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A New Volunteer Experience: Hello from our Small Adventure Clinics in Nepal!
Posted on September 17, 2018.
With a motivation to provide treatment to children in more remote locations, Global Dental Relief is now offering a one-of-a-kind experience for return volunteers! This September, GDR launched their very first Small Adventure Clinic and it was a huge success.
Read below to hear it first from GDR Co-Director, Laurie Mathews.
Dear Friends of GDR –
Yesterday GDR volunteers finished our first Small Adventure Clinic situated in the foothills high above Kathmandu in Nepal. It was an amazing experience for all, as GDR attempts to go deeper into rural areas to reach children beyond any access to care.
Our group included 3 dentists, 1 hygienist and 5 general volunteers, joined by a local Nepali hygienist Rojeena and led by Trip Leaders Laurie Mathews and Tamera Bedford. The group traveled by van over muddy but passable roads for two hours to reach our destination – the spectacular Thranghu Monastery perched on the ridgeline above steep, terraced hillsides.
The five-chair clinic was set up in the newly constructed monastery clinic and our “expediter” was Wangchuk Rapten, a medically trained monk in charge of the clinic. Each day brought a new group of patients –we treated young monks and two schools of children who had to walk 1 1/2 hours each way to get the first dental care of their lives.
Volunteers were touched by these kids – about half had good teeth and the other half were living in chronic pain from untreated dental problems. Days were filled with cultural interactions as volunteers taught these children the rudiments of oral health diet and tooth brushing instruction, and discussed individual treatment options.
This trip, volunteers stayed at a lovely guesthouse, equipped with hot water and intermittent Wi-Fi. Meals were eaten with the 300 resident monks, accompanied by beautiful chanting before each meal.
Rural clinics can be full of unexpected challenges. Volunteers worked unpredictable hours as patients arrived from long distances and compressors struggled with fluctuating current loads. The trip was chock full of new cultural experiences as well – a haunting circumambulation by 300 monks in full ceremonial robes, time for a beer at the local canteen, made up songs and games with the in-demand “toothbrush dinosaur,” torrential monsoon rains and tiny glimpses of the massive Himalayas in the distance.
Small Adventure clinics allow GDR to reach new populations of children and volunteers to stretch their travel skills with a deep immersion into local cultures. Together, the Namobuddha team formed deep bonds as they marveled at this magic time together.
GDR has two trips planned to Namo Buddha in 2019. For more information about how you can join us at this very special location, email volunteer@globaldentalrelief.org.
It means a great deal to us to be able to expand our care to more kids in 2019!
Pictured above: Nepali student assistants and GDR’s very first Small Adventure Team in Namo Buddha.
A New Volunteer Experience: Hello from our Small Adventure Clinics in Nepal!
Posted on September 17, 2018.
With a motivation to provide treatment to children in more remote locations, Global Dental Relief is now offering a one-of-a-kind experience for return volunteers! This September, GDR launched their very first Small Adventure Clinic and it was a huge success.
Read below to hear it first from GDR Co-Director, Laurie Mathews.
Dear Friends of GDR –
Yesterday GDR volunteers finished our first Small Adventure Clinic situated in the foothills high above Kathmandu in Nepal.
Come Join Us for Our Annual GDR Party!
Posted on September 11, 2018.
The leaves are changing and the nights are crisp – it’s hard to believe September is already here and fall is just around the corner!
September is always an eventful month for GDR, it is when our community comes together to celebrate healthy smiles around the world! Each year, GDR hosts an evening event and silent auction to raise support and awareness for our clinics overseas.
... Read more »Volunteer with Family!
Posted on August 31, 2018.
Global Dental Relief welcomes and works with volunteers from a wide range of careers and backgrounds. Beyond the dental field – lawyers, teachers, students and many other professionals join GDR teams across the globe, sharing the common purpose to improve the health of children.
Regardless of professional and educational background, studies show that volunteering with your family leads to a richer experience. Sharing the joy that comes from helping children live happier,
... Read more »A New Volunteer Experience: Join Us on a Small Adventure Clinic!
Posted on August 20, 2018.
Are you a return volunteer looking for a unique experience where you can serve others, but want more than just a week in a standard GDR clinic? We have the solution for you!
Starting this fall, Global Dental Relief is offering a very special volunteer experience – Small Adventure Clinics. A small group of intrepid volunteers is headed to Nepal this fall to take part in our first small adventure clinic.
... Read more »A Continued Partnership: Global Dental Relief and Cranberry USA
Posted on July 30, 2018.
Over the past two years, Global Dental Relief (GDR) and Cranberry USA have partnered to offer a scholarship program for pre-dental and pre-dental hygiene students to volunteer abroad in GDR clinics. During that time, Cranberry awarded eight $1000 scholarships to students across the US attending GDR clinics.
This year, three Cranberry scholarship recipients will volunteer in Guatemala, Nepal and India. Inside the GDR clinic,
... Read more »
