Vania, at 17, is extremely vulnerable to the pressures of trying to help her little sister with who lives with her in a shelter. Vania also feels the pressures of knowing her mother and brothers are living in the town of Santa Cruz under difficult circumstances. There is no room or money to be part of her mother's home. Vania has a dream to live a better life for herself and all her family, but it will be a long hard road of at least two years to learn dental hygiene skills. She needs help!
Vania is only 17, but very mature for her age since she lives in a shelter because of family issues. Vania's shelter's name literally means new road. Vania has finished high school and is able to start her education as a dental hygienist with Smiles Forever. She will be homeless when she turns 18, because the shelter will send her into the world as an adult. Vania will have to find a secure place to live for young women, and the Smiles Forever supported school plans to help her.
Vania shares, "My mother can't adequately care for me and my little sister, so we are lucky to live in a shelter. I'm really blessed by being in the Smiles Forever dental hygiene program, which I'm studying for my future. They are teaching me not only about dental hygiene, but also give me counseling which is creating the base of my future." Vania knows that the challenges are great in the coming two years to stay with her education. This micro-project will help supply her living expenses.
These newly trained professionals are role models for other homeless, indigenous women and the community at large. Many of them seek higher education. When the mother is educated, she understands prevention in medical and dental arenas. Vania will avoid having no place to go when she turns 18 and is too old to live in the shelter. By finding a place in society, Vania's life can only get better than her sad beginning.
