The Smile for Everyone Foundation’s (SFEF) Laos outpost has been diligently working to change lives and create healthy, happy smiles. This year, their efforts have made a profound impact on underserved communities, as they extend their compassionate dental services to those who need them the most.
This quarter, the Smiles for Everyone Thailand outpost received an invitation to provide dental treatment to those still affected by the devastating tsunami that struck 14 years ago in southern Thailand. Among the places they served was an orphanage housing about 150 children, with 80% of them being children from Myanmar and the Mogen people, a tribe living between Thailand and Myanmar. These children face a unique challenge as many are unregistered and lack citizenship in any country, leaving them with no access to dental care.
In the largest immigration port of entry in the world located in California, USA, and Baja California, Mexico, a group of dedicated individuals are volunteering to bring smiles and dental health to those who need it most!
The SFEF Philippines volunteers travelled for 2 hours driving and over 1 hour walking, crossing 3 mountains, just to get to this remote area and serve the Matigsalug tribe. Only motorcycles with wings attached to them and horses can enter the slippery and rough roads, so the team leader rented motorcycles to transport the supplies.
Dr. Dovale and the remarkable Bright Now! Melbourne, Florida team had the amazing opportunity to change the life of Sandrea Sharter. Sandrea, a hardworking restaurant employee, had been avoiding the dentist for quite some time since she was embarrassed by the absence of most of her teeth. This led her to endure the pain of an oral infection. When the infection became unbearable, she walked into the Melbourne office conveniently located across the street from her workplace.
The Paraguay Smiles for Everyone Outpost has done excellent work this last year. Dr. Andrea joined Smiles for Everyone this year and has already put a team together, set up clinics, and received patients in homes in Paraguay.
In March of this year, the Smiles for Everyone Laos team travelled far to the Mueang-Fueang district, Vientiane. It was critical for the team to travel to this location as there are many people who have very limited access to dental care and proper oral hygiene, and often none at all. The team planned on helping on treating 500 people, but they were able to treat 677!
This quarter, the SFEF Philippines team served an outreach in Talaingod, Davao del Norte. The team braved 11 hours of travel time and challenging roads with cliffs to reach a tribe that had been suffering from extreme poverty and malnutrition.
One of the many constraints brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic is the inability to safely hold large-scale free dental events that serve as a great way to deliver care to underserved populations.