In Merauke, South Papua, getting proper dental care is a major challenge. There are very few dentists in the area, and the nearest professional help is often too far for families to reach. On top of that, there’s little awareness about the importance of oral hygiene. For many children in the region, dental care simply isn’t a part of daily life.
Dentist Erli Sarilita saw this gap and felt the need to take action. She believes dental care is about more than just clean teeth, it’s about improving the overall well-being and quality of life for children in underserved areas.
“First, I know the condition and the needs for dental health for the children in Merauke. And although our Indonesian government has already provided a local health center, Puskesmas, with free dental care, there are no dentists working in that centre,” said Erli. She found that very few dentists are willing to work in remote areas like Merauke. Meanwhile, many children don’t know how important dental care is and are not even motivated to go to school. “They’d rather go hunting,” she added.
With this in mind, Erli submitted a proposal to the British Council through the UK Social Action Grant. Her initiative focused on giving free dental treatment to school children in Merauke. The project successfully delivered dental care to two elementary schools—SD YPPK Yos Sudarso and SD Inpres Tambat. In total, 120 individuals received treatment, including 59 students from the first school and 61 students and 3 teachers from the second. The effort not only addressed immediate dental needs but also raised awareness about oral hygiene in the community.
The project also gained attention from brands like Pepsodent, which supported the initiative by providing free dental products. This added excitement for the children to learn more about oral hygiene. “I am bringing my profession as a dentist there, but I also would like to expand not only for free dental treatments, but also give encouragement sessions. Tell the children how important it is to pursue education,” said Erli.
The initiative wasn’t easy and required support from many different parties. Local university students helped as assistants, while the dental industry pitched in through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes by donating small gifts. The team worked closely with school principals to choose target locations and communicated with local government officials in Merauke and Papua to make sure everything ran smoothly. Local dentists also volunteered their time. The project was promoted through social media to raise further awareness about the importance of dental care.
From the planning stage to the final evaluation, the whole process went well. The team was able to secure funding, organise logistics, coordinate with partners, and evaluate the impact—all while staying on schedule. Constant communication and strong teamwork played a big role in the project’s success.
In the end, the initiative brought much-needed dental care and education to a remote community. It filled a critical gap in health services while also encouraging children to value their education. The partnerships between different stakeholders also show what collaboration can achieve.
“I’m very thankful to the British Council,” said Erli. “This project helped me build self-empathy and made me realise that development across Indonesia is still very unequal. As an Indonesian, I still have a lot to do for our brothers and sisters in Papua.”