Global Child Dental Fund (GCDF) » What We Do: Smiles & Hopes

Launched in late 2010, Smiles & Hopes is a global dental-aid programme designed to improve child dental health in developing countries. The initiative is broken down into national jurisdictions. In each country, we work with NGOs and healthcare organisations to further local dental provision for deprived children.
GCDF Awards

Awards for dental students and professionals are our newest initiative. Earlier in 2011 we founded the Richard Law Award in honour of the late Richard Law, who died in tragic circumstances last year. This is also the first year of our annual Maya Barzini Award. The award consists of two grants available to dental students planning to take an international elective in Kurdistan plus a third grant for a Kurdistan dentist to attend a national conference. The Tony Volpe Award sponsors two individuals to attend our prestigious Senior Dental Leaders programme.
Senior Dental Leaders

Our flagship training programme allows senior academics, policy makers and figures from NGOs to enhance their leadership skills and learn how to use them effectively to improve child oral health and promote public oral health agendas. Since 2010 the programme has been run in conjunction with Harvard University School of Dental Medicine.
Young Dental Leaders

Young Dental Leaders is a new strand of our leadership support activities that is aimed at younger dental professionals. The unique online programme aims to develop social responsibility and dental leadership skills among the newer members of the dental profession. There are also opportunities for voluntary placements to gain valuable experience, and to network with other students, academics and dental health practitioners.
Taskforces

Supporting and funding the 13 national Taskforces is also a core activity. These bodies serve to champion the dental needs of the most disadvantaged children, and create and implement oral-health demonstration projects. Each taskforce also works collaboratively with local charitable and health organisations to coordinate countrywide oral-health programmes.