“Our actions may not change the world, but they help make it better. With more smiles.” Under this motto, the VOCO do Brasil team has now initiated a great school project to support socially disadvantaged children.
The gap between rich and poor is very wide in Brazil and mostly children are affected by poverty. There is often a lack of sanitary facilities, electricity and running water, hygiene products, not to mention a functioning health care system. This is exactly where VOCO do Brasil, a subsidiary of VOCO GmbH in Cuxhaven, takes action with their project “VOCO in school”: Children and their parents should be sensitised to the topic of dental hygiene and healthy nutrition and thus achieve sustainable successful oral health.
The first day the parents were extensively informed about the importance of intact oral hygiene und its meaning for overall health. The second day it was the children’s turn. Around 100 girls and boys at the ages between five and nine years, separated into 5 groups, learned in a playful way from a “lion” and a “tiger” how to brush their teeth properly and why this is so important. The topic of nutrition was also discussed: Rice, vegetables, fruit and fish are better than snacks, biscuits and sugary beverages. To be able to continue at home what they had learned, each child received a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. The joy about this was great, as in Brazil, it is not uncommon for everyone in a family to share a toothbrush.
Responsible of the initiative “VOCO na Escola“ (VOCO in school) is managing director Ana Julia Fonseca, dentist and technical responsible person of VOCO do Brasil. Due to the great success of the pilot project, the team of VOCO do Brasil has already planned further school visits in order to create awareness for good oral health throughout the country and thus verifiably improve the children’s quality of life.
Book “Vicky and the colourful glitter tooth”
The second project of the VOCO team from Porto Alegre is also aimed at the same goal: a child-oriented book that tells the story of the young protagonist Vicky. The young girl leads a happy life, only dental care gives her little joy. This lacking commitment leads to a small tooth decay, which fortunately can be quickly remedied with a glittering restorative material. And as beautiful as Vicky thinks the filling is – she now wants to brush her teeth diligently all the time!
The 40-page book, which is printed in Portuguese and German, is given to Brazilian paediatric dentists to help with dental care and prophylaxis.