Our first trip took place in Guatemala which is located in Central America. Guatemala has an approximate population of 13 million people. Although Guatemala is known for many of its beautiful historic landmarks such as La Antigua or Tikal, the famous Mayan temples. it is a very poor country.  Only 49% of the population live in an urban area, The remaining majority of 51% share a greater struggle for survival. in rural communities often entirely dislocated from the larger cities where sufficient healthcare can be found.  Unable to obtain a quality dentist or even some of the most basic dental care, many people in these rural communities simply live with what ever ailment may plague them, often making them very uncomfortable and even causing life threatening disease. Some of the children had never used a toothbrush before we provided them with one.

Our first stop: Santa Cruz Naranjo,a municipality in the Santa Rosa department of Guatemala. Santa Cruz Naranjo has a population of approximately 6,254 people. 

Recent statistics indicate that only 2% of Guatemalans attend universities, Only half of those who attend will graduate. Many Guatemalans do not attend school, although the Government does provide free education to the public. Many families cannot afford to buy uniforms and school supplies thus making it impossible for children to learn properly. Many children instead start working at a young age to help sustain their families, Some work in order to pay for school. 

Schools themselves often also don't have enough supplies to give children and some don't even have chairs to sit on, let alone desks. In some areas there are simply no schools. 

Poor teacher compensation has also contributed to a substantial shortage of qualified educators,

If education alone is difficult to obtain one can only imagine how difficult it must be for families to afford medical or dental care, Many families cannot afford basic necessities for personal hygiene. Even some of the more privileged families struggle financially to receive medical let alone dental healthcare which has been labeled a luxury by most. We at Project Smile aim to change that through both direct action and use of social media outlets to make people aware of the serious health problems that occur. We strive to have people all over the world who can seeing the issues and taking a stance.