Operation Smile UK

Hats off to student Rae and Aida from Sevenoaks School for raising more than £800 for children with conditions. In June, in the midst of exam season, they put together a 'Battle of the Bands' for .

So popular was the event that tickets sold out, no doubt helped by the bake sale and mobile pizza truck available to feed the musicians and attendees!

Congratulations and thanks to Rae, Aida, and everyone who made the event a success! 👏

Last month, Operation Smile Palestine resumed its ongoing cleft surgical programme at Al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron. Thanks to the efforts of local medical volunteers and hosital staff, 11 children got life-changing surgery.

Two American Heart Association courses (Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular) were also carried out for volunteers, partner hospital staff, and local health workers.

August's programme marks the start of a series of bi-monthly surgical and training programmes in the region.

Well done and thanks to everyone involved! 👏

Running low on toothpaste? Pop into Superdrug and you could help children with conditions.

Superdrug and Procter & Gamble are working in partnership to raise money for . For each Oral-B product sold in Superdrug stores or online from tomorrow to the 8th October, Procter & Gamble and Superdrug will together pay 20p to Operation Smile. Subject to availability, while stocks last.

Joseph was born in the Philippines with a and palate. Other children teased him so badly because of his , he gave up going to school and went to work collecting scrap.

Many families like Joseph’s don’t seek treatment – often they don't know that can be cured, or they assume they won't be able to afford the medical costs.

Thankfully, a kind stranger told Joseph's family about . Now he has a brand-new smile and new-found confidence at school! 🤩

We believe in a world where free, safe surgery is a right for the many, not a privilege for the few! A world where every child like Mosiah has access to affordable, safe surgery and care.

Ziyalesi's reflection has changed dramatically since her life-changing surgery. She longed to look like her twin sister Rutia (who didn't have a cleft condition). She wondered how different her life could have been without a cleft.

In rural Malawi, Ziyalesi's parents were mocked and taunted because of their daughter's . They were heartbroken to see her come home from school, in tears, because of bullying.

The family were thrilled when they discovered medical volunteers from Operation Smile Malawi could give Ziyalesi free, safe surgery. No one was as delighted as Rutia to see her sister's new smile! 😍 ❤️

This month our medical have been transforming more lives all over the world. In the Phillippines, Vietnam, China, Rwanda and beyond, we've provided life-changing care for patients, as well as training for local health teams and communities. Thanks as always to our supporters, donors, partners (and of course our volunteers!) 👏❤️

HUGE thanks to Smile Hero Nick, for raising more than £3,000 for .

Nick has just cycled 137 miles from Whitehaven to Tynemouth, inspired by his granddaughter who was born with a condition.

He told us: "At the beginning of June, our beautiful granddaughter, Caragh, was born with a cleft lip and alveola cleft. We are very fortunate that Caragh is under the excellent care of an NHS cleft team and will receive the appropriate care and attention until she is 21. Unfortunately, the reality is that this is not the case for other children around the world."

Thanks so much to Nick for his fundraising efforts and best wishes to baby Caragh!

Shout-out for the team of amazing women who took part in the recent Women In Medicine programme in Cairo, Egypt, from 27 June to 4 July.

More than 65 female medical volunteers came together, bringing their expertise in surgery, anaesthesia, paediatrics, dentistry, nursing, speech therapy, psychosocial care, biomedical technology, medical photography, and statistics.

Their collaborative efforts led to life-changing surgery and comprehensive care for more than 80 children with conditions.

Thanks to the volunteers and staff who made this programme possible. 👏❤️

Tumpale, from had surgery to repair his cleft lip when he was nine months old. Thankfully, this timely surgery means he won't have to endure the damaging stigma and health problems of an untreated ! Thanks team Operation Smile Malawi 🤩❤️

Parishoners at Fen Drayton Church chose as their charity to support in 2024. They've been raising money throughout the year via various events and activities. A 'Lent Lunch' raised £331 and they have further plans to do more lunch fundraisers at Harvest and Christmas too.

Julie and Keith from the parish decided to go one further and take part in a sponsored cycle (covering almost 50 miles in 5 hours) and raising a further £400. Here they are being seen off by Lindsay Anderson.

Thanks to everyone at Fen Drayton for their efforts! ❤️ 👏

Dental care is a vital part of the comprehensive care we provide. Here's Ramata with team at Operation Smile Ghana having her braces fitted. This 'Smile Restoration Programme' at Ghana's Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has a team of who provide dental care and orthodontics for patients like Ramata every month.

Well done to the team in - you're making a huge difference to the lives (and smiles) of our patients. 🤩 👏

When a prenatal scan showed that their baby daughter Clodagh would be born with a cleft lip, parents Barrie and Brittany decided to do something positive to help other children with cleft conditions around the world. They asked friends and family to pay £2 to guess their daughter's name. This fantastic idea raised £1,250, enough to provide life changing surgery for 8 children.

Barrie and Brittany said: "We would like to thank everyone who helped us fundraise by guessing Clodagh’s name and donating to the fund. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of family, friends and colleagues and we are so glad to have been able to help children around the world who were born with cleft."

Thanks from all of us at too, and thanks for sharing this beautiful photo of Clodagh. ❤️

Last month, held its 32nd International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC) 2024 at Emory University, bringing together more than 350 passionate young leaders from 28 countries.

The students took part inspiring talks, creative activities, and skill-building workshops, focusing on , , and .

