the lake view.We have also finally switched from the flush toilets system, and are full time with the composting toilets which will be a trial run. We have a concrete plan of how to do an eco-urinal thanks to Liam's idea, so hopefully that will help as well.Wtih the flush toilets out of the way, it means we can use this space to develop the information room more, and have a media centre with the projector set up  and computers for teaching on sujects like photography, music, videos, as well as having more equipment to take the radio idea forward (.Again any donations of equipement towards the info room are gratrully recied as we are always in need lap tops software, digital recorders, cameras and the like are appreciated donations as we look to expand this area. We can organise for voluneers to bring them rather than relying on the post as well,)

Other former volunteers Enid and Ian had also been in touch about possibly helping to organise a permaculture Design course here at Butterlfy. After they left here, they spent some time at Strawebery Field Eco Lodge in Ethiopia, where they were very impressed with teh whole setup.As a result we are trying to get their resident trainer, Tchafa Makovere down here to hold a two week design course betweein the 24th of October-5th of November. The hope is that if we can attract some paying international guests that we can also invite 10 Malwians who are invovled in permaculture locally to come learn more information. For full details of this course please visit our we-site on the Facebook page and please feel free to spread the word if you are involved in these circles at all and think you know people who might be interested.

Tourism and government have come together to fix the road up to the lodge. It is already well under way and is going to make massive difference to our busiines.We also got a not so welcome visit from Tourism. On inspection they reminded us of the standars and gave us two days to sort it but with a few new cushions sewn byLaura and a good spring cleaning, we are back in the game and ready for visitors. As always you are most welcome and can get in touch with project ideas and how to get here as soon as possible!

"Hidden in our hearts is a longing to live deply and with purpose and joy,

to know an to be known, to be concerned wih another;

and to make a differenc. In this dance of giving and recieving,

we create our community, our world and ourselves."

www.butterfly-space.com

www.facebook.com/butterfly.space.malawi
 

By Josie Redmonds

WOW!  I can’t believe it is May already and time for another newsletter.  There has been so much going on here, and so many lovely people staying that the time has just flown by.  There seems to be no end of interest and people are booked to come throughout the year so it seems that the word is spreading.  Thanks to everyone who is helping on that front and keep it going……the new Face book group is getting more members, so again send it around to all your friends. 

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Butterfly-Space/151679408179045  For all you computer boffins out there if anybody fancies giving me a lesson of what kind of things we can do with Face book then it would be greatly appreciated.

The week long Permaculture course that kicked off at the end of February went really well, with good attendance, nutritious snacks and some good practicals up at Chikale Primary school.  We used two trainers linked to the Education Department and in all 15 people attended the 5 day training, coving topics like soil health, water management, diversity and nutrition.  The mornings were spent doing theory in the youth club and after a hearty lunch we went up to the Primary school to put into practice what we had learnt.  During the week we fixed some check dams, planted over 30 fruit trees and created a banana circle.

Since then we have been meeting weekly on a Tuesday and have made a wider plan for the school and its surrounds.  Because of the massive erosion problem at the school we have continued building swales along the contour- to try and control the water flow- and have planted lots of vetiver grass and added new check dams to control what does anyway get swept out.  It is a big job, and hopefully we can change things bit by bit.  As we speak the rains have more or less stopped so there is not much chance to plant many more things this year.   I am hoping we can visit a nearby school that has been doing permaculture for some years to keep the group inspired for next rainy season.  I would also like to try and build a rainwater harvest from the new school block to not only present future problems of erosion but to provide clean water for washing at the school, as presently there isn’t any. 

The garden at the nursery school is also starting to fruit- although I am amazed with the tiny amount of time I get to spend up there.  But the Rosella in the garden has provided a nutritious juice for the children and also the papaya trees that were planted 18 months ago are fruiting for the first time.   We also did the Rosella tea with the FAWN’s and have provided seeds for those who want to continue growing it.  We also experimented with a baobab and banana jam, which turned out to be delicious.  As with many of these different plants, some people remember using them, but many not, showing that the diverse knowledge from previous generations is slowly dying out.  It would be amazing to set up an on-going chronicle for the area so that we could start to document and record information as well as stories and people.  

The nursery in general has benefitted from a load of volunteers in the last few months, with sometimes 5 people heading up there to help out Zione and Selina, the new teacher.   Bianca and Heidi are two of the longer term volunteers and have been massively energetic in their approach both at the nursery school and their attitude towards getting involved in Nkhata bay in general.  Stephanie and Hayley also spent a few weeks lending a hand and Rhonda also spent a couple of weeks up there.  All this meant more one on one attention for the children.

The sand pit at the nursery school also had an overhaul, with Louis, Steve, Tom and Tim getting it done and the un enviable job of carrying sand up from the beach.  It looks more durable this time and  is already proving massive hit and even Yuka loves it- lying in there while he waits for class to finish. 

Our playground here at Butterfly also got a massive renovation thanks to the concerted efforts by Pierre, Jessica, Steve and Charles.  The crowbar sent by my mum also came in massively useful!  The termites had eventually devoured the massive poles used for the playground and even the swing had collapsed, making it increasingly useless and even dangerous.   So with a slight alteration to the layout it was completely dismantled and re-erected- to be enjoyed again by the many kids that pass through here.  A much bigger job than I am making it seem here.

April also saw Alice organising another School fare fundraiser at Chikale Primary- again we were able to make use of all the volunteers and had a load of stalls for the kids to enjoy.  The old favourite- tombola- never fails to get a crowd but the few additions of ‘bat the rat’, skittles and pillow fighting got lots of people involved- it’s not as easy as it lucks.  The kids always have such a great day that they money raised always seems like an added bonus.

