Third-year dental students at ACTA completed their work experience at social organizations such as asylum seeker centres, food banks and psychiatric institutions. More than 25 organizations are now participating.
The core goes beyond oral hygiene alone. As one student put it: “I thought this internship would be about teaching patients how to brush their teeth effectively. But I may have learned more than they did.”
By working alongside social workers, students discover that dental health is intertwined with nutrition, mental health and social circumstances. Meeting people from different backgrounds turns out to be more motivating than any theory. Read the full story.
Interested in Community Service Learning, or would you like to feature your own course in this series? Contact CSL@vu.nl or visit the VU CSL website for more inspiration.