TECATE ORPHANAGE
TRIP
What is the
Tecate Orphanage Trip?
As a service learning class, Preventive
Dentistry makes a semester visit to the “Orfanatorio Nazareth.”
The orphanage is located in
Tecate, Mexico, East of San Diego’s border crossing. It is home to more than
50 boys between the ages of two
and 15 years. The purpose of the trip
is to provide an opportunity for pre-dental students to promote proper oral
hygiene. At the same time the pre-dental
students can give back to the community.
The Tecate trip is a truly wonderful and rewarding experience.
Why does the
Pre-dental Club go to the Tecate Orphanage?
Dentists treat people, not
just teeth and mouths. They are highly respected within the community. They interact with people of all ages, cultures
and personalities. Dentists provide an
essential health care service. Dentists
are skilled, conscientious, civic-minded individuals who work with community
leaders, educators and other health professionals. Dentists often volunteer services to school health programs and
to the elderly, handicapped or low income, demonstrating a selflessness that is
a hallmark of professionalism.
Therefore, in order to become well-rounded health professionals in the
future, the Preventive Dentistry class organizes trips to Tecate. The trip exposes pre-dental students to
different cultures and volunteer experiences.
The trip is also a great opportunity for pre-dent students to
demonstrate skills in interacting with children and in working as a group.
Where do the donations
go?
The orphanage is a non-profit
Catholic organization that is subsidized by charity alone. The sisters distribute the items needed within
the orphanage. The rest of the
donations are given to neighboring unprivileged families. You can contribute with food (dry or canned)
rice, flour, beans, cooking oil, pastas, macaroni & cheese, toys (any type
for boys or girls), school material, blankets, pillows, house hold items,
toiletries, cloths (all sizes and genders) or dental supplies. There will be a donation basket, collecting
items, at the Pre-dent meetings every Monday night, until the day of the
trip. Remember, it is a donation so
anything is welcome.
How is the Tecate
trip organized?
Usually half a Saturday is
planed for the Tecate trip. The date is schedule at the convenience of
both the orphanage and the pre-dent class.
The students volunteer to drive to Mexico. On the day of the trip all those going meet in front of Student
Health Services building by 8:45 AM, and depart at 9:30 AM. It takes approximately
45 minutes to get to Tecate. Before
entering into Mexico, most students buy a one-day
auto insurance which is optional. Once there, the students set up a fun oral hygiene
instruction presentation and other activities to interact with the
children. Such activities include
coloring, playing dental bingo or plying soccer outside (weather permitting). At Christmas time the class has been known
to provide age appropriate gifts and has even provided a tree and a Spanish
speaking Santa Clause. Normally pre-dent students stay until 3:00 PM and then
return back to San Diego the same day.
When we go to
the Orphanage, what should we bring?
Bring your willingness to
serve others. Bring the teacher in each
of you. Bring a positive open mind-set. Bring your cameras for your portfolio. Bring
your appetite to try and break the “15 tacos-eating contest” record. But most of all please bring your love for
children.