Dr. Gonzalez is a 38 year old dental volunteer who beckoned the call to return to DVI during the Corona outbreak and help out. She had first volunteered at DVI in February, but had inquired about volunteering here as early as 2016. In fact, DVI plays a role in her marriage to a Christian Arab and her move to the Old City of Jerusalem.

After graduating from dental school in Colombia, South America in 2004, Diana began working and thinking about volunteering her services. She had heard about DVI and in 2016 began writing to the DVI volunteer coordinator. Given the news reports of unrest and violence in the region, however, Dr. Gonzalez was concerned for her safety. A friend mentioned to her that she knows someone who lives in Jerusalem’s Old City, and she should contact him to get more information. They began writing and he invited her to come for Christmas to see for herself how safe and special Jerusalem really is. She took him up on the invitation and the rest is history! They married in September of 2018 and Diana now resides with her husband in the Old City.

Yulia Medovar began volunteering at DVI in in the Fall of 2000, after the beginning of the Intifada, when foreign dentists stopped coming to Israel because of the danger. Yulia lives in Beit Nachalut, in Gush Etzion, and back at that time the drive to Jerusalem was dangerous, with rock throwing and so on, but Yulia was determined to get to DVI, where she was needed.

​Over time, Yulia connected to DVI, to the purpose and mission of Trudi Birger. She deeply cares about the kids. Yulia is a new immigrant from the Ukraine; she came with her husband to Israel in 1995, after finishing their degrees.

Yulia’s patient Bar Rachamim was referred to DVI by Kidum L’noar (the municipal social welfare department working with youth-at-risk). Her brother was injured in the IDF and is in a wheelchair (also a DVI patient), and her family is in a tough situation. She is the 8th of 11 children and is not in contact with most of the family. Her mother doesn’t even recognize her when she stops by. Bar’s father throws her out of the house if he is home when she comes to visit, yelling at her that she needs to work. She spoke fondly of the delicious food she eats when she goes to visit her grandmother occasionally for Shabbat. Bar has been out of the house since the age of 9 and reported that her siblings are all in various dormitories (pnimiot are boarding schools for kids whose parents cannot care for them). She was living in a shelter in downtown Jerusalem when she first came to DVI. The group apartment was closed during the day so she often wanders the streets of Jerusalem during the daylight hours and begs for money. That is how she put together bus fare to get to the DVI clinic for her treatments. She has had cavities filled and root canal treatments here in addition to x-rays, oral hygiene etc.. Bar is in a difficult situation and the fact that she even managed to make it to the clinic was a major accomplishment. After not seeing Bar for more than a year, she came in for treatment during the pandemic, but…she now has a tooth that requires extraction and she is worried about her appearance with a missing tooth. "I haven't been here for follow-up treatment or a check-up, or to the hygienist in some time, partly because I moved to Eilat last year to be near my boyfriend. Now, with the Coronavirus, I'm out of work, but I'm looking for a job." The staff at DVI continues not only to treat her dental problems but to encourage her as well.

Thank you to Dr. Alaa Natsheh (first picture) and Dr. Othman Keis (second picture) for volunteering at the DVI clinic. Most of the volunteers from March through July, 2020 were Arab Israeli dentists, as many of the foreign dentists couldn't travel to Israel. Volunteers are wearing personal protection equipment (PPE) donated by AO - London.  Thank you to the volunteers, staff, and all those who donated during this time!

​Click on the thumbnails to see more images!

Thank you for taking the time to visit the Canadian Friends of DVI's website! During COVID-19, we took some time out to revamp the site and plan fundraising events.

DVI's Trudi Birger Clinic Remains Open for Urgent Care
The DVI Clinic was hit along with the rest of the world as volunteer dentists were forced to cancel flights, however the clinic was committed to staying open for emergency care. Stricter infection protocols were put in place to keep staff, volunteers, and patients safe. DVI purchased a large quantity of supplies, including disposable gowns, full plastic face screens, and surgery head caps.

Smiles for Seniors took extra precautions due the vulnerability of the seniors, however they have now been able to re-open.

While countless foundations and organizations temporarily closed, significant donations that were expected could not be sent. Please help support the important work the clinic does by donating and participating in our Events and sending in Donations.