Entrants's Name: Wieder E.V. Lachen
Country: Germany
Field: Domestic violence
Innovation - idea: We support the survivors of domestic violence by giving them back a smile - literally: German dentists and dental technicians provide free-of-charge treatment for women who suffered domestic violence.
Innovation - why it is pioneering: The society is hardly aware of the full extent of domestic violence and its physical and psychological consequences. On the other hand, people are more and more judged by their outer appearance. We offer effective and unbureaucratic help, thus supporting the victims in re-establishing their self-confidence, self esteem and their smile - in more than just one way :-)
Strategy - how it achieves impact: Cooperation with women´s shelters, self-help groups, women´s representatives, and ministries to inform them and thus the victims of our work. Networking with the dental industry (3 major sponsors), radio reports, newspaper articles and ads, booths at major dental congresses (all sponsored) to find dentists and dental technicians who support our project. When we are contacted by a woman we help to establish the contact to the nearest dentist who participates in our project, we coach the team in treating victims of violence to increase the awareness for the problems of the patients, thus improving the treatment compliance of the patient. And we establish the contact between the supporting dentist and the supporting dental lab.
Strategy - growth plans: within the next 5 years, all survivors of domestic violence should find a "Wieder Lachen"-dentist ("smile again- dentist") within 30 km of their home. A regular presence in major dental journals has already been initiated. We are currently organizing a congress dealing with the aspects of domestic violence in dental offices to give our supporting dentists and dental technicians a platform for exchanging experience - and to attract new supporters, too. Moreover, we intensify our PR in order to inform the potential patients of our work. We are currently developing a strategy to intensify our fund-raising, thus enabling us to start campaigns in local and nation-wide newspapers. Our preconditions in this field are ideal because our honorary aides come from PR, marketing, coaching and women´s shelters
Impact to date: Since the founding of "Wieder Lachen e.V." one year ago, we were able to treat 27 patients. Our project is nation-wide supported by 50 dentists and dental technicians, more sign in every week. So far no similar initiatives were started - which we deeply regret as the need for medical and legal support for the survivors of domestic violence is probably just as high as it is for dental treatment.
Future impact: In 10 years we will have a close-meshed network of dentists and dental technicians supporting our project (see growth plans) and organize an annual conference for dentists, psychologists, and social worker´s, creating a vivid interdisciplinary exchange of experience, thus equally helping the victims and the supporters. Our project will be known in every German women´s shelter. Our nation-wide reputation in both, the dental field and the public, will tell the potential patients that they can rely on our help.
Sustainability - resource base: We are currently working with 6 volunteers, collecting membership fees from 50 members and receive donations from private persons, dental laboratories, and dental offices. Moreover we sell a CD with the ballade "Dein Lächeln" (Your Smile) which was composed for our campaign and a poster (see our website www.wieder-lachen.com). We could motivate the 3 major dental companies in Germany who all belong to the world-largest dental corporate group to support our work with their network, donations of material, and PR. We are cooperating with the Hesse Department of Social Welfare (Section Violence Prevention and Intervention) to improve our network.
Major challenge for the field: The survivors of domestic violence need every support they can get to re-establish their lives with self esteem and self confidence. And as all things are easier with a smile, we are happy to contribute with what we can do best: restore the teeth and thus help to give a smile back to the soul :-) All helping hands are welcome!!
Contact Information:
Name: Wieder E.V. Lachen
Mailing address: Karolingerring 1, 63791 Karlstein, Germany
Country: Germany
Email: info@wieder-lachen.com
Tel: +49-6188-991695
Fax: +49-6188-991691
Website: www.wieder-lachen.com
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