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.
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.
A cowboy drives his herd through the heart of town, unfazed by motorcycles and other traffic.
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.
Beneath the extinct Suchitán volcano, the market in the town square opens at sunrise.
Small shops painted in bright colors line the narrow, winding streets.
Almost anything can be found for sale in the city’s central market – from fresh fruit and vegetables to clothes and household appliances.
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.
Catocha’s main church
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.
A cowboy drives his herd through the heart of town, unfazed by motorcycles and other traffic.
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.
Beneath the extinct Suchitán volcano, the market in the town square opens at sunrise.
Small shops painted in bright colors line the narrow, winding streets.
Almost anything can be found for sale in the city’s central market – from fresh fruit and vegetables to clothes and household appliances.
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.
Catocha’s main church
Children we visit in their elementary schools
The kids smile a lot, are cooperative and curious about what’s going on, and sometimes reluctant patients.
A group of school girls who attend morning classes at El Barreal school in the heart of Santa Catarina Mita.
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.
Odeira Leiva Medina, a Guatemalan public health worker, poses with children who have just received new tooth brushes at school.
Children assemble in the courtyard at Suchitán school before class to listen to announcements.
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.
Volunteer Liz Quintanna keeps a class full of kids enthralled with one of our teaching puppets.
Quebracho school children gather on the playground for a game.
A group of school girls who attend morning classes at El Barreal school in the heart of Santa Catarina Mita.
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.
Odeira Leiva Medina, a Guatemalan public health worker, poses with children who have just received new tooth brushes at school.
Children assemble in the courtyard at Suchitán school before class to listen to announcements.
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.
Volunteer Liz Quintanna keeps a class full of kids enthralled with one of our teaching puppets.
Quebracho school children gather on the playground for a game.
Our elementary school pop-up clinics
We start with a (usually) empty room and in about 2 hours multiple dental chairs are treating kids.
A truck with all the miscellany for a clinic, from a compressor to 2×2 gauze pads, arrives at El Barreal school.
The team begins moving and setting up equipment into the provided room.
Part way thru setting up 5 dental stations in the room.
Clinic is up and running: 5 dental stations, each with a provider, assistant and patient.
Students with their parents lined up waiting for the next open chair at El Barreal school.
A similar 5 station clinic up and running at Cuesta del Guayabo school.
The available mostly empty room we used at La Javia school.
Two dental stations of the 3 station clinic at the Quebracho school.
A truck with all the miscellany for a clinic, from a compressor to 2×2 gauze pads, arrives at El Barreal school.
The team begins moving and setting up equipment into the provided room.
Part way thru setting up 5 dental stations in the room.
Clinic is up and running: 5 dental stations, each with a provider, assistant and patient.
Students with their parents lined up waiting for the next open chair at El Barreal school.
A similar 5 station clinic up and running at Cuesta del Guayabo school.
The available mostly empty room we used at La Javia school.
Two dental stations of the 3 station clinic at the Quebracho school.
An introduction to our team
Santa Catarina Mita’s mayor, William Duarte, rallies resources to support Nuevas Sonrisas’ work.
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.
Ric Tower, our chief engineer, confers with Alvaro Morales, a principal at El Barreal school.
Guatemalan dentist Luis Gonzalez Paiz and his assistant work in the Suchitán school clinic.
Prevention specialist Sue Sanzi-Schaedel applies fluoride on a child’s teeth while our Guatemalan colleague, Jennifer (upper center), prepares for the next student.
Guatemalan volunteer dentist, Luky Rodriguez, and her assistant.
Portland dentist Susie Restic works with assistant McKenzie Reynolds-Stein.
Hygienist Maggie Quintanna (left) works with her assistant Marylyn Moe, beside dentist Kerry Streiff and her assistant, Craig Stein.
Oregon dentist Chanel Kim assisted by Dyanne Foster works on a patient.
Guatemalan dentist Paola López and assistant work on a child.
Kerry Streiff and Craig Stein pause to smile while treating a child at Suchitán school.
Guatemalan dentist Dr. Dave working with assistant Marylyn Moe.
Christina Tselnik, a hygienist, and Guatemalan assistant.
Dentists Luis Gonzalez, Mailiki Patterson and Christina Tselnik
The Nuevas Sonrisas team at the Suchitán school clinic.
Guatemalan Gabby Hernandez (left) and dentist Chanel Kim have struck up a friendship.
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.
Our crew at Cuesta del Guayabo school.
After a long day of hard work, the team gathers in the evening for dinner and conversation at the hotel.
Guatemalan Health Dept employee, Maribel Garcia Medina, applies fluoride varnish to student’s teeth.
Santa Catarina Mita’s mayor, William Duarte, rallies resources to support Nuevas Sonrisas’ work.
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.
Ric Tower, our chief engineer, confers with Alvaro Morales, a principal at El Barreal school.
Guatemalan dentist Luis Gonzalez Paiz and his assistant work in the Suchitán school clinic.
Prevention specialist Sue Sanzi-Schaedel applies fluoride on a child’s teeth while our Guatemalan colleague, Jennifer (upper center), prepares for the next student.
Guatemalan volunteer dentist, Luky Rodriguez, and her assistant.
Portland dentist Susie Restic works with assistant McKenzie Reynolds-Stein.
Hygienist Maggie Quintanna (left) works with her assistant Marylyn Moe, beside dentist Kerry Streiff and her assistant, Craig Stein.
Oregon dentist Chanel Kim assisted by Dyanne Foster works on a patient.
Guatemalan dentist Paola López and assistant work on a child.
Kerry Streiff and Craig Stein pause to smile while treating a child at Suchitán school.
Guatemalan dentist Dr. Dave working with assistant Marylyn Moe.
Christina Tselnik, a hygienist, and Guatemalan assistant.
Dentists Luis Gonzalez, Mailiki Patterson and Christina Tselnik
The Nuevas Sonrisas team at the Suchitán school clinic.
Guatemalan Gabby Hernandez (left) and dentist Chanel Kim have struck up a friendship.
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.
Our crew at Cuesta del Guayabo school.
After a long day of hard work, the team gathers in the evening for dinner and conversation at the hotel.