Established in 1999, every year the World Dental Development Fund awards a grant of CHF 10’000.- to educational and sustainable oral health projects inspiring positive change among individuals and communities. The objective is to improve oral health and prevent oral diseases in limited-income areas.

FDI congratulates the winning projects coming from Chile, Cook Islands, Fiji, Rwanda, and Uganda. 

Learn about the World Dental Development Fund

Improving oral healthcare in long term care facilities for the elderly in Chile

This initiative driven by the Chile National Dental Association will provide comprehensive dental care to 100 elderly residents of at least five ELEAM (Long Term Care Facilities for the Elderly) in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. ELEAMs are residential and care services aimed at elderly people who are dependant and need support from others to carry out daily activities. This project aligns with the 2022-2030 National Health strategy, which aims to enhance the oral health status of the population throughout their lives, focusing on health equity.

Serua and Namosi community health outreach in Fiji

This project, driven by the Fiji Dental Association, aims to serve the communities of Serua and Namosi Provinces, focusing on two primary groups: children aged 5-12 years and adults. The total population to be reached includes approximately 1,200 children and 800 adults within the Namosi district. The Namosi district comprises several rural villages, each with distinct oral health challenges due to limited access to dental care and health education.

Oral Health promotion for children in rural communities of Bugesera, Rwanda

Led by Miracle Corner Rwanda (MCR), the project focuses on improving oral health awareness and hygiene practices among 10’000 children aged between 5 and 15, living in five rural sectors of Bugesera District, while providing practical community engagement experience to 50 dental students. MCR’s vision for communities around the world is to achieve greater levels of education, improved health, and increased economic security. Its mission is “to address the communities pressing needs by empowering current leaders and readying leaders of tomorrow”.

Healthy Islands 2030+: Towards a cavity-free future for the Tamariki children in the Cook Islands through staff capacity building

The Cook Islands Medical and Dental Association, through this project aims to strengthen knowledge, clinical skills and present best practice guidance to oral health professionals who provide oral healthcare to children and adolescents in the Cook Islands. The workshop will update and standardize the knowledge and skills of 14 dental therapists who provide screening programmes for 29 schools in all Cook Islands, including clinical practice and preventive care.

Creating sustainable dental care through prevention, therapy and education in Uganda

This project is run by the Uganda Dental Association supported by the Hungarian Dental Association along with Build Your Smile Dental Foundation. The goal is to “educate the educators” with transferable skills regarding the prevention of common oral health issues. During the outreach missions, educators will continue to learn while being mentored by the facilitator. This will ensure the sustainable delivery of optimal healthcare of all. With assistance from local government authorities and school systems, an estimated of 4’000 patients will be treated during the local outreaches in 2025.

The World Dental Development Fund is supported by Shofu.