Exotique Boutique

Exotique Boutique, 319 West Main Street.   It is almost impossible to walk past Exotique’s enticing show window and not enter.  A vibrant array of fabrics, artwork, jewelry, clothing, home décor, gifts, and special exhibits, transport you from downtown Durham to the African continent.  But these exotic, museum-quality offerings are more than just beautiful ornaments.  They are doctors, medicines, and medical equipment – they are literally lifesavers.

 

Dr. Yemi Olufolabi and his wife Lola opened Exotique in April 2006 as a way to share with others the culture, diversity, color, and uniqueness they enjoyed on their world travels.  Born and educated in Nigeria, then England, Yemi Olufolabi, M.D., F.R.C.A., is Assistant Clinical Professor in the Division of Women’s Anesthesia at Duke University.  He sits on the board of, and is an active volunteer with, Kybele, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to providing medical training and improving maternal and child health during childbirth around the globe.

 

Exotique’s basement stores medical equipment and supplies, which are shipped to Africa as funds permit.  Returning to his native land several times a year, Yemi flies over with suitcases full of life-saving goods, and returns with suitcases full of items to sell in the store.  Could there be a more appropriate way to honor the birth of the baby Jesus than helping ensure a safe and healthy childbirth for babies in Africa?

 

Exotique Boutique is located at 319 West Main Street Durham, NC 27701; 919-688-5747; [email protected]; http://www.theexotique.com

 

Exotique’s basement currently holds hundred’s of thousands of dollars worth of donated medical equipment destined for overseas.  Shipping costs have been quoted at $10,000.  The store donated fabric and is raffling off a beautiful “Sierra Leone” quilt to raise funds toward shipping costs, and to support Kybele’s mission of reducing maternal and child death rates in Africa. $5 raffle tickets for the quilt, designed and made by Art Quilter Marga de Bruijn, may be purchased at Exotique. The drawing being held on December 29.

 

Dr. Olufolabi’s next medical mission trip with Kybele is to Ghana, January 24 – February 8, 2009.  The multidisciplinary team will be working at 2 sites, Ridge Hospital in Accra (capital city) and one new site in Sunyani located near Kumasi in the middle of the country. There will be another trip in May 2009, as well as one in September 2009, which may be scheduled to include the All African Anesthesia conference in Niarobi on September 12-17. 

 

View more pictures of the incredible merchandise at Exotique.

 

Tax deductible donations to support Kybele’s work may be made online at www.kybeleworldwide.org, via credit card by calling 1-800-407-4512, or may be mailed to:

Kybele, Inc.

Dr. Medge Owen, President
3524 Yadkinville Road # 124

Winston-Salem, NC, 27106-2535

 

 

This article was written by Kim Batson and originally published in The Landist News December 19, 2008 issue.  Email [email protected] for reprint permission.   To buy, sell, or lease real estate, go to www.landistads.com.

Comments

[Catherine Todd]

I love this store, as they have so many beautiful things from Africa and the world. This is a great article and I am so glad it has been posted. Hope your raffle went well! Thank you for all your good works.

[xanax]

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