Provide Dental Care for 67,000 Bolivian Children!

An Update of Wilson, a teenager who lost his arms from a bridge accident:  Last year at Christmas, Smiles Forever brought you the heart-warming story of the courage and slow recovery of Wilson who fell from a bridge while working with his father.  Wilson had caught himself on electrical wires and suffered severe burns.  My father had donated a laptop computer so Wilson could continue to study, using a special wand.  Last year's Christmas miracle was that Wilson was selected by Shriners Hospital in the U.S. for treatment--and they only select one child from Bolivia.  Now his healing is far enough advanced, that we are helping him overcome getting an ID without fingerprints and satisfying dental and health documentation for him to obtain a passport.

• Provide Dental Care for 30,000 Bolivian Children!

  
  

Give a Christmas gift to Wilson and all his friends now, during the British Global Giving Christmas campaign.  Click on the link above to donate in British pounds so that your gifts will count toward generous U.K. prizes.  You may chose the option to email or print a card to honor that special person in your life, or the memory of a special friend or family member.  Smiles Forever will gladly accept donations in memory of our Founder Sandy's mother Eddie who passed away this summer shortly after the wedding of her grandson.  This has been a year of much joy with our international award, and the sorrow of losing Eddie who has been so inspirational to Smiles Forever.

Our beloved friend, Wilson spent a couple of hours during last week between different labs and doctors’ practices in order to complete the requirements for him to go to the United States of America to complete his physical rehab treatment and to receive his prosthetic hands.  He is a typical teenager and could not help but asking, "why are we doing this?" or commenting, "this is boring." Mostly he likes to talk about cars, motorcycles and soccer, or about aspiring to be an engineer to build bridges like the one which nearly took his life.  One day he spontaneously told our clinic director something off of the charts: "Tell Sandy that I love her.  Because of her I will be someone who you all could be proud off!"

Besides the labs and a visit to our clinic to complete the dental certification for him to travel, we started the bureaucratic paperwork for Wilson to renew his ID and to get his first passport. Problems are something we all have to face, but in Wilson's case the problems can be quite large. Since he lost his hands he cannot register his fingerprints, but we solved the issue and he will be able to get a new ID.  Something unexpected from this effort:  because he is now registered in Bolivia with handicapped status, he gets a free bus pass.  Also, Bolivia has passed a law saying that 5% of employees should be hired who have special needs.  This is exciting because the new rule makes it more likely Wilson will be able to find work.

Wilson will portray a Santa's elf to spread Christmas joy at the Children's Burn Unit party

Wilson will spend Christmas with his family, but he will actively participate in our Christmas party for the children at the burn wing of the hospital for children personifying one of Santa’s elves, and Alejandro Beckrich our director for Bolivia will personify Santa.

Also, we have already sent the translated lab results to the doctors in the United States,so the process is completed 70%.

More December Highlights

December is always a crazy month here at Smiles Forever since we are going on vacation and beneficiaries of the community service clinic have different activities. Some return with their families and others are moving to different shelters and situations like that; therefore, we push to complete as much work as possible. Thus, our community service clinic is lately packed with patients to the point that there are no more waiting chairs available.  Fundacion vidas, Foundation for Life, helps our new blind patients and their families.  We were able to serve them before Christmas.

From the Smiles Forever team in Bolivia we would like to thank all our donors and supporters for the efforts and donations received this 2016. We look forward to having you with us in 2017, and wish you all a Merry Christmas and blessings during these holidays and that the new year brings peace, health, and opportunities to you and your families.

Love, Sandy &

The Smiles Forever Team

Adela Cannot Imagine a Life without Giving Dental Care to Needy Children:  Adela's Story of 4 Years of Learning from & Serving the Smiles Forever School and Clinic

I was born in the Province of Independencia, Bolivia 31 years ago.  My life took on a new turn over 4 years ago when I went to the  Smiles Forever school. 

Now for last 2 years I have worked as a staff Hygienist and instructor in the community service clinic.

I had heard of  Smiles Forever from my friend Victoria who was a former Smiles Forever student.  At that time I was going to night school to obtain my high school diploma. I moved from the countryside years ago and I was living at my Godmother's house helping there as a maid.  My mother couldn’t support me since we were really poor.

I wanted something different than just being a maid for someone with money.  I wanted a future! It was difficult to convince my Godmother, but finally she accepted the idea to let me try to become a dental hygienist. I had an interview and psychologist evaluation and they mentioned they will call me.  Days passed and they called me mentioning that I wasn’t a perfect fit for the program, but I insisted every day --because no matter how difficult it will be I was mentalized to be the best. I was sure that no other chances will show up for me in the future.

I kept asking until one day they gave the chance to try it for a couple of days and to see if I liked it. It was different and it was hard, but I gave my 110% and I graduated with honors. Let me be honest at first I just wanted something to help me move on, but after a while I've realized what we do here at Smiles Forever is so important.  It is not only about individuals and getting free education and opportunities, it is also more about so many things like helping children.  I can help people in need, people who never visited a dentist before. In between Smiles Forever's purpose is to give opportunities and to change the lives of women through education. After I had graduated, a position as a staff hygienist and instructor for Smiles Forever was offered to me and I took it no questions asked.

My Dreams are not just Dust in the Wind!

After 2 years working for Smiles Forever and being part of this amazing team, I’ve realized that this organization has a lot of potential for the future. I love being a hygienist and I know we have many obstacles and diverse difficulties to overcome, but we will make it as a team. Also, I cannot imagine what will happen to so many children who without us will not have any dental treatment. My mom is now super proud of me and I’m helping her economically which gives both of us a lot of happiness. I’m still living with my Godmother; the difference is now she realizes my dreams are not just dust in the wind.  She is way much more supportive since I’m no longer her part-time maid. I still help her, but as a family member. Soon I will reach one of my other goals to become 100% independent through hard work and saving money and projecting and planning as they taught me in  Smiles Forever.

I wish to thank all of you who gave me help to make my dreams come true.  Sincerely,  Adela RDH

Current Happenings
Sandy is currently in the Maria del Rosario in the Chapare province, about 3 hours from Cochabamba, Bolivia. She and her team will be spending 5 days there covering oral hygiene topics including tooth brushing and flossing as well as broader issues that encompass oral health such as nutrition and diet.

Help Save the teeth of the children in this entire village.  Smiles Forever is beginning an ambitious 3-year program to use a tooth decay preventative coating during the critical teeth formation & enamel building time of childhood.  

The British Global Giving UK branch is launching a week-long 50% matching campaign called Little by Little where individuals may give up to 50 pounds (approximately $75) to any project.  Please donate on Oct. 25th - Nov. 1st to any or all of our 3 active "Smiles Forever" projects.  See http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/leaderboards/little-by-little-by-little-2016/?showAll=true

Watch the countdown & the Leaderboard to see if matching money is still available.  Only donations on this UK site in British pounds count towards matching & prizes.  We thank you for your support & thank our British friends for helping so many worldwide projects.