Nuevas Sonrisas and Colgate-Palmolive in Santa Catarina Mita, 2023

Nuevas Sonrisas and the children of Santa Catarina Mita schools were so fortunate this year to have the very important support of Colgate-Palmolive in Guatemala during our dental week in the community. Because of Colgate’s generous donations, 2500 children in the schools we serve in the area received a large red Colgate cup, a large toothpaste, a travel size toothpaste and a toothbrush. These items were distributed to all first and second graders from 15 schools attending the two dental clinics and to all preschool and 3-6 graders when the prevention team visited more than 100 classrooms to offer fluoride application and dental health education in the classrooms. The benefits of receiving toothbrushing supplies will be felt by the children and their families for a long time. Parent and classroom dental health education are critical parts of our prevention program, and Colgate’s donation was a key element for success.

We especially want to thank Julia Ruggiere, one of our valued volunteers, who helped initiate and develop this relationship and program with Colgate-Palmolive.  We look forward to growing and building our relationship with Colgate and its Central American team in the future.

Many thanks to Colgate and to Julia!

A Health worker is presenting dental health information to 3rd-6th grade students at Quebracho. After participating in the interactive classroom presentation, each child received a Colgate cup with supplies to take home. A large Colgate dental poster was put up in each classroom.

The prevention team worked all week in collaboration with nine “salubristas” from the Ministry of Health to apply fluoride, present dental health education to parents and to children and pass out Colgate cups to children in   over 100 classrooms.

Many of our volunteers gathered several evenings to help package the Colgate cups in preparation for boxes going to schools and for 1st and 2nd graders coming to the two clinics.

Diana is showcasing the boxes of Colgate destined for children at one school the following day.

Julia Ruggiere, seen here helping pack Colgate supplies, was very instrumental in initiating our relationship with Colgate-Palmolive for this project.