By Nancy Clark | Smiles Forever Project Leader for Global Giving
Sandy's Story-- A Saga of Social Impact in Bolivia-- 15 Years of Smiles Forever Making a Difference
When Sandy Kemper came to visit Bolivia over 15 years ago, little did she know how hers and so many other lives would change. She saw the beauty Boliva has to offer, but she also was struck with the surrounding poverty & hopelessness of the indigenous people. She couldn't walk away. She stopped and asked herself what she could do, and then she thought she could start with what she knows: the registered dental hygienist profession. Sandy found a way to begin the Smiles Forever Foundation and school for homeless Bolivian women. Countless lives have since been touched with this initial heartfelt gesture and her unswerving dedication.
This update is all about measuring social impact one life at a time: Dr. Apata tells her own story.
Let me preface Dr. Apata's compelling story, with why I happened to ask her to share. As a longtime Project Leader for Smiles Forever, I have been involved in many Global Giving Webinars. I just listened to Mari Kuraishi, the Co-founder and President of Global Giving who was the opening speaker for the brand new Social Impact class. She posed the question, "How do our organizations measure social impact without incurring any additonal cost?" The answer we found is to ask our dental hygienist graduates about how their lives have been affected, both individually and as a group. In June 2013, we are so proud that they formed the Dental Hygiene Society to focus on community service projects.
Dr. Apata Shares How Smiles Forever Impacted her Life
The Smiles Forever Dental Hygiene Training Program changed my life dramatically. I'm the 4th of a family of 7 brothers and sisters. My father and mother worked really heard to try to provide, but money was always a problem, even if we are a really united family. Smiles Forever gave the opportunity to have a superior education. At first, I only pictured education as my way out of poverty, now it is different.
After finishing my dental hygiene training, I worked for Dr. Salazar who was my teacher, and seeing how she worked encouraged me to take my education one step forward. I decided to put myself through dental school. Without my training in dental hygienist work, I would never have been able to complete my goals. It was really difficult, but I completed my degree to become a dentist -- the first Smiles Forever School graduate to do so.
Then I returned to Smiles Forever since opportunities for a dentist fresh out of college are so limited, and knocked on their doors again. They opened their doors happily and gave me my first paid job as a dentist. I was able to teach young women like me. Now I can proudly say that I support my parents economically and help my brothers, and I made a major decision in my life. I want to return something to the organization which opened the doors for me at various times. With part of my salary, I enrolled myself into a PHD program. I will continue to receive a superior education in applied dentistry, since the one thing I love the most is to teach. I love giving the opportunity to other women who are going through the same issues that I faced in the past or worse! I understand that teaching is not simply telling what I know--rather it is a transfer of my knowledge.
That is why I have so much to thank Sandy Kemper for and the Smiles Forever Foundation. I have heard the saying of the gift that keeps on giving-- perhaps I can be that gift for many years.
The Social Impact of Educating a Woman Goes beyond into the sphere of her family & children & community.
15 years of Smiles Forever working in Bolivia hasn't been easy, and at first it was hard to measure how individual lives and the surrounding community could be changed. Even though the need sometimes seems insurmountable, nevertheless the picture is getting clearer-- we are making an impact. Literally, thousands have received dental care. With your help Smiles Forever will be serving for another 15 years.
Superstar 50% Bonus Day July 15th Starting at 9:00 a.m. Washington D.C. & Bolivian time-- 6:00 a.m. Seattle time
All of us at Smiles Forever invite you to join us July 15th as Global Giving helps us raise money for the 2015/ 2016 school year.
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