The inspiration for Supplies for a Smile comes from a simple but impactful experience Bahar and Zeynep shared in their early school years. At seven years old, they attended a school where each classroom had a cabinet stocked with basic medical supplies. These supplies, though often taken for granted, made a significant difference when it came to ensuring that minor injuries didn’t interrupt a student’s day.
One day, during a game, Bahar was accidentally hit in the face with a basketball. She was in pain, unable to go home early, but the school staff quickly used the supplies from the cabinet to clean and dress her wound. Zeynep, who was there, was grateful to see Bahar receive the care she needed, allowing her to return to class without missing valuable lessons. This experience highlighted for both of them how crucial it is for students to have access to immediate care in order to stay focused on their education.
As they grew older, Zeynep moved to the United States, and Bahar transferred to a different school. Unlike their previous school, this new school lacked the essential medical supplies they had once relied on. Over time, both began to understand how important those small resources were, not just for treating injuries, but for helping students stay healthy and engaged in their learning without interruption.
This realization led Bahar and Zeynep to co-found Supplies for a Smile, a nonprofit focused on providing schools in rural and underfunded areas with medical supply cabinets. The goal is to create an environment where students don’t have to worry about minor health issues preventing them from learning. By ensuring schools have access to basic medical care, Supplies for a Smile hopes to support students’ well-being and educational success.
Through this initiative, Bahar and Zeynep are working to make accessible healthcare a standard in schools, ensuring no child’s education is hindered by a lack of essential resources.