A group of undergraduate students have taken the local Dentists in Primary Schools programme halfway across the world. Through International DiPS, students from the Manchester Pediatric Dentistry Student Society (MPDSS) have introduced healthy oral hygiene habits to hundreds of young children in Kisumu, Kenya. 

Inspired by other Service Learning initiatives led by Dentistry students in their home countries, the group included student Aryan Panchmatia, who grew up in Kisumu, Kenya’s third-largest city. The students were keen to take the successes of the Manchester DiPS scheme to Aryan’s hometown, over 4,000 miles away from the University. 

Alongside colleagues from MPDSS, Aryan, Rachel Lee, Ishmyne Bhamra and Shivani Chohan began planning the details of the International DiPS project in December 2023. Months of hard work came to fruition in August 2024, when the group set off on a two-week trip to deliver their project to local primary schools in-person.  

Students led sessions with primary school children

In total, the project reached almost 900 children from nine different primary schools. Working with over thirty local volunteers, the students delivered engaging lessons on proper dental hygiene, providing children with dental essentials such as toothbrushes and toothpaste. 

‘It was a very surreal experience. It felt very rewarding to give something back to my hometown,’ said Aryan.  

The project was a huge success – schools, pupils and volunteers all gave positive feedback. Delivery was also multilingual, with lessons being taught in English, Swahili and Luo. 

‘We could really see the difference our work made for these children and the long-term benefits for them,’ Rachel added. ‘It was incredible to watch a Manchester-based project be delivered in a completely different language.’ 

One of the most impactful sessions took place with students from a local deaf school; with help from volunteers fluent in Kenyan Sign Language, activities were adapted to be accessible and engaging for deaf children.  

The group did not work alone, with numerous sponsors and supporters helping along the way. Particularly important was the Rahul Kotak Foundation (RKF), a non-profit organisation based in Kisumu, who helped to facilitate local connections and address logistical issues.  

The sessions included educational content and creative activities

The project leaders also received help and guidance from academics at the University, including Professor Siobhan Barry and Professor Raj Ariyaratnam.  

The students are keen that the work does not end here, there are plans to deliver the programme in Kisumu in 2025, with an aim to increase participant numbers further. They are also working with RKF to develop a long-term scheme providing dental products to children in the area. 

The International DiPS project stands out as an example of Service Learning, where students work with local communities to provide important services while expanding their skills and knowledge. To find out more about Service Learning in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, visit the Service Learning webpage. 

Related