CRANBERRY X GLOBAL DENTAL RELIEF

STUDENT PROFILE

Saba Sadeghi’s excitement and enthusiasm for dentistry stems from its ability to change lives. As she stated in her scholarship application, “Dentistry is a wonderful profession where health and happiness are prioritized.”

Saba is a pre-dental student at the University of Toronto where she is double majoring in human biology and nutritional sciences. With a long-term goal of being a dentist, Saba spends much of her time shadowing professionals in a wide variety of humanitarian fields.

MY JOURNEY TO CAMBODIA 2019

My journey to Cambodia started with a flight from Toronto, Canada with layovers in Germany and Thailand. Upon arriving in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on July 1st, I was excited for all that was to come. The first thing that captivated me was the friendliness of the people of Cambodia. Their smiles, greetings, and hospitality were contagious. Although I was more than 13,000 km away from home, they made me feel welcomed and comfortable. That night, I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful group of volunteers I would be working with. They were fun, loving and helped me continue to broaden my horizons.

A day before the clinic, we traveled on an ox to a local school in the Kompheim village. Our path towards the school was beautiful. The houses were amidst a field of greenery and fruit trees. Although there were plenty of wonderfully uplifting things I saw, I inevitably also became aware of the inherent issues that exist in Cambodia. Despite the hardships, the Khmer people were gracious, optimistic, and hopeful.

The next morning, we were ready and on the bus by 7:15 am eager to start our first day at the clinic. Upon arrival, we walked into a computer classroom that had been turned into a dental clinic. I was amazed by how everything was organized. I was assigned to work as an assistant. I had never assisted a dentist before, so I was not sure what to expect, but the dentists were wonderful teachers and guided me through every step of the process.

For the remaining clinic days, I continued to work as an assistant with several dentists including an orthodontist, pediatric dentist, and general dentist. I felt honored for the opportunity to learn their unique perspectives on the art of dentistry. Meeting the sweet children and making them feel at ease before and during treatment was rewarding and something I looked forward to every day.

Clinic days were fun and inspiring thanks to the children and the wonderful group of people I worked with. Everyone worked with heart and dedication and it was beautiful to see. Along with the clinical aspect of the trip, I was able to learn more about the Khmer culture and cuisine as well as explore the city riding on tuk-tuks, which was phenomenal.

Volunteering in Cambodia was a unique mix of experiences. To me, traveling with purpose is not only the ultimate adventure but an opportunity to be exposed to different ways of life and thus providing me with more perspective on mine. This trip has ultimately allowed me to develop new skills, make lifelong friends, and explore an incredible part of the world. I am very thankful to Cranberry USA for their generous scholarship and to Global Dental Relief for all that they do. Thanks to them, I was able to be involved in the mission of providing free dental care and oral health education to children in need. To be able to experience my passion and to have played a role in putting a smile on someone's face was the highlight of my experience. My trip to Cambodia was an amazing experience, to say the least, and I look forward to attending more GDR trips in the future!

By Saba Sadeghi, June 2019