The Smiles Forever Foundation is an American - Bolivian charity that offers the rare service of preventative dental hygiene in Bolivia. And what’s just as unique is that Smiles Forever now offers a 2-year dental hygiene training program for young homeless women in a Bolivia shelter program who are lifted from life on the streets to careers providing dental care to fellow Bolivians.

In an area where women are usually not given the rights, respect and job opportunities of men, the opportunity for a professional career can have a life changing impact on these young women.

Sandy Kemper, a Dental Hygienist in the Seattle area, made her first trip to Cochabamba, Bolivia in 1999 with the humanitarian program Dental Seminars and Symposia. Using flashlights, boards laid across chairs for exams, hand instruments and some donated supplies, Sandy assisted about 16 children each day.

In 2000 and 2001, Sandy was able to return and add services such as X-rays, flouride treatments and assess all 38 permanent residents of Cochamba.

Since 2002, a 2-year dental hygiene training program has been established with two Bolivian dentists, translators and other Bolivian professionals. Volunteers from America and Canada also continue to teach on an ongoing basis at the school. Four local dental hygienists completed their training in 2005, two students are halfway thru the training, and more are enrolling.

A transitional center has also been created for graduating students to live for 1 to 2 years while completing their general education and getting practical on the job training and lessons on how to live on their own. Because of the difficult childhood background of these students, workshops were taught on leadership skills, domestic violence, cooking, computer training, English as a second language, and basic life skills.

Smiles Forever developed a flouride drop and tablet program for the 750 children in the Amanacer shelter system, and is working on a similar flouride program for 250 children and adults in the Coranipampa area of Bolivia.

Smiles Forever has info on volunteer opportunities and donation needs for dental equipment and updgrades to the dental clinic, as well as sponsorship opportunities to help these young women go thru the dental school.