Umayma Usman

Sponsor a Smile: Health & Hygiene for Children in Türkiye with Hala and Umayma

During our time volunteering in Türkiye, one of the biggest things we noticed was that these children never stopped smiling. No matter what they had been through or the circumstances they were facing, you would never look over and see them without a smile on their face. Their resilience and joy stayed with us long after we returned home. At the same time, we began to realize how many of the things we consider basic necessities are not always easily accessible to every child. Simple items like a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and other personal-care supplies can make a meaningful difference in a child’s everyday health and well-being. This experience inspired us to start Sponsor a Smile, a fundraising initiative focused on providing health, hygiene, and oral-health kits to children in Türkiye, particularly children experiencing displacement or difficult circumstances. Our goal is to raise $5,000 CAD to provide practical, age-appropriate supplies that can support better hygiene and oral-health habits. Every donation, no matter the size, will help us provide these children with resources to support their health and, hopefully, another reason to keep smiling.