Help Sam the Dentist Bring Biodegradable Toothbrushes to Himalayan Kids
Update: This campaign to bring biodegradable toothbrushes to children in the Himalayas has surpassed its goal! Thank you one and all! But don't put your wallet away just yet! We still need your help. Each #HappinessIdea campaign requires a team of storytellers, and we aim to pay them fairly. Huzzah for storytellers! The Happiness Idea is a tiny organization (I'm the founder and I'm writing from my office which is also my kitchen) and we rely on donations to support us. Many thanks to you. -Patricia
"I don't want to pull adult teeth from little children—ever again," thought Sam.
In 2013, Sam was volunteering at a dental clinic in a former Himalayan kingdom. He hated having to extract adult teeth from kids' mouths, but it was something he had to do a lot of. This gave Sam an idea: what if he returned to the Himalayas with toothbrushes for the kids? And what if those toothbrushes were biodegradable so that Sam wasn't leaving a bunch of plastic in the Himalayas?
This June, Sam is returning to the Himalayas to pursue his #HappinessIdea to teach kids how to take better care of their teeth. He'll take as many toothbrushes as you donate—and as he can carry!
Here's how it works:
You donate the toothbrushes. Sam takes the brushes to the former Himalayan kingdom. He distributes the brushes, and teaches the kids how to use them. Presto: fewer cavities, fewer kids in pain, happier community. (Go Bamboo have generously agreed to sell these toothbrushes for just $1 each. Fist bump to Go Bamboo!)
What's in it for you?
In exchange for your donation, you will get a video showing you the impact you've created. You'll see Sam, in all his dental glory, teaching children how to use toothbrushes. You'll witness kids brushing in the Himalayas at 10,000 feet of altitude. You'll see mothers looking on, relieved that something is being done to prevent the severe pain their children have been in. And you'll see us, The Happiness Idea, working to enable happy in every nook and cranny in the world.
How can you follow along as Sam journeys to the Himalayas with the brushes you've donated?
The best way to follow our journey is to like The Happiness Idea's Facebook page. We're also on Twitter. But, um, not that often. Because: Twitter.
Why is happy important? And what is The Happiness Idea?
Happiness is an inside job. It's not something you can create for someone else. But it is something you can enable for someone else. Whenever we at The Happiness Idea meet someone with an idea about how to make the world a happier place, we get that person the resources they need to achieve their #HappinessIdea.
TheHappinessIdea.com is a little team of people committed to making the world a quantifiably happier place. We don't just tell stories about people who have an idea about how to make the world a happier place. We get involved. Our stories are told in two parts: before and after. The before is someone's #HappinessIdea—and what resources they need to achieve it. The after is the impact—the real impact you create when you donate resources to someone with an idea about how to achieve happy.
Where is my money going?
Every dollar you donate will purchase one biodegradable toothbrush for someone in the Himalayas. We'll take as many brushes as we can and distribute them to people in need. Funds raised in excess will support this campaign or future campaigns. Whether you choose to donate toothbrushes or you choose to support The Happiness Idea as an organization, you are helping to create positive sustainable impact. 100% of funds raised go to #HappinessIdea campaigns.