The students will stay and work at the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging Center, which is run by UNMC College of Medicine alumnus Hans Dethlefs, M.D. Students will provide dental care to underprivileged children. Services will include cleaning and removing teeth as necessary, providing treatment for decaying teeth and offering general hygiene guidance. In order to help as many children as possible, adults will only be seen on an emergency basis. This is the third trip for the UNMC College of Dentistry, yet it is the first time the university is sponsoring the trip. UNMC will provide supplies and equipment and the CFCA will provide housing and one meal a day to the volunteers.
Students are responsible for airfare and spending money.
Dr. Ewoldsen said that although the trip helps the community of Nuevo Ocotopeque, the students benefit the most. Students come home feeling extremely lucky for everything they have. The Honduran people would trade places with any one of us on our worst day and never look back. This year's volunteer group comprises students from each level of the College of Dentistry. A few seniors will receive credit for volunteering, however, this is not the norm, as most students are strictly volunteering for the experience.