Supporting a diverse range of grassroots community projects on site, and in surrounding communities.
Butterfly Space is a UK registered charity, based in Nkhata Bay, Northern Malawi. Butterfly is involved with, and supports community based projects and initiatives, both on and off site. Our projects focus on sustainable development, environment, education and social inclusion. Our goal is to help to empower communities to drive significant positive changes for their own communities, to make a long lasting impact.
Butterfly Space proudly targets 16 of the 17 sustainable development goals, across our diverse projects.
Our involvement and networks have been nurtured and built over 16 years, working directly with communities and traditional authorities, building trust and getting to know and understand our local culture so we can make a real sustainable impact.
“Our vision is to develop and support projects which are beneficial and sustainable, and we want to empower those who benefit from the projects to govern, encourage and develop them. We want to encourage self advocacy, self development and motivation”
Alice and Josie, the founders of Butterfly Space, became friends through their love for the extraordinary country that is Malawi, while they were developing community projects around Nkhata Bay. Alice had a passion for youth and art projects and Josie for information and gardening related projects. They had a common desire to incorporate these ideas into a community space and volunteer hub to educate and empower the community, and where opportunities could be created.
They realised that Butterfly was the perfect setting to bring volunteers and the community together, and they bought the lodge in May 2007, developing it into a unique community space. Years on, the team has grown, and remain passionate, working hands on in communities with the thriving and growing projects!
On-site, there is a lively youth club, gym, information and resource centre, media room & recording studio, all of which are open to the community free of charge. The lodge is also used as a hub to run various training sessions and meetings, and to show environmental demonstrations to both the community and school groups. Projects off-site include Malawi Permaculture School Clubs (MSPC), a thriving international primary school called Stepping Stones, Mphamba & Pundu disability support centre’s, HIV support groups and more.
Volunteers are welcomed to Butterfly Space to share and learn new skills, and support us to develop and grow our projects. Volunteering is free of charge, but volunteers are expected to pay for the services they use while staying at Butterfly Space’s non-profit lodge, which helps to financially sustain our on-site projects & other community work!
See the projects below for more info on each project, and see how you can get involved…
Please support our projects. Without the generosity and support we have received over the years, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do!
Our 100% donation policy means that every penny of your donations are spent directly on the environmental, educational and community development projects within these communities, without admin costs.
Thank you, from all of the Butterfly team!
If you are interested in getting involved in any of our projects, please take a look at out Volunteering Page. At Butterfly Space, we welcome people with all types of skill sets, and welcome volunteers and interns from all over the world!
