RAW sees women meet with a mentor at least once a week and progressing on a pathway to prepare themselves for a new life and career.
With 92 convictions to her name, Alisha said it has been RAW operations manager Rebecca Skilton who has helped her find her way.
After serving two years and three months in prison, Alisha was released in March.
"I come from an abusive background, I have been brought up with quite a colourful lifestyle ... I can't use that as an excuse. I was a solo mum with two kids, trying to be good but I had a breakdown and slipped off the wagon.
"Time pauses inside, you just live day by day. When you're out in the world, it's rushing past you, but when you're inside you don't see that. And if you have no contact with your family, you feel like you're in a hole."
Alisha's bad dental hygiene stemmed from heavy drug use. She had three large fillings and her tooth straightened during her hour and a half Revive A Smile session.
Alisha is now studying commercial music at Wintec with the hope of becoming a producer.
She said having her teeth repaired means she won't be held back by pain when singing and and she can focus on her study.
"I wouldn't have the confidence, I am quite a show pony at times, so when I think there is some imperfection that's an excuse to stay at home and not go out. So it's a massive game changer."
She said without the help of Revive A Smile she would not have been able to afford the $850 treatment.
Assil said many people simply live with toothache as securing funds to cover dental treatments can be difficult.
"I came across many genuinely hard working Kiwis struggling to make ends meet and living with toothache. In New Zealand, although some treatment is subsidised by the Ministry of Health, those requiring extensive treatment are often unable to get enough funding by Winz grants and their dental problems go untreated."
She said the project was formed using the model of "caring creates change". As a student, she set up ICARE medical charity for children in Iraq, then using the same ideology to start Revive a Smile.
"Both ICARE and Revive a Smile are still going strong and helping those in need both in Iraq and New Zealand.
"The project has grown in the past couple of years mostly due to the generosity of Hamiltonians and our volunteers [and] dental professionals who donate their time and skills to give back to the community."
Revive A Smile programme is run from River Road Dental Centre. Grants from the NZ Dental Association and Wrigley Foundation have helped cover the cost of materials and oral health packs given to each patient.
Those performing the treatment are volunteers, including Amir Russell (director), Sheryl Foster (volunteer admin), Tina Tahereh (volunteer nurse) and Eliana Lores (volunteer nurse), along with Assil Russell and Jessica Gordon who helped to bring the two organisations together.
