Picture
Caption: Smiles
on
Wings
Providing dental &
medical care,
humanitarian aid, and
educational
programming
to rural villages in
Thailand.
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Caption: _______ In February 2009, Smiles on Wings brought a team of dentists, doctors, and volunteers to provide care to underserved communities.
I was given the enjoyable task documenting the experience.
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Caption: Along Thailand's northwest border with Myanmar,
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Caption: reachable only in the dry season,
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Caption: with the right tools,
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Caption: there are under served populations,
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Caption: of Karen refugees from Myanmar,
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Caption: and native Thais.
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Caption: Smiles on Wings
brings groups of
volunteers to these
areas twice per year
Picture
Caption: with improvised equipment,
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Caption: to serve the children,
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Caption: and some of the adults of the community,
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Caption: with the occasional massage train to keep everyone going.
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Caption: And after a little curious distance,
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Caption: and some showing kids themselves on camera for the first time,
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Caption: there were smiles,
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Caption: respectful smiles,
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Caption: groups of smiles,
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Caption: buddy smiles,
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Caption: connected smiles(and a few tears...it is dental work after all),
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Caption: goodbye smiles,
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Caption: and the most elated, chasing-the-truck, farewell smiles.
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Caption: Noi and Usa Bunnag
The founders of Smiles on Wings, and our compassionate guides throughout the trip. They dedicated themselves to caring for everyone who sought our help and showing the volunteers Thailand as Thais know it(sometimes with excessively spicy, but delicious food).