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Teens help students in Africa

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by JARROD WISE / KVUE News

kvue.com

Posted on December 22, 2009 at 8:01 PM

Updated Wednesday, Dec 23 at 8:53 AM

Barton Bryan and his wife Valerie are committed to helping those in Africa.

"Barton's love for Africa and my love for children...we kind of merged the two and here we are," said Valerie Bryan.   

Barton was in the Peace Corp for several years and spent a lot of time in Western Africa.  After meeting his wife they started a group called "Voluntour Adventures to Africa" to bring groups of volunteers together, with one common goal. 

"This is an opportunity for me to go back, bring my wife and 3 students and a couple other people to actually do a project and experience what I felt there."  

In March, the group will head back to the African Country of Mauritania to help a small village school with 200 to 300 students.  "The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders all sit on the floor because the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders all get the desks," said Barton. That need sparked an idea. He said, "I want to build 50 to100 desks."

Three high school students will be making the journey as well. "I'm excited just to get in there, get my hands dirty, get working.  It's going to be a lot of fun," said Crockett High School student Troy Mattein.  He has a special connection with this land.
 
"I got really excited, because Africa is my home.  I've been wanting to go back for a very long time," he said.
 
Mattein grew up in Eastern Africa and has been in Austin for 3 years now.   He looks forward to this trip.
 
"These kids can't learn when they're on the floor.  They need these desks and the education," he said.
 
It's all in an effort to bring a little piece of hope to a place a half a world away. "I can't imagine how it will change their lives. It changed mine and I'm 30-something," said Valerie Bryan.
 
If you would like to help, there is a fundraiser next month. To find out more visit Let's go to Africa.

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