Together we can

Dr Lida Sayadelmi was only 10-years-old the first time she volunteered – tutoring her classmates in mathematics. “I felt immense joy to see them being confident and not anxiously struggle their way through school,” she recalls. “As a young person, I did not know the value of knowledge, but I just wanted to share what I could to help them.

“In my capacity as a dentist, I start supervising in UWA Dental School in 1994 but it was not until after 2003 that I got into hands-on volunteering with the ADAWA Oral Health Education Committee,” she adds. “Since, then I have been fortunate to be able to volunteer with TIMA, Autism Australia, ADA DHF Dental Rescue Days at OHCWA (Oral Health Centre of WA) and Healing Smiles.”

Dental Rescue Days

Lida has been part of Dental Rescue Days from the start. “I volunteered with TIMA Perth at OHCWA in October 2018 and I could sense that volunteering as a team had an elevating vibe and everyone was happy to be there,” she says. “So, when Dr Tracey Gold and I were chatting about running a Dental Rescue Day at OHCWA, I had no doubt that it would be successful.”

The Dental Rescue Days have been an amazing way to introduce dental students to the impact of volunteerism. “Interestingly, I have never had to ask any of them to volunteer,” Lida says. “They hear about it in my conversations with patients or other volunteers and they become immediately interested. Helping others is human nature and our dental profession is very generous in many ways.”

Lida adds everyone is different, but she can say with certainty that first-time volunteers are always most eager. “They get more enthusiastic – eye-witnessing the genuine gesture of appreciation, relief and the smile of these patients ....no monetary reward compares to it.”

Healing Smiles

Lida is a member of the Committee of Healing Smiles – a group of female dentists providing pro bono treatment for survivors of domestic violence.

Lida joined Healing Smiles at its inception after receiving an invitation from Dr Gosia Barley, not knowing how she could help, but knowing she wanted to help. “Soon after the very first meeting and chatting to Gosia (the clinical coordinator at the time), it was clear to me that Healing Smiles is of a group of leading and compassionate ladies with only one goal on their mind – benevolence of a specific disadvantaged group who have no representation and very little choice.”

In the early days, Lida was a clinical provider, and later joined the committee. She said each role has unique challenges. “I have learned so much personally and professionally in both roles that sometimes I feel I am the lucky one, blessed with the opportunity to grow as a human being beyond my imagination while making a difference in other people’s lives,” she says.

She adds the generosity of the team, both clinical volunteers and board members, is humbling. “There is so much respect in the air. It is like an unspoken code that we all feel and abide by,” she says. “As hard and impossible as this journey may seem sometimes, our team never gives up and we always find a way to get through any obstacle.

“My vision is to see us spread more regionally where we are most needed but also nation-wide. While we are at it, why not help out those countries less fortunate than us. Together we can.”

Giving back

To other dentists considering volunteering, Lida says don’t think about it; just do it.

“Do it now and do it for the right reason,” she advises. “Find ‘your reason’ and you will not be overwhelmed.

“ADAWA has brought together so many worthy and highly organised charities now and you can find the one that sings to your heart. You feel lighter and more fulfilled when you help those in need.”

For more information about volunteering with Healing Smiles, email healingsmileswa@gmail.com

For details about volunteering with ADA DHF, email Andrea Paterson,
WA@adadhf.org.au

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