A volunteer in her own community, Christina Caraveau helps coordinate and volunteers with charity events including Dentistry From The Heart and Give Kids A Smile, but this will be her first dental mission trip to another country.
“I have wanted to work in the medical field since I was a little girl,” Christina said. “When I was younger I loved going to the dentist when most people did not like it at all. This is what led me to become a dental hygienist. My passion has always been to help others in need.”
Christina joined the Dental Depot team in 2013 as a dental hygienist. This May, she will have the opportunity to branch out and offer her passion and skills to a great number of people in need. Christina will be traveling to Ghana, West Africa with the nonprofit service group H3.
“I have always had a passion for helping people, especially people in need,” Christina said. “I have been blessed with many things in my life and I enjoy helping others who may not have the privileges that I have. I am ready to break out of my comfort zone … and to be in the small villages sharing my skills and knowledge and teaching people things that can change their life.”
Christina has wanted to participate in a dental mission trip abroad since her dental hygiene school days. She heard about H3 and the upcoming mission to Ghana through a colleague who also has volunteered locally with Dental Depot.
“She went to Ghana with H3 last year and knew I had been interested in doing a mission,” Christina said. “She had such a life changing experience last year that she is going again this year and invited me to go with her this time.”
The group will be going into small villages holding dental and medical clinics outside of Accra (Ghana’s capital city) and Cape Coast, two of Ghana’s coastal cities separated by a nearly three-hour drive.
“I am so proud of her. It is becoming part of our practice culture to participate in community service at home and abroad, and Christina is helping lead the way,” said Dr. Himesh Kana, owner of Dental Depot of Highland Village and The Colony. “Each of our team members commits to participating in at least three community programs per year in order to be considered for rehiring the following year.”
In an effort to fund her good work, Christina has a Go Fund Me campaign that makes it easy for incredible people like you to get involved and help! It’s simple! Visit Christina’s Go Fund Me page to make a donation. Every little bit helps!
Additionally, Dr. Kana has agreed to personally match the next 500 dollars raised through Christina’s Go Fund Me campaign.
You can also help bring awareness to Christina’s mission by sharing this story with your social networks!
Dental Depot of Highland Village and The Colony encourage team members to volunteer their time and skills in service to underserved populations at home and abroad. Another team member will be participating in a dental mission trip to India later this year. Additionally, Dr. Kana plans to take a few team members each year on an annual dental mission trip, beginning in 2018.
H3 International is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that works within local legal, cultural and organizational structures to provide dental hygiene and medical practices, deliver free dental and medical services, as well as education, and to improve water and sanitation practices in villages in West Africa.
