THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9409030698
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
WHEN 22-YEAR-OLD Dasha Evzovich returned to her hometown of St. Petersburg, Russia, earlier this month, she had one important souvenir to share with her friends and family.
Her never-ending smile.
``I am so happy all the time,'' Dasha said. ``No one will believe me. People don't smile in Russia.''
Dasha, a medical student studying at the St. Petersburg Medical Pediatric Institute, had plenty to grin about this summer. She was one of four students who volunteered during their vacation for Operation Smile International's youth program.
The program, which brought Dasha together with students from Panama, Vietnam and the United States, teaches young people leadership skills, self-esteem and the spirit of volunteerism. Through administrative duties, hospital work, research programs and missions to foreign countries, these students are taught the true meaning of kids helping kids.
``Young people are the dreamers,'' said Kathy Magee, co-founder of Operation Smile International. ``Our goal is to take their dreams and turn them into realities. We want to help them achieve their dreams so they will have the ability to help others.''
Dasha got her first taste of the organization when she helped organize Operation Smile's visit to the Soviet Union two years ago. ``It was my first experience,'' she said. ``It was a little bit scary for me.''
Although she admitted ``it's very hard to leave Russia,'' Dasha could not resist Operation Smile's offer to sponsor her trip to Norfolk.
``It seems to be like a dream,'' she said. ``I don't believe I'm here.''
That initial disbelief was shared by 19-year-old Hoa Lu, a Vietnamese immigrant who recently graduated from Mission High School in San Francisco, Calif.
Hoa was placed with Operation Smile as part of her local ``Summer Search'' program, which identifies inner-city youths with potential and places them in programs that enhance their capabilities.
``I never imagined I would be here,'' said Hoa, who speaks fluent Vietnamese, Cantonese and English. ``I never thought I would have this chance.''
This is Hoa's first trip away from her mother, father and five brothers and sisters, but she wouldn't trade the experience for anything. ``I have gained so much,'' she said. ``It changed my life.'' Hoa returned from a mission to Colombia on Monday.
Although 21-year-old Ricky Altieri is an old pro in the world of smiles, he has all the symptoms of homesickness. ``Being away from home is the hardest part,'' said Ricky, a pre-med student at Notre Dame University. Ricky has volunteered at Operation Smile headquarters for the past two summers.
Ricky initially got involved in 1991 when his parents helped put together a mission in Panama. ``I was interested from the medical side, so I offered to work,'' he said.
Besides gaining experience through missions to Colombia and Panama over the years, Ricky worked alongside Dr. Han Kai at EVMS this summer to conduct the research program ``Evaluation of Bony Defect Repair in Craniofacial Surgery Using Fibrin Adhesive with Autologous Bone Fragments.''
As project assistant, Ricky helped Kai in his effort to formulate a bone paste to use in facial reconstructive surgery. ``I have seen a side of medicine that many people never get to see,'' he said.
Liz Harris, a 20-year-old senior leadership studies major at the University of Richmond interned at the Norfolk office for college credit. For 40 hours a week, Liz helped organize the annual youth conference, and coordinated student involvement with the organization's free dental and eye care clinic in Norfolk's Park Place section.
Although each student has different career plans, all of them intend to use their experience with Operation Smile as many ways as possible in the future. Hoa, who wants to start a ``Happy Club'' back home to raise money and promote awareness of Operation Smile, believes the most important contribution she can make is passing what she has learned on to her children.
``Someday the older generation will be gone,'' she said. ``Someone has to teach the younger generation how to love each other and give without asking for anything in return.''
Dasha, who said the communist way of thinking still lurks in her homeland, hopes she can find a way to a brighter tomorrow through the young people of today.
``Anything is possible,'' she said. ``If you can change the minds of the youth, you can change the world.'' MEMO: Holly Wester is a student at Virginia Wesleyan College. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
JOSEPH JOHN KOTLOWSKI
Student Dasha Evzovich looks over Colin Williams at the Children's
Hospital of the King's Daughters.
Graphic
MORE INFO
Operation Smile International is a private, nonprofit volunteer
medical services organization providing reconstructive surgery and
related health care to indigent children and young adults in
developing countries and the United States. Based in downtown
Norfolk, Operation Smile has performed surgery on more than 10,000
children in 11 developing countries.
More than 50,000 students are involved with the youth program.
These students volunteer their time through Operation Smile youth
clubs, known as ``Happy Clubs,'' chapters and special events.
Outstanding members are selected for missions, where they assist in
play therapy with children, perform primary health care
presentations and lead projects in the mission countries.
by CNB