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Miami Valley duo helps out orphans in West Africa
Ashley Barchus and David Smith are raising funds, donations for kids at orphanage in Sakete, Benin.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
CENTERVILLE — What motivates a bride to ask for medical donations in lieu of wedding gifts?
It's the same thing that motivates a salon owner to go to work on his day off to cut hair for free — helping children thousands of miles away.
Extras
Ashley Barchus and David Smith have dedicated themselves to helping the children of the Arbre de Vie orphanage in Sakete, Benin. The nongovernmental organization opened in 2004 and provides shelter and medical services for 25 children.
In the spring of 2007, Barchus, 24, a high school pastor at Beavercreek Church of the Nazarene, made her first trip to Benin. She spent two weeks at the orphanage and fell in love with the kids. She led a group of volunteers, including Smith, there in February and will lead another this July.
Finding direction
Smith, a 1996 Waynesville High graduate, said he'd never heard of Benin before he was introduced to Barchus.
"The most surprising thing I learned was the way they love each other and visitors to their country; they share everything. I was most impressed while walking down the road and seeing either two men or two women holding hands as they walk. It's a sign of friendship and family, and when they see us they walk up and an African woman will hold one of the American woman's hands and then an African man will walk up and hold an American man's hand. That happened to me a lot," Smith, a Dayton resident said.
Barchus is committed to returning to Arbre de Vie (www.arbre-de-vie.org) on a regular basis to provide love, encouragement and tangible things they need which include cooking, school and medical supplies and clothes.
"My first trip there I was devastated by watching young children puking at my feet and literally hours from death because of this preventable and curable disease," Barchus said. "When I discovered that the cure to save these children's lives cost only $15 or less I was stunned."
Barchus asked that her guests, in lieu of wedding gifts, to donate money to purchase medicine to combat malaria.
Smith would like to adopt two of the children at the orphanage.
"We got a chance to take the kids back to the villages where they were from and meet the families. There they will give a child up so they have a better life," Smith said.
"I had an emotional breakdown because I didn't know how in the world I was going to be able to leave those children I grew to love as my own, which is why I need personal donations so I can get back," Smith said. On his July visit he'd like to return with medical supplies, clothing and especially comfortable rubber shoes so the kids don't have to walk barefoot.
Smith who owns Epic Salon at 967 S. Main St. in Centerville will be holding what he calls cut-a-thons June 8, 15, 22, 29 to raise money for the orphanage.
For more information about the fundraiser, call Epic Salon at (937) 434-3742.
