Changing the world one smile at a time

Nuevas Sonrisas: Photos in Guatemala

Santa Catarina Mita (Catocha) and region, state of Jutiapa

Photos and videos of life and our dental health service in Catocha, Jutiapa.

2 adults and child on scooter
Motor scooters and motorcycles are popular ways to zip around the narrow streets of Catocha. Two women and a child climb aboard in front of El Barreal school.
man on horseback following herd, passed by motorscooter
A cowboy drives his herd through the heart of town, unfazed by motorcycles and other traffic.
red tuktuk, a 3 wheeled motorcycle with a cab
You can get anywhere in Santa Catarina Mita by flagging down a tuktuk and paying a few Quetzales. Team members sometimes use tuktuks to quickly get from one school to the next during a work day.
Street view from 3rd floor of vendors stalls waking up
Beneath the extinct Suchitán volcano, the market in the town square opens at sunrise.
View of downhill street with tuktuk, trucks, people and scooters
Small shops painted in bright colors line the narrow, winding streets.
Street level view of market with busy stalls
Almost anything can be found for sale in the city’s central market – from fresh fruit and vegetables to clothes and household appliances.
man walking behind 5 cattle as they amble and browse
Herder moves his cattle past the Suchitán rural school on the way to pasture. The state of Jutiapa is known for its cowboy culture and renowned for its leather workers.
white 3-story church facade
Catocha’s main church
2 adults and child on scooter
Motor scooters and motorcycles are popular ways to zip around the narrow streets of Catocha. Two women and a child climb aboard in front of El Barreal school.
man on horseback following herd, passed by motorscooter
A cowboy drives his herd through the heart of town, unfazed by motorcycles and other traffic.
red tuktuk, a 3 wheeled motorcycle with a cab
You can get anywhere in Santa Catarina Mita by flagging down a tuktuk and paying a few Quetzales. Team members sometimes use tuktuks to quickly get from one school to the next during a work day.
Street view from 3rd floor of vendors stalls waking up
Beneath the extinct Suchitán volcano, the market in the town square opens at sunrise.
View of downhill street with tuktuk, trucks, people and scooters
Small shops painted in bright colors line the narrow, winding streets.
Street level view of market with busy stalls
Almost anything can be found for sale in the city’s central market – from fresh fruit and vegetables to clothes and household appliances.
man walking behind 5 cattle as they amble and browse
Herder moves his cattle past the Suchitán rural school on the way to pasture. The state of Jutiapa is known for its cowboy culture and renowned for its leather workers.
white 3-story church facade
Catocha’s main church

Our Mobile Teams work in the schools 

This past trip we had two mobile teams, one headed by a U.S. volunteer and the other by a Guatemalan volunteer. We served more students in many more schools with two teams providing fluoride treatment, classroom  and parent education for each of the schools.  In addition, we added providers and assistants to each of the mobile teams to initiate a new program, the Párvulos Project (Preschool Project).  This project provided dental services to preschool children in every school visited by the mobile teams.

19 smiling, posing, primary school girls, most in school uniforms
A group of school girls who attend morning classes at El Barreal school in the heart of Santa Catarina Mita.
A dozen primary school boys at shared desks.
A typical classroom where children often share desks. Classes can vary in size from 20 to 40, depending on age group. Some schools segregate their classes by sex, with boys and girls attending at different times.
class of 3 dozen boys and girls holding new toothbrushes aloft
Odeira Leiva Medina, a Guatemalan public health worker, poses with children who have just received new tooth brushes at school.
Dozens of kids standing looking up to announcer on small stage.
Children assemble in the courtyard at Suchitán school before class to listen to announcements.
Woman sitting on floor surrounded by 8 kids.
Volunteer Amanda Wheeler-Kay leads children in a class in tooth brushing as the kids wait their turn to see a dentist in the Suchitán school clinic.
Woman using a large, toothy plush toy to demonstrate brushing techniques.
Volunteer Liz Quintanna keeps a class full of kids enthralled with one of our teaching puppets.
Kids holding hands in circle following instructions of teacher.
Quebracho school children gather on the playground for a game.
19 smiling, posing, primary school girls, most in school uniforms
A group of school girls who attend morning classes at El Barreal school in the heart of Santa Catarina Mita.
A dozen primary school boys at shared desks.
A typical classroom where children often share desks. Classes can vary in size from 20 to 40, depending on age group. Some schools segregate their classes by sex, with boys and girls attending at different times.
class of 3 dozen boys and girls holding new toothbrushes aloft
Odeira Leiva Medina, a Guatemalan public health worker, poses with children who have just received new tooth brushes at school.
Dozens of kids standing looking up to announcer on small stage.
Children assemble in the courtyard at Suchitán school before class to listen to announcements.
Woman sitting on floor surrounded by 8 kids.
Volunteer Amanda Wheeler-Kay leads children in a class in tooth brushing as the kids wait their turn to see a dentist in the Suchitán school clinic.
Woman using a large, toothy plush toy to demonstrate brushing techniques.
Volunteer Liz Quintanna keeps a class full of kids enthralled with one of our teaching puppets.
Kids holding hands in circle following instructions of teacher.
Quebracho school children gather on the playground for a game.

Our pop-up clinic at the sports center

Most of our equipment is now stored in Santa Catarina Mita, so when the early team arrives, they arrange for it to be delivered to the sports center.  When the U.S. team arrives in Catocha the day before Dental Week begins, they set up the clinic that Sunday afternoon, cleaning and arranging all the equipment in storage and setting up the supplies brought down each year.

