Geovanna, at 21, is extremely vulnerable since she cares for her one-year-old daughter by cleaning houses and doing whatever she can. Geovanna was abandoned by her father as an infant. Sadly, the cycle of abandonment repeats, since the father of Geovanna's baby does not want to be involved emotionally or economically. Geovanna has a dream to live a better life for herself and her child, but it will be a long hard road of at least two years to learn dental hygiene skills from Smiles Forever.
Geovanna at 21 lives with her older brothers and her mother who she describes as being old and needing a rest. The others in her household do work, so no one can assume the care of her baby. Geovanna is trying to overcome the burdens of her home life, and she does menial piece work to get by. Smiles Forever, an accredited 2-year dental hygiene school has accepted Geovanna. She says, "l love the dental hygiene career, and by receiving this education I will be able to move on with my life."
Geovanna feels fortunate to be in the Smiles Forever dental hygiene program, because even though she is smart, the family's economy meant no university studies. By pursuing vocational certification, she wants to build a secure future with a safe life for her baby. The school also gives counseling which is creating the base for her future. Geovanna knows the challenges are great in the coming two years to stay with her education. This micro-project will help with tuition and lab supplies.
These newly trained professionals are role models for other single, indigenous mothers and the community at large. Many of them seek higher education, and they model the importance of education for girls. When the mother is educated, she understands prevention in medical and dental areas. Geovanna will avoid having no way to care for her child. Geovanna wishes to help ease the burden of her aging mother. By finding a place in society, her life can only get better than her sad beginning.
