Educate Bolivian Mothers to be Dental Hygienists

"I have been chronicling the lives of the students for Smiles Forever for several years.  Although I have never been to Bolivia, if I could come to visit the Smiles Forever school, I'd wish to first greet Geovanna.  Her story touches my heart."  Nancy Project  - Leader for Global Giving

You first met Geovanna when she was 21 and a new mother.

Geovanna's Updated Story:  Finds Learning Fascinating Even While Thinking of her Baby

"In these six months I am doing very well in Smiles Forever.  Every day gets more interesting even though topics and lessons are increasingly more complicated.  I like it and enjoy the challenge, but I think of my little daughter during the day.  I don't always have as much time as I want to study, but I still do my best.

This month I started working in order to pay for my transportation to Smiles Forever.  Sometimes I am thoughtful, because I am almost all day without my child.  Everything I do is for her and her future.

Thank God she is in good health and that gives me a little peace to keep going.

Thanks to all who support Smiles Forever and me to succeed!"

Geovanna has also been helping in our free community clinics and at the shelters we serve.                              We are so proud of her progress and it is so nice how she helps her fellow students.  Her confidence is building and we know her future will be bright.  She's in a curriculum which is getting harder, but she will not give up. 

Now Geovanna is 22 and living in one room with her younger brother.

Although Geovanna has more say in her home with just one brother, she has the added burden of more responsibility.  Formerly, she was staying with her aging mother who she told us "needed a rest." Her older brothers were providing her shelter and some help in caring for her child.  Now Geovanna is the woman of the household and needs to provide for her child, plus her little brother.  

Even with the added stress for day to day survival, Geovanna is happy in her studies and excited to continue to learn about new things regarding dental hygiene.

"I really want to tell the people in United States that the Smiles Forever work here is very important. We are helping so many people here become healthy that can not afford to."

Sharing a Note from our Falling Forward entry report where Smiles Forever went from Failing to Retain Students to Success in Graduating Students with Full Dental Hygienist Accreditation:

Full Circle:  Broadening our Recruiting to Include Young Mothers

For nearly all of our 15 years of serving the indigenous women of the Cochabamba, Bolivia area, we have inadvertently excluded young mothers.  Last year, we listened when young mothers knocked on our doors.  They wanted a better future for themselves, so that in turn their children’s lives would benefit.  These mothers had extra incentive to succeed in a career.  We no longer turn away women who have children.  We have discovered another calling in educating these women who already understand responsibility.  Our students who are mothers act as role models!

Giving Opportunity for Youthspark Bonus Day Wednesday October 7th:  Pro-rated with a guaranteed bonus awarded all day.  Join in by donating to any of our four projects with the blue Youthspark banner.  Here's our newest one:  

• Train Aracely: Give Dental Care to Bolivian Miners