Helping children build
healthier smiles
A Canada-based student initiative bringing oral hygiene education and basic supplies to children in Ukraine — including thousands of children displaced by war who have missed out on crucial health education.
A Canada–Ukraine student-driven effort
The Maslov Oral Health Initiative was founded by Ihor Maslov, a dental student based in Canada, motivated by a straightforward belief: that every child deserves access to basic oral health knowledge, regardless of where they live — or what they have been forced to leave behind.
Ukraine's ongoing war has displaced millions of children, disrupting schooling and community life. Many of these children have missed years of routine health education — including the basic oral hygiene skills that most children learn at home or in school. This initiative exists to help close that gap.
This initiative is a volunteer-led educational outreach project. It is not a registered charity, dental clinic, or treatment service. Our focus is prevention and education — equipping children and caregivers with practical knowledge and basic tools to build lifelong healthy habits.
We work through local partnerships, community centres, and schools to deliver short, child-friendly oral hygiene workshops and distribute basic hygiene kits to families who need them most.
A story that started
before the alarm clock
Ihor Maslov grew up in Ukraine the way most children do — going to school, spending time with friends, and imagining what the future might hold. That ordinary life ended when he was 14 years old. He was jolted awake one morning not by an alarm, but by the sound of rockets tearing through the sky above his city. In that single moment, everything he had known changed forever.
Like millions of Ukrainians, Ihor was forced to leave the only home he had ever known. He arrived in Canada carrying the weight of displacement — and a sharp, personal understanding of what it truly means to have your education, your routine, and your sense of safety stripped away overnight. He knows, from lived experience, the small essential moments of normal life that children in conflict zones lose without warning.
Now entering his second year of Biochemistry, Ihor is on a clear path toward dentistry. But he could not wait until graduation to act. The Maslov Oral Health Initiative was built on the belief that children displaced by war should not have to miss out on something as fundamental as knowing how to care for their teeth — and that a student with the right motivation can do something meaningful right now.
"These children didn't choose this. The least we can do is make sure they don't miss out on something as simple — and as important — as learning how to brush their teeth."
This is more than an outreach project. It is one student's way of reaching back — to the country, the children, and the childhood he was forced to leave behind.
What we do
Simple, consistent, evidence-based. Our activities are designed to reach all children — including those displaced by war who have missed years of routine health education.
Child-friendly workshops
Interactive 45–60 minute sessions covering brushing technique, the role of sugar in tooth decay, and the importance of regular dental check-ups. Sessions are adapted for different age groups and use visual aids, demonstrations, and simple activities.
Hygiene kit distribution
Each participating child receives a basic hygiene kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a simple care guide. Kits are provided free of charge and include age-appropriate materials for parents and guardians.
Caregiver education
We also engage parents and teachers with short take-home materials that reinforce healthy habits at home. Good oral hygiene is a household habit, and we try to support the whole family, not just the child.
Important note
The Maslov Oral Health Initiative does not provide dental treatment, diagnosis, or clinical services of any kind. We are an educational outreach programme. Participants are always encouraged to seek regular professional dental care.
Reaching children of war
A priority focus of the 2026 programme is children displaced by the conflict — many of whom have missed years of school and basic health education through no fault of their own. We want to reach them wherever they are now.
Our first structured field programme
In summer 2026, the initiative plans its first coordinated outreach programme in Ukraine. Led from Canada, the team will work alongside local community organisations and schools to deliver oral health education workshops targeting children aged 5–14 across three regions.
A core focus of this programme is reaching children who have been displaced by the ongoing war — children who have moved between cities, lost access to stable schooling, and missed the routine moments when basic health habits are normally taught. For many, this will be their first structured introduction to oral hygiene.
Sessions are designed to work in community centres, temporary accommodations, classrooms, and informal settings — without requiring dedicated equipment or clinical infrastructure, so they can meet children wherever they are.
The 2026 programme is still in its planning and partnership-building phase. If you are based in Ukraine or Canada and have connections to local organisations that work with children — especially displaced communities — we'd welcome the conversation.
Get in touch about the programme →Get involved
This initiative runs on goodwill, time, and community support — from Canada and beyond. There are several ways to contribute to the children who need it most.
Volunteer
If you are a dental student, health professional, or experienced educator, we welcome your involvement. Help facilitate workshops, develop materials, or support planning and coordination.
Express interest →Donate hygiene supplies
We are always looking for toothbrushes, toothpaste, and basic dental hygiene supplies to include in kit distributions. In-kind donations help us reach more children at lower cost.
Get in touch →Spread the word
Share what we are doing with your networks — especially if you have connections in Canada, Ukraine, dental schools, humanitarian organisations, or community groups working with displaced children.
Partner with us
Schools, community centres, NGOs, and diaspora organisations in Canada or Ukraine are potential programme partners. We are especially looking for groups already working with war-displaced children and families.
Discuss partnership →Financial support
While we are not a registered charity, individuals and organisations can contribute financially toward hygiene kit production and workshop materials. All funds go directly to programme costs.
Learn more →Academic collaboration
If you are a dental school, public health programme, or research institution interested in supporting or studying oral health outreach initiatives, we would like to hear from you.
Reach out →Get in touch
Whether you are interested in volunteering, partnering, contributing supplies, or just want to learn more about what we do — we would love to hear from you.