FCSM – Förderkreis Clinica Santa Maria e.V.

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The Sponsors of the Santa Maria Clinics (FCSM) is an aid initiative founded in 1993. The association has limited its aid projects to South America in order to be able to operate them as sustainably as possible throughout the year.
The association has set itself the task of establishing facilities for dental care in countries that can not guarantee to build up and maintain a broad-spectrum dentistry service, especially for poor sections of the population.
The FCSM wants to reduce the blatant deficits in nutritional issues, oral hygiene and therapy through its work and is constantly looking for dentists, dental technicians, DH's and students (from 8th semester). Recognized as a nonprofit organisation, the FCSM sees itself as an independent, non-political or denominational group whose members work on a voluntary basis, with minimal administrative costs.
Current projects:
• Guadalupe / Ecuador: Since 2001, the FCSM has had a complete practice with 2 chairs and a plastics laboratory, affiliated with the small mission clinic "Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe" in the beautiful Yacuambi Valley. A local dental assistant assists. A medical centre with single rooms and bathroom serves as accommodation, where meals are also served, together with the clinic staff. The food is remarkably good.
• Huancarani / Bolivia: FCSM founded a practice here in cooperation with a Swiss foundation in 2013 near Cochabamba, a laboratory in 2016, and the prophylaxis room in 2018. Thus, under comfortable conditions, the mostly indigenous population can be cared for all year round. An apartment for the volunteers is located in the same building and complies with simple European standards. Dine at Doña Adela in the same house.
• Bolivia mobile: As the name suggests, there is no fixed location for this, but the 2 teams, one experienced dentist + two students (from 8th semester), travel around the province of Chuquisaca. They work temporarily during the semester break at the same time but are spatially separated - the first two weeks in outlying areas of Bolivia's capital Sucre, then in the villages of the province, each for 3 or 4 weeks. This happens with mobile but complete equipment.
All projects work Mondays to Fridays, weekends are available for trips to the many natural and cultural attractions of the Andes. The minimum stay should be 3 weeks, preferably longer. Accommodation and meals are free.

Dr. Ekkehard Schlichtenhorst is vice chairman of Sponsors of Santa Maria Clinics (FCSM).

On request we can offer other net participants advice, give a presentation, and provide up-to-date information and contacts in the field of our work.