Oral health education mission in Africa

Liliana, a dentist from Madeira who carries her smile all the way to Africa

Liliana comes from Madeira, a radiant island where kindness seems to grow as naturally as flowers. And that light, she carries it far beyond the Atlantic. Each time she travels to Africa, she offers something rare: her time, her knowledge, her energy… but above all, her heart. For her, caring for others is not just a profession. It is a way of being in the world—a gentle yet determined way of saying, “I can help, so I do.”

It is there, in the heart of the villages she visits, that she finds her true happiness: the happiness of giving.

Sharing, explaining, passing it on: the mission that inspires her

In the field, Liliana does more than treat patients. She explains, demonstrates, and plays with children to teach them how to brush their teeth. She reassures parents, laughs with teachers, opens kits, distributes supplies, and turns simple gestures into small everyday victories.

She often says that education is the most beautiful gift of all, because it continues to shine long after she has gone. And every smile she sees appear in Africa feels like a seed she has planted—a seed of health, autonomy, and dignity.

Healing to relieve pain… and to feel alive

Of course, Liliana also treats. She cleans, repairs, relieves pain, and restores the use of a tooth—or a smile. But what touches her most are the looks that change after her care: the quiet gratitude, the sudden sparks of joy, the spontaneous laughter.

She says these moments fill her more than anything else. They give meaning to her profession—and even to her life.

That is why her interview is so moving: it reveals a woman who is not seeking recognition, only the simple happiness of doing good.