SchoolBox is trying to get students to brush their teeth- Talk about a challenge!

Oral hygiene is severely neglected by many of the students in the schools that we work with. This can, and often does, lead to serious long-term health issues. As a result, SchoolBox was very receptive to a request by one of our partner schools to look at doing a project aimed at getting students to brush their teeth. In coordination with the administration at Jezreel School in the La Primavera neighborhood of Managua (Nicaragua’s Capital City) the ‘Big Smiles’ trial project was initiated in November of 2006.

Our role is minimal- provide each student in the school with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a plastic cup. The teachers have the unenviable task of getting all of the students to brush their teeth each day before classes begin. Yet without our small investment it may never have been possible. The Big Smiles project really represents SchoolBox’s goal of providing basic, cost effective assistance to our partner schools.