Our dental chairs are constructed from shelving by a volunteer
Often the providers have a blanket or a stuffed animal for the children to feel more comfortable seeing the providers
In addition to setting up the dental chairs, a sterilization station and a supply table are set up for the providers’ use
With the addition of suitable electricity for the sports center, each dental station operates with a portable dental unit
A pre-opening meeting takes place before the clinic opens on Monday morning of Dental Week
Suzanne is applying sealants while her assistant fills out a detailed record of teeth treated
Gisela and a student nurse check out what services this student needs
Kara is explaining what the children can expect in the dental chairs and shows them the tools a dentist might use

An introduction to our team

headshot
Santa Catarina Mita’s mayor, William Duarte, rallies resources to support Nuevas Sonrisas’ work.
Proud father dentist and his dentist daughter
Dentist David Streiff, our chief dentist who directs the providers, and his daughter dentist Kerry Streiff. Kerry has been volunteering for Nuevas Sonrisas with her parents since she was a dental student.
Three men, one seated at desk, reviewing information.
Ric Tower, our chief engineer, confers with Alvaro Morales, a principal at El Barreal school.
Masked dentist and assistant doing dental work on student.
Guatemalan dentist Luis Gonzalez Paiz and his assistant work in the Suchitán school clinic.
Two women apply fluoride varnish to students.
Prevention specialist Sue Sanzi-Schaedel applies fluoride on a child’s teeth while our Guatemalan colleague, Jennifer (upper center), prepares for the next student.
Two women doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Guatemalan volunteer dentist, Luky Rodriguez, and her assistant.
Two women doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Portland dentist Susie Restic works with assistant McKenzie Reynolds-Stein.
Two dental chairs, each with child and provider and assistant.
Hygienist Maggie Quintanna (left) works with her assistant Marylyn Moe, beside dentist Kerry Streiff and her assistant, Craig Stein.
Two women doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Oregon dentist Chanel Kim assisted by Dyanne Foster works on a patient.
Two women doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Guatemalan dentist Paola López and assistant work on a child.
A women and man assistant doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Kerry Streiff and Craig Stein pause to smile while treating a child at Suchitán school.
A man and women doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Guatemalan dentist Dr. Dave working with assistant Marylyn Moe.
A women and man assitant doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Christina Tselnik, a hygienist, and Guatemalan assistant.
Three people in blue team shirtstaking a selfie after a day of work.
Dentists Luis Gonzalez, Mailiki Patterson and Christina Tselnik
Group of volunteers in courtyard of school.
The Nuevas Sonrisas team at the Suchitán school clinic.
Two women smiling at their selfie.
Guatemalan Gabby Hernandez (left) and dentist Chanel Kim have struck up a friendship.
Group shot of team members, including three playful local boys.
Our team at the newest school clinic, Quebracho. This remote school was a challenge because it was difficult to reach – our bus had to leave us to walk the last dozen blocks.
Group shot of team members.
Our crew at Cuesta del Guayabo school.
Many team members at dinner at the hotel.
After a long day of hard work, the team gathers in the evening for dinner and conversation at the hotel.
Gloved women applying fluoride.
Guatemalan Health Dept employee, Maribel Garcia Medina, applies fluoride varnish to student’s teeth.
headshot
Santa Catarina Mita’s mayor, William Duarte, rallies resources to support Nuevas Sonrisas’ work.
Proud father dentist and his dentist daughter
Dentist David Streiff, our chief dentist who directs the providers, and his daughter dentist Kerry Streiff. Kerry has been volunteering for Nuevas Sonrisas with her parents since she was a dental student.
Three men, one seated at desk, reviewing information.
Ric Tower, our chief engineer, confers with Alvaro Morales, a principal at El Barreal school.
Masked dentist and assistant doing dental work on student.
Guatemalan dentist Luis Gonzalez Paiz and his assistant work in the Suchitán school clinic.
Two women apply fluoride varnish to students.
Prevention specialist Sue Sanzi-Schaedel applies fluoride on a child’s teeth while our Guatemalan colleague, Jennifer (upper center), prepares for the next student.
Two women doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Guatemalan volunteer dentist, Luky Rodriguez, and her assistant.
Two women doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Portland dentist Susie Restic works with assistant McKenzie Reynolds-Stein.
Two dental chairs, each with child and provider and assistant.
Hygienist Maggie Quintanna (left) works with her assistant Marylyn Moe, beside dentist Kerry Streiff and her assistant, Craig Stein.
Two women doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Oregon dentist Chanel Kim assisted by Dyanne Foster works on a patient.
Two women doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Guatemalan dentist Paola López and assistant work on a child.
A women and man assistant doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Kerry Streiff and Craig Stein pause to smile while treating a child at Suchitán school.
A man and women doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Guatemalan dentist Dr. Dave working with assistant Marylyn Moe.
A women and man assitant doing dental work on child in chair between them.
Christina Tselnik, a hygienist, and Guatemalan assistant.
Three people in blue team shirtstaking a selfie after a day of work.
Dentists Luis Gonzalez, Mailiki Patterson and Christina Tselnik
Group of volunteers in courtyard of school.
The Nuevas Sonrisas team at the Suchitán school clinic.
Two women smiling at their selfie.
Guatemalan Gabby Hernandez (left) and dentist Chanel Kim have struck up a friendship.
Group shot of team members, including three playful local boys.
Our team at the newest school clinic, Quebracho. This remote school was a challenge because it was difficult to reach – our bus had to leave us to walk the last dozen blocks.
Group shot of team members.
Our crew at Cuesta del Guayabo school.
Many team members at dinner at the hotel.
After a long day of hard work, the team gathers in the evening for dinner and conversation at the hotel.
Gloved women applying fluoride.
Guatemalan Health Dept employee, Maribel Garcia Medina, applies fluoride varnish to student’s teeth.