The initiative includes professional dental care for children in the orphan houses in Bulgaria

More than 1000 children from nine foster homes in the regions of Varna, Sofia and Plovdiv received during the year professional dental care under the “Smile” Project of the Bulgarian dental association, the student organization of the young dentists and UniCredit Bulbank

The initiative won a year ago the award in the competition of the World Bank, the Bulgarian Ministry of education and science and UniCredit Bulbank. The Smile project is fully financed by UniCredit Bulbank. During the past year the majority of the funding was used for purchasing special dental equipment, prophylactic care means for the children, etc. A year after the start of the project independent external audit was held from an expert and the project was objectively evaluated. The prudent usage of the funding allows the Smile project to continue for another year since September 2008.

“The children from the foster homes have heavy dental problems. More that 20 years a clear picture for the condition of the children in these foster homes is non existent. The aim of the project is for the children to receive professional medical attention and to be educated by the dental students how to keep their dental health”, said the chairman of the Bulgarian Dentists Association Dr. Nikolai Sharkov.

According to the independent external audit the Smile project is “new as a focus and concept and aims to benefits for the society as a whole; the project has a new scientific approach – through high hygiene and prophylactics to lower the need for dental cure of the children in the foster homes”.

“We reviewed over 200 quality projects together with the World Bank. We were looking for thoughtful, effective, beneficial, innovative idea to support, which has strong social engagement and lond-term added value. And what is better than to have smiling children” said Levon Hampartzoumian, Chairman of UniCredit Bulbank and CEO.

UniCredit Bulbank is the main partner of the initiative of the World Bank for financing project for stimulating youth employment and encouraging the practical experience of the education.