The event was designed to deepen the students' understanding of the challenges faced by people with cleft conditions and discover new ways to make a lasting impact.

Here's to the next generation of student leaders making the world a better place!

Bui was born with a condition in Vietnam. His parents loved and supported him as much they could, but sadly they couldn't afford the surgery he needed.

Bui's family were ecstatic when they heard about an surgical programme in Hanoi.

Now Bui's life has been transformed. He's happy, healthy and loves going to school and playing with friends! ❤️😍

Cleft surgeon Dr Hannah Eliza John has just returned from the Philippines, her first surgical programme as an .

We caught up with her recently after her return from the Philippines, keen to find out more as well as some memorable moments from the trip.

Find out how she got on here! 👇

https://loom.ly/UXbWLT8

From inspiration to action: Q&A with Dr Hannah Eliza John - Cleft Lip & Palate Children's Charity | Operation Smile UK Cleft surgeon Dr Hannah John has just returned from her first Operation Smile surgical programme. She talks about her inspiration to become a volunteer.

Did you know, every 3 minutes, a child is born somewhere in the world with a or palate? Without our help children like Hemlet face health problems, bullying and isolation.

We believe in a world where children don’t have to suffer because of their - your support helps us provide the comprehensive care and treatment they need to live happy, healthy lives! ❤️

Aliwu was born in rural with a and palate. Her mum was also born with a , so wasn't surprised when she saw her little girl for the first time. Timely cleft surgery from Operation Smile Ghana at 12 months old, means Aliwu hasn't had to experience the negative effects of growing up with an untreated cleft condition. Now she's as confident and happy as any child should be! 😍👏

Patient Coordinator Clement in is one of the many unsung heroes of . He's brought hope to countless children and families living with untreated cleft conditions and supported them on their journey to treatment, and recovery.

Clement travels to remote communities to raise awareness about Operation Smile, and seek out those living with the burden and stigma of their cleft condition, many of whom are unaware that surgery is even an option.

Clement tells us what he loves about his work:

"The beauty of it is when you find a patient, you see them very sad, looking so rejected, isolated. Then when you stay with them, you encourage them, and then the beautiful aspect of it is when surgery is done and you see a patient, a caregiver who was once sad, now they're dancing, singing songs! And then you see the mothers spreading the message and finding more patients for Operation Smile, and that is more fulfilling. It makes you feel that this is worth the sacrifice!" Operation Smile Ghana

Sending love to all of our friends, and all over the world on this . Thanks for being there! Your support makes a HUGE difference. ❤️

As another month comes to a close, our medical have been transforming more lives around the world. Thanks to your support we've helped patients in Egypt, Bolivia, the Philippines, Honduras and beyond!
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There really were smiles all round when we met young Farida outside the Korle Bu Teaching hospital in . At six months old, Farida brightened everyone's day while she waited with her mum for life-changing surgery.

Even during her pre-surgical checks and while being carried into theatre by anaesthetist Benjamin, Farida kept smiling. And, the day after surgery Farida was back to her usual bubbly self too. 🤩

Mum Alimatu told us she can't wait to go home and show her daughter's transformation to family and friends. Operation Smile Ghana

Read Farida's full story here 👇

https://loom.ly/b2M12aE
Operation Smile Ghana

Smiles all round thanks to Farida - Cleft Lip & Palate Children's Charity | Operation Smile UK Six-month-old Farida is a big with everyone she meets. Her sunny disposition and smiles brighten everyone’s day while she waits for life-changing cleft surgery.

We’re delighted to recognise Smile Hero Gwen MacDonald who recently completed the Ogi Porthcawl 10k run, raising nearly £1,500 for . Born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, Gwen told us how grateful she feels for the care she received here in the UK. This was her inspiration to help others around the world who don't have access to free, safe surgery and care.

Gwen said: " I just want to give a little of the care I received to someone else who's in need. Such a simple operation can really change the course of someone's life!"

Thank you, Gwen and thanks to everyone who supported her! ❤️ 👏

Patients in recently had life-changing surgery and comprehensive care at an surgical programme in Antsirabe. 86 medical volunteers from 13 countries came together to change the lives of children and adults in this remote region.

During the programme 110 patients received life-changing surgery, 55 patients had dental care and 36 received speech and language therapy.

Well done to everyone involved! 👏

Read the full story here 👇

https://loom.ly/rHj2xbU

Scenes of hope and healing from Antsirabe - Cleft Lip & Palate Children's Charity | Operation Smile UK Operation Smile provided safe surgery and comprehensive care to over 120 patients in Antsirabe, Madagascar.

With many patients living in remote areas, patient advocates like Dadafara play a vital role in finding new patients and reassuring worried families.

Many of our patient advocates are parents or relatives of previous Operation Smile patients. Dadafara wanted to help other families like his after seeing his own granddaughter's transformation after surgery. He told us:

"I show parents photos of my granddaughter Claudia, so they can see that she also had a cleft and now she is fine. I do my best to convince them that Operation Smile can provide surgery and this care is safe and free, they will cover all the expenses."

Mohamed’s mum Benjebi was devastated after she’d travelled 370 miles to an Operation Smile surgical programme in Oudja, Morocco, and was told 3-week old Mohamed was too young to receive life-changing .

Thankfully the medical volunteers told her that another programme was scheduled 6 months later in Dakhla, when Mohamed would be old enough for his operation.

Benjebi was so moved by her son’s transformation after surgery she felt he had been ‘reborn’! ❤️