Mukuni village — Zambia
Improving Education for Young People with Special Needs in Zambia
Area — Education
Beneficiaries — Over 2,000 children and young people with special needs, as well as their teachers.
This initiative has been crafted with Zambia’s unique educational landscape in mind. Although the country implements an inclusive education system—where children with special needs, whether physical or intellectual, attend the same schools as their peers—many teachers have observed that the system often falls short in adequately addressing the specific needs of these students. As a result, the project is structured around two main components.
The first project’s pillar involves providing training for teachers across various regions of Zambia to equip them with the skills they need to better understand and respond to the specific needs of students with special needs. This component includes training sessions, outreach missions to hard-to-reach areas, and the development of a guide to help teachers identify and overcome the challenges these students face. Additionally, The Butterfly Tree supplies tailored educational materials to meet the children’s needs.
The project’s second pillar is dedicated to raising awareness—an essential endeavor in a context where individuals with disabilities are still frequently stigmatized. Such stigma often results in children being kept out of school, as many families choose to keep them at home. The awareness initiatives are primarily aimed at parents and local communities, fostering an environment that promotes inclusion and encourages these children to actively participate in school life. The project is implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and is overseen by the Special Education Manager of the Kazungula District, in partnership with The Butterfly Tree.
Partnership between Give a Hand and The Butterfly Tree
Give a Hand has supported several initiatives by The Butterfly Tree, an organization with extensive experience in developing projects in Zambia for children and young people with special needs. The most recent project, funded by Give a Hand in 2024, was designed to improve food security and enhance educational opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled Zambian youth.
« I am speechless and reduced to tears after reading your email (of acceptation for the project). This is such a rare opportunity to help children with disabilities. I am truly grateful for Give A Hand's support.” Jane Kaye-Bailey
Butterfly Tree Charity
The Butterfly Tree Charity organization was founded in 2006 by Mrs. Jane Kaye Bailey in order to provide support to the many orphaned children living in the rural areas of Zambia where thousands of people were decimated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The organization implements water sanitation programs, feeding programs, infrastructure improvements, healthcare and education programs as well as women empowerment programs.