July 2015 Mission R35 School in Khaolak (Mara)

Smiles On Wings volunteer Mara, shares her experience from the first two days of clinic. While in Khaolak, Mara is also working on a research project to see how much the kids know about oral hygiene. Thank you Mara for your hard work!

"We just finished up day two of the mission. It really has been a great day. It looks like we’ve worked out all the kinks and we have a good smooth flow of kids coming in and out, and a stellar team working.

This is my first time joining Smiles on Wings, so I don’t know what the old facility was like, but the new clinic is wonderful. It’s built for success.

The kids have been truly great to work with. They’ve been so patient, and I think everyone has enjoyed playing games with them.

With everyone here now, we are getting so much accomplished! Each kid is getting such good and thorough treatment for procedures they really do need. Many of them are scared, so the team has been fantastic at making sure we assuage fears as much as we can, and ensure that they have a good experience.

As for my part, I’m doing most of the administrative stuff. I’m also doing a research project so we can get a good understanding of what the kids know about oral hygiene. So far, it’s been really successful and really enlightening! We ask each child 16 questions about what they know and do as it relates to their teeth. I’m excited to look over all the answers so that we can develop a really strong dental education plan to accompany these missions.

All in all, it’s been a great first two days at work!"

Staying warm in Maelid!

The second leg of our mission to Maelid is going just as wonderfully as the first.  We miss the volunteers who had to leave, but welcome the new ones.  It's still chilly here, about 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5 Celsius) 

Here are some photos of our first two days.  We're working hard during the day and playing hard at night.  Our lovely Thai hosts made us delicious food and we relaxed and had a bonfire with them in the evening. 

 

Smiles and Scholarships!

Our awesome volunteer team just finished the first week of Smiles on Wings' January 2014 Mission. The team was in the northern town of Maelid. It was extremely cold - 40 degrees Fahrenheit (about 5 degrees Celsius).  Brr!  Despite the cold, it was a wonderful mission and everyone worked hard and had a great time. The team worked hard providing dental care and education to the children in Maelid.  Dr. Bunnag also visited with the SOW scholarship recipients. 

Here are some highlights.  Check back in the next few days for more photos, stories from our volunteers and updates from the second leg of the mission. Make it easy on yourself by following our blog - you'll receive an email each time there's a new post! 

 Above:  Our beautiful volunteers eating breakfast to fuel up for a long day of work!

Below: Dr. Bunnag and assistant performing a dental cleaning on a child in Maelid

Dr. Bunnag was able to visit with the SOW scholarship recipients while in Maelid.  Below are photos of the parents of one of the girls. They brought gifts to Dr. Bunnag and her husband to show their extreme appreciation for their daughter's scholarship.  With SOW's help, these girls will receive higher education in health or education and be able to bring their skills and leadership back to their home villages so that everyone can benefit.

                             

2013 marks Smiles on Wings 10th year anniversary since it's founding by Dr. Usa Bunnag. Throughout the last decade, Smiles on Wings has positively impacted the lives of children and their families in rural, undeserved regions of Thailand by providing critical dental services, clean water and lunch programs, scholarships for young women, and much more. Please join us in honoring those who have helped Smiles on Wings throughout the years at "A Celebration of Smiles: Ten Year Anniversary Gala". More information will be provided soon.

Donations and Sponsorship information is available at our website at Smiles on Wings

July 2012 Mission

Hi everyone! First of all I would like to give a big thank you to everybody who made the July 2012 mission at the King's Foundation R35 School in the Phang-na province and the Bangmaung School a huge success. We have an estimated total of 93 patients treated, 184 fillings, 116 sealants, 55 Fluoride treatments, and 47 Prophy treatments. All of the volunteers had such amazing experiences and I'm sure they would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Click here to view more pictures from the July mission!

Future Leaders of Maesariang

One of SOW’s main goals is to support young women to continue their education beyond high school. SOW does so by funding a scholarship program. SOW’s goal for 2013 is to build a dormitory that will provide a place for the young ladies to stay while in school.

 Future scholarship recipients present Dr. Bunnag with handmade gifts. These young ladies weaved baskets and scarves as sign of appreciation of her help. 

 Young girls perform "The Brushing Song", a Thai song teaching kids the proper ways to brush their teeth. 

 Dr. Bunnag with future scholarship recipients. The young girls of Maelid are dressed in their tribal attire. 

 A young student smiling as she thanks and hugs Dr. Bunnag.

 Dr. Bunnag and husband, Noi, pose with SOW's scholarship recipients, Renu and Savitri. Aek Sramoung is SOW's project manager in Thailand. Renu is a Bachelor of Science and Community Health stuent. She has returned to her village, Sobmauy, to work as a Community Health officer. Her job includes vaccination, oversee of birth control program, sanitation improvement, education of smoke cessation and pre & post natal care. Savitri (right) is earning an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education. She is now teaching kindergarten in her village, Sobmauy.

 Dr. Bunnag, Noi, and volunteers in front of the health clinic in Sobmauy. This is the location of SOW's dental mobile unit.

 Dr. Bunnag with SOW scholarship recipient, Sumalee, a current nursing student.

 The fathers of Sumalee and Junjira visiting Dr. Bunnag to provide gifts such as handwoven cloths. 

 The girls of Maelid in tribal wear. 

 SOW's poster girl, a young student from Maelid who has been on the cover of SOW's brochures for several years. Look how much she's grown!

Dr. Bunnag with Junjira, a scholarship recipient currently enrolled in high school. SOW provides funding for Junjira's books and other necessary materials.

January 2012 Mission

Smiles on Wings has just completed the first mission of the year. Our January 2012 mission at the King’s Foundation R35 School in the Phang-nga Province was beyond a success!  We provided an estimated total of 143 fillings, 93 sealants, 22 extractions, 70 cleanings.  In addition, SOW traveled to the Maesariang district in the north. We provided an estimated total of 81 fillings, 81 sealants, and 44 cleanings.

Click here to view more pictures from previous mission!