 Thanks again to the Solon Foundation who added to the amount raised on the day so the school block can continue to make progress.  The roof is on now and Margot and Louis have been helping out this week  with the endless job of liming the walls. 

April also saw World Earth day on the 22^nd and to mark the event we planted 60 trees up at Bolero Primary School.  We had been contacted by an organisation who it attempting to encourage a billion acts of green by encouraging groups worldwide to carry out things in their locality- however small they may seem.  By linking these together with other people doing similar thing

s we can see just how mush is being achieved on a larger scale.  It was a fun morning out- that side of Nkhata Bay- up in the hills is really stunning.  Mr Moyo from the Education Department came along as well, which is a good show of support and we were helped lots by the great work of the teachers at the school, our volunteers from Butterfly and members of the youth club as well.  In total we planted 60 trees, with over half of them being fruit trees.

Easter also brought more tourists to Butterfly so it is a good opportunity of the youth club to put on another play.  This time it was Beauty and the Beast, and they had some imaginative costumes to back up the moral tale!  By all accounts another one might be in the offing with t new volunteer Katie thinking about teaching them Peter Pan.  The special need group has gathered pace and taken on new members, and Michael has come down from his volunteer position in Mzuzu to help on a couple of occasions.  Two other tourists- Andre and his girlfriend Sandra decided to hang out a bit longer and ran a three day business course for Malawians looking to set up a business.  Again it was held in the youth club building and was heavily attended- getting more each day and there were nearly 30 people in there on the last day.

We have been blessed with two lovely families recently as well which has meant there have been lots of hands to get involved in things.  We fixed the clay oven here at Butterfly as we had everybody stomping clay for the day so as you get the full covering on in one go.  All worked well and we didn’t even miss a pizza night. 

Two of the lads, Gabriel and Mirek, also did a mammoth job of collecting contact details for all the clubs in the English Football league.  I want to contact them and try and secure expertise to help us transform the football pitch here in Nkhata Bay.  Football is massive here in Malawi, and the local games down there bring hundreds to watch.  Yet the pitch is atrocious, so hopefully we can stir a few hearts and get a grounds-man over here to help us sort it out.  Nkhata Bay play in the top league here in Malawi so they really do deserve something better.  If anyone has any contacts at specific football clubs then please let me know.  It would be great to get a foot in the door.

As well as spending time up at the nursery school, Rhonda also met often with the widows group and did some sewing sessions.  Their new hammocks have recently been put up down at the bar and are proving popular, so hopefully this should ensure there are some ore sales for them.   Lisa B also did a few cooking lessons with the widows group, testing out chocolate, cinnamon and banana cakes.  They were sold here at Butterfly and never lasted long.  Lisa was here for some time at Butterfly, conducting research into International volunteers and the role they can play.  It will definitely be an interesting read in the future. 

There have also been two more deliveries of ‘New beds for old heads’ which means 12 more people sleeping easily at night.  Alice’s mum was over for a couple of weeks and went on one of the deliveries and said it was one of the nicest days she had spent- really getting further out into the village and people are so hospitable.  Thanks to all those of you that have donated specifically for these- you know who you are.   Another delivery from the UK, again thanks to CART, meant that lots of equipment from my old Primary School, Lepton C of E, in Huddersfield.  They collected all these things for their harvest fair last year and this is the last consignment.  Initially it was thought it would be all for the youth club, but with so much stuff arriving there were parcels that we made up both for Chikale primary school and a small charity Phunzira, which is working 60 km’s north in a remote village called Ruwarwe.

Some footballs also came which went to both the Butterfly Team and also to Nkhata Bay Sisters.  The girls have been going for about 4 years now and were recently taking part in a cup game in Mzuzu.  Unfortunately they lost 3-1 but it was an excellent day out for all the girls who rarely get out on such a day trip to enjoy.

Around site here at Butterfly, the new compost toilet and shower are all but finished and once we are sure they are fully functioning then we can move off the septic tank and start to think about the renovation for the second part to the info room.  It will be really amazing to get this last piece of the jig-saw up and functioning and we hope it will provide technical opportunities for the community and volunteers.  There will be a projector in there and the chance for weekly podcasts and films.  With a separate computer and different types of software we hope it will also provide learning opportunities in the areas of photography, music and editing, amongst others.  Any contributions towards this project will be greatly appreciated, particularly different kinds of software and more specialist equipment for increasing the learning opportunities available.

Massive rains about a month ago- and a lack of maintenance on our drains meant that we suffered a river of mud coming thorough the site that did massive damage to our driveway-  Luckily visiting at the time there was an engineer from the Ravens’ Trust, John Challis who was able to help us out a bit with the design and during our conversation he mentioned he had been working on the idea of a locally made pump- so you never know he may hold the solution to our on-going water pump idea.  We will be waiting for him to return in July when he hopes to set up a prototype just outside Mzuzu at Ekwendeni.

As usual there are changes in staff- unfortunately losing Anderson in the kitchen, but gaining Happy and our new barman Kwame who seems to be a natural.  Edita has joined as a cleaner as well.  Fanny’s daughter Tilly was extremely ill a few weeks ago and after a week of unsuccessful treatment in Nkhata bay was transferred to Mzuzu where she has recovered and is getting plenty of attention from everyone around Butterfly at the moment. 

So there seems to be no end of people coming through and ideas and opportunities taking shape.  A recent visit to Mzimba Community Radio, with Corrie Poulson, holds massive potential to link up with them and in doing so learn and help to teach and bring radio opportunities to the people of Nkhata Bay.  Exciting times, and with a host of wonderful people interested and rocking up over the summer and beyond it looks set to become an amazing year.   

“Hidden in our hearts is a longing to live deeply and with purpose and joy, to know and to be known, to be concerned with another; and to make a difference.  In this dance of giving and receiving, we create our community, our World and ourselves”

www.butterfly-space.com