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Bringing Smiles and Healing to Egypt

Updated: Jan 12

SCDW volunteers (L-R) Dr. Shrouk Yasser, Rachel Youssef (dental student), and Sami Mohammed (dental student) engage with the children of the Renee Foundation in Cairo, Egypt, fostering smiles and connections.
SCDW volunteers (L-R) Dr. Shrouk Yasser, Rachel Youssef (dental student), and Sami Mohammed (dental student) engage with the children of the Renee Foundation in Cairo, Egypt, fostering smiles and connections. SCDW

Cairo and Giza Governorates, Egypt—In a powerful demonstration of compassion and collaboration, we joined forces with Mobile Smiles and Masr Bela Marad to deliver critical medical and dental care to underserved communities across Egypt. This week-long mission provided much-needed treatments, health education, and support to hundreds of individuals, showcasing the transformative power of humanitarian efforts.

The mission centered on a mobile clinic, funded partly by SCDW, which allowed volunteers to reach remote areas and provide vital dental services, starting in Giza. These included extractions and restorative work, targeting pain relief and comfort restoration for patients with limited access to medical care. The clinic was fully equipped to handle up to 100 patients daily, and the dental team worked tirelessly to serve individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Additionally, the mission expanded beyond dental care to include optometry, OB/GYN, cardiology, and a pharmacy that dispensed prescriptions, ensuring a holistic approach to addressing the needs of the communities.


SCDW volunteer Simone Bishara, a dental student, shares a joyful moment with a child from the Renee Foundation in Cairo, Egypt. SCDW
SCDW volunteer Simone Bishara, a dental student, shares a joyful moment with a child from the Renee Foundation in Cairo, Egypt. SCDW

Education and prevention also formed a cornerstone of the mission. Volunteers visited schools, orphanages, and foster homes, reaching hundreds of children with fluoride treatments, oral hygiene lessons, and goodie bags filled with essentials to promote long-term health. Children from infancy to adolescence received these services at the Organization of Family and Childhood Care in Cairo. At the same time, the mission at the Renee Institute for Those with Disabilities extended care to orphans and children from challenging family situations. The commitment to education continued with visits to smaller foster homes and institutions, where volunteers taught essential oral health habits.




Ramez Asham, SCDW Director of Programs and dental student, reflected on his volunteering experience:

“This mission was not just about providing dental care but also learning the resilience and gratitude of the people, empowering communities, and leaving a lasting impact.”

Our involvement went beyond funding the mission; the partnership ensured the donation of supplies and materials that would have a long-term impact. At the 57357 Children Cancer Hospital, where immunocompromised children could not undergo treatment, volunteers shifted their focus to education, donating toys and supplies and creating moments of joy for children and their families. Materials donated by the mission were entrusted to the hospital’s dental clinic, further empowering the facility to provide ongoing care.

Reflecting on these efforts, Founder of Mobile Smiles Dr. Rafik Hebeish said:

“Seeing volunteers from different parts of the world share the same mission of serving others was always my dream when starting this organization. It is different backgrounds that make us unique but our humanity that makes us united.”
(SCDW Volunteers Pictured Top Row, L-R) Marian Ghatas, RDH; Sherry Asham, BDS; Rachel Youssef, dental student; Mariam Hinallah, dental student; Joseph Shehata, Masr Bela Marad Director of Community Activities; Katherine Sameh, BDS; (SCDW Volunteers Pictured Bottom Row, L-R) Ramez Asham, SCDW Director of Programs and dental student; Mark Nashed, dental student; Mark Samy, dental student; (Not Pictured) Islam Yasser, BDS; Gousfin Hanna, RDH; Tarek Ani, dental student. SCDW
(SCDW Volunteers Pictured Top Row, L-R) Marian Ghatas, RDH; Sherry Asham, BDS; Rachel Youssef, dental student; Mariam Hinallah, dental student; Joseph Shehata, Masr Bela Marad Director of Community Activities; Katherine Sameh, BDS; (SCDW Volunteers Pictured Bottom Row, L-R) Ramez Asham, SCDW Director of Programs and dental student; Mark Nashed, dental student; Mark Samy, dental student; (Not Pictured) Islam Yasser, BDS; Gousfin Hanna, RDH; Tarek Ani, dental student. SCDW

The success of this endeavor was a direct result of the collaboration between SCDW, Mobile Smiles, and Masr Bela Marad. While Mobile Smiles provided the fully functional mobile clinic, dental instruments, and necessary materials, Masr Bela Marad laid the groundwork, securing permits, transportation, and accommodations, and ensuring the smooth operation of the mission. Together, we enabled local dentists, engineers, and volunteers to work seamlessly with international professionals, overcoming challenges and delivering care to those who needed it most.

Asham also shared a poignant observation:

“Even with a language barrier between our volunteers and children, there is no doubt that smiling is a universal language we all share.”

For the families served, the mission brought more than temporary relief; it represented hope and a brighter future. Many of the children cared for live in orphanages or foster homes, while others come from families struggling to afford basic medical care. By providing treatment and education, the mission aimed to equip these communities with the tools to foster long-term health and well-being.

Our role in funding and facilitating this mission underscores its broader commitment to transforming lives in developing regions. As Community Activities Director Joseph Shehata from Masr Bela Marad’s Foundation for Health Care aptly expressed:

“We very much appreciate the initiative of the volunteer doctors who came from the United States to participate in the medical convoys in Egypt, and we sincerely hope to see them again soon. Their presence had a profound humanitarian impact and unforgettable importance.”

Through the combined efforts of these organizations, the mission delivered not just medical care but also a renewed sense of hope and empowerment, proving that healing begins with a smile and extends far beyond it.

About Save the Children of the Developing World (SCDW): SCDW is a NJ Nonprofit Corporation based in Bayonne, New Jersey and managed by a group of diverse, young adults who are dedicated to improving the wellbeing of children living in third-world countries by providing them with the tools to pursue their interests and become the person they dream to be. They have been ranked Platinum on Guidestar—a nonprofit information service—for being transparent on their different projects and how they have worked towards fulfilling their mission.

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Save the Children of the Developing World (SCDW) is a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation dedicated to improving the wellbeing of children living in third-world countries by providing them—through youth-oriented institutions—with the tools to pursue their interests and become the person they dream to be.

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