Physical Health Bolivia Project #17807

Provide Dental Care for 67,000 Bolivian Children!

by Smiles Forever

Project Report | Mar 26, 2025
Healthy Teeth means Happy Children less Sugar Diet

By Sandy Kemper | Founder of Smiles Forever

Founder Sandy Kemper with Bolivian girls

What's new after 25 years of experience bringing dental care to the indigenous people, especially the children, of Bolivia?

More emphasis on early dental habits, including offering better choices than sugar for the school children of Marquina is in Smiles Forever's overall plan.

At Refugio Rafael in Marquina the importance of support networks with institutions aligned with our goals is highlighted, such as:

Bolivian Food Bank Foundation: Supplies a range of products weekly for distribution to 130 families from the Shelter, the Little School, and the surrounding population. They also facilitate access to accident insurance for our shelter children for a year and offer recreational activities on special occasions, such as Children’s Day, where 90 of our children enjoy fun activities.
Smiles Forever Foundation: Provides timely free dental care to Shelter families and extends its pilot dental care program to children in 3 grades at the Marquina Educational Unit.

To create lasting change, a new strategy that integrates preventative education, home oral care, and nutritional improvements is essential. Based on the identified needs, we propose a new complementary program:

Zero Sugar Program at the Marquina Educational Unit

Reduce and eventually eliminate sugar consumption in students' diets to improve overall oral health.

Here's a look back to ten years ago with one of our favorite stories about when mother and daughter see the connection between eating less sugar means less dental pain.

Project Report | Jan 20, 2015

Child with "Sweet Tooth" gets "Tooth Holes" Fixed!

By Sandy Kemper | Founder & Director of Smiles Forever

Theodora outside cliniic

Story with a Happy Ending: Sweet 7-year-old Girl gets her "Tooth Holes" Fixed:

Lydia is a sweet little girl with a "sweet tooth." Lydia especially loves chocolate and would find a way to get candy at school.

Background: Theadora (age 59) and her daughter Lydia (age 7) live in a rural village called Montesillo outside Cochabamba, Bolivia. They receive social services and after school daycare through a project called Warmi.

Here is their story with a happy ending, told by Theadora, Lydia's mother:

"This is the first time I have taken my daughter to a dentist because I am a single mother and only make my living by selling Chicha (homemade liquor) to local bars. My daughter would cry about her teeth hurting, but I could only buy some medication at the store for her.

I am very excited for my daughter to see the dentist to fill all the holes in her teeth. Before my daughter would buy chocolate and candy at school. The bugs (bacteria?) in her mouth were living off of the candy. Now she cannot buy candy and I make her brush her teeth.

I want to get my teeth worked on, too!"

What a difference on a personal level your donations make. Your little gifts of between $10 - $50 on March 25th - March 28th will be matched at 50% by GlobalGiving's Little by Little Campaign.

Smiles Forever is so grateful for your help for 25 years.

Sincerely, Sandy Kemper Founder

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