Live.Learn.Laugh.
Unilever and the FDI World Dental Federation have created a unique partnership - Live.Learn.Laugh. - with the aim of increasing oral health education and promotion in countries around the world. The partnership enables participating National Dental Associations (NDAs) to implement oral health projects locally.
This partnership has been made possible thanks to the deeply held conviction of both organisations that good oral care is a building block for health and well-being - and that improved oral care begins at the grassroots level. Unilever Oral Care and the FDI World Dental Federation both have global reach, enabling Live.Learn.Laugh. to make a difference the world over.
Live.Learn.Laugh. was officially launched in Montréal in August 2005 and has since grown to reach more than 40 participating National Dental Associations from 38 countries.
Recently, the partnership celebrated the completion of its first phase.
Phase II of the Live.Learn.Laugh. (LLL) Partnership between FDI World Dental Federation and Unilever Oral Care was launched on 2 September 2010 at the FDI AWDC in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. 47 participants representing the two partners and 24 National Dental Associations attended the Global Launch Workshop.
Phase 1 came to a close in 2009, but the partnership's success—40 health promotion programmes launched in 37 countries over the course of five years—and both partners' commitment to improving oral health worldwide led them to envisage a Phase II.
Following an evaluation of the first phase, indicating that the partnership should narrow its focus if it was going to have a measurable impact on oral health globally, the goal of Phase II is ‘to work together to measurably improve oral health through twice daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste'.
To pilot the new phase, a Preliminary Global Workshop was held in Hong Kong on 16 and 17 June 2010 with representatives of 12 National Dental Associations to obtain their feedback on the tools needed to advance local Live.Learn.Laugh. projects using this new approach.
Since the September 2010 launch, FDI has received 33 project proposals jointly submitted by National Dental Associations (NDAs) and their local Unilever counterparts.
These will be reviewed by the LLL Partnership leaders and the public health experts who make up the FDI World Dental Development and Health Promotion Committee.
Manila May LLL Workshop Focuses on Continuous Project Evaluation
Opportunity to share best practice and examples of experiential learning
Live.Learn.Laugh. (LLL) refers to the unique global partnership between FDI World Dental Federation and Unilever Oral Care which began in 2004. Following an evaluation of Phase I in 2009, Phase II was launched on 2 September 2010 at the FDI AWDC in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. This partnership now has a new, more focused goal - ‘to work together to measurably improve oral health through twice daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste'.
The Manila workshop, attended by 26 representatives from 22 National Dental Associations and members of global partnership team from FDI and Unilever Oral Care, coincided with the 33rd Asia Pacific Dental Congress.
Participants were also able to gain useful insights into the power of communications tools—such as the press launch of the Philippines LLL Phase II project—to leverage the impact of work by theLive.Learn.Laugh Partnership on public health.
In the light of the successful Global Workshop, FDI is looking forward to working with its National Dental Association members and Unilever Oral Care to ensure positive outcomes for all Phase II projects in the coming years.
FDI & Unilever Oral Care launch the second phase of their Global Partnership
Participants at the Global Launch
Workshop, Salvador da Bahia, Brazil
The FDI World Dental Federation and Unilever Oral Care launched Phase II of their unique global partnership at the FDI Annual World Dental Congress, in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.
The new partnership follows a successful five year first phase collaboration which saw 40 different health promotion programmes implemented in partnership between National Dental Associations (NDAs) and Unilever Oral Care brands in 37 countries.
Phase II of the partnership will again involve NDAs working in partnership with Unilever Oral Care locally, with a new goal to work together to measurably improve oral health through encouraging twice daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste. With one goal aligning the partnership globally, it aims to have a greater and more measurable impact on oral health around the world. Projects will work through key influencers such as dentists, other health professionals and teachers, aiming to reach specific target beneficiaries of families, school children and infants, to educate them regarding the benefits of twice daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste and support them in taking up this fundamentally important oral health behaviour.
To mark the launch of Phase II, the partners held a Global Launch Workshop at the FDI Annual Dental Congress, attended by NDA representatives from participating countries and from the global partnership team at FDI and Unilever. Two members of the FDI World Dental Development and Health Promotion Committee, Professors Prathip Phantumvanit and Juan Carlos Llodra also gave presentations on the efficacy of twice daily brushing with fluoride and programme evaluation indicators.
The FDI World Dental Federation and Unilever Oral Care have committed to continue to work together to improve oral health globally and are pleased to be taking their partnership forwards. With its focused goal, aligned to FDI Policy Statement 2008: Promoting Dental Health through Fluoride Toothpaste, Phase II of the FDI/Unilever Oral Care partnership contributes significantly to the FDI ongoing vision to lead the world to optimal oral health.