Bright Smiles, Bright Futures

October 18, 2011

Bright Smiles, Bright Futures is a signature CFC program that aims to provide all 5,900 students with 3 toothbrushes per year. After each school meal, students are required to brush their teeth; teachers demonstrate how to brush correctly, and conduct lessons about good oral hygiene for the families.

In Siem Reap, a toothbrush can be a luxury. Luckily, Caring for Cambodia has volunteers from around the world collecting toothbrushes and toothpaste so that our students can be healthy and avoid dangerous oral infections Brushing teeth is part of the curriculum. Each day, students start school with a healthy meal Vision screening. Our biggest health news for 2010: The Health and Dental Committee has partnered with International Medical Clinic (IMC) in Singapore to conduct vision screenings for our students. In early December, IMC sent a senior management team — three doctors and three nurses — to Siem Reap. Alongside CFC staff and volunteers, they evaluated more than 750 students. The team measured and weighed the students, and screened them for vision problems. They identified 32 students in need of further testing, and perhaps glasses. Of all the children they saw, only one child already owned glasses. Upon their return, the IMC team reported that they trained our very willing nurse Savin; that the warm and enthusiastic CFC translators assisted them greatly; and that their meetings at Angkor Hospital for Children were very productive. “We’re already planning our next trip with IMC,” says Barbara Levy, chair of the Health Committee. “This partnership brings a new dimension of well-being to the students. We’re very excited, and extremely grateful.”