Smile Train
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Smile Train is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate.
Millions of children in developing countries are suffering from untreated clefts. Most cannot eat or speak properly and aren’t allowed to attend school or hold a job. Smile Train is an international children's charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate.
08/15/2024
Danai Magandi lost her cleft-affected daughter, Shumiro, when she was just four months old. In the wake of that tragedy, Danai rose from unthinkable grief to start the Shumiro Sarah Crystal Magandi Trust, a local nonprofit (and Smile Train partner) whose goal is to provide emotional and logistical support to every cleft-affected family in Zimbabwe.
“Grief is a journey, and every day, I grow with it,” she shares. “My daughter’s legacy drives me to help others navigate the challenges of cleft care.”
From hosting community events to providing crucial information and emotional support, Danai and her team are making a profound impact. They are committed to breaking down barriers, spreading awareness, and ensuring that no family faces this journey alone.
Read the full story here: https://smiletra.in/3AknoDa
08/14/2024
Meet Milena from Brazil! Surrounded by the love of her family, Milena never let her cleft get in the way of her dreams of a happy and healthy future.
Her mother, Grazi, was scared and unsure about the emotional and financial burden that would come with having a baby with a cleft. But thanks to the team at Hospital Menino Jesus and Smile Train, these feelings quickly disappeared, and now she is forever grateful for the forever smile they gave her daughter.
Our local medical partners were able to guide Milena and her family to a safe and smooth recovery. And with your help and generosity we can help more families just like Milena’s receive the free, comprehensive cleft care they need!
08/13/2024
there have been 5,000+ Smile Train-supported cleft surgeries in Thailand since 2001! Providing cleft surgery to patients as soon as medically optimal means transforming lives, restoring smiles, and creating brighter futures!
08/12/2024
Meet Julian!
Julian was born with a cleft in a hospital that was unequipped to care for him. Guilty and unsure of what to do, his parents soon found the Gantz Foundation, one of Smile Train’s local partners in Chile. The team there not only provided Julian with free cleft surgeries, but also guided his parents through the challenges of feeding and proper hygiene for babies with clefts.
Julian is now an energetic child with a huge imagination and loves firefighters and trucks.
Help families like Julian’s provide their loved ones with the care they deserve by donating to Smile Train today.
08/09/2024
Smile Train helps support local healthcare workers around the world and provides free, comprehensive cleft care to their neighbors in need. For families like Rosa and Kossi’s, whose daughter, Akuya, was born with a cleft, this work is life changing.
At first, the family and their doctors had no sure way of treating Akuya. Clefts were unknown in their remote village, which made it even more difficult to face the public’s horrible comments. It got so bad that their family was forced to uproot their lives and move to another village.
Once there, they were greeted by a social worker who told them Akuya could get her cleft treated for free. Skeptical at first, they went to the hospital to meet the cleft team and were blown away by their kindness and professionalism.
A few weeks later, Akuya received her brand-new smile — for free.
Read Akuya’s full story here: https://smiletra.in/3kDeWHc
08/08/2024
Meet José from Mexico! Born with a cleft, José's parents, Verónica and José Sr. were shaken, but not deterred. They were determined to find the right care for their baby, no matter what it took.
Help arrived in an unexpected place. In the waiting room at José’s neonatal screening, José Sr. struck up a conversation with Maricarmen, whose daughter was also born with a cleft.
Maricarmen explained there was an organization nearby in Acapulco called Guerrero Sonríe that provided comprehensive cleft care, including surgery and related treatments and therapies. Not only that — Guerrero Sonríe was a Smile Train partner, which meant that all its services were 100% free for patients and families!
With the help of José’s older brother, Sebastián, Verónica made the trip to Acapulco to meet the team at Guerrero Sonríe. There, Dr. Oscar Hernández sat with them and answered all of Verónica’s questions, laying out a clear treatment plan for José that included both cleft lip and palate surgery.
Verónica and Sebastián returned home with wide smiles. Everyone in the family did their part to take care of José so that he would be ready for his first surgery.
Finally, José’s cleft lip surgery arrived, and it was a total success!
Read José’s full story here: https://smiletra.in/3Yz1PZB
08/07/2024
For 16 years, Ray struggled to eat and speak because of his untreated cleft. Yet, for all his challenges, Ray always knew he had the wholehearted support of a village of friends and family.
When his family heard about Smile Train’s local partner, Benh Vien Nhi D**g I, their lives were forever changed. Ray could now get free cleft surgery, as well as a lifetime of smiles.
Read about Ray's full story by clicking the link below!
Ray's Story: https://smiletra.in/45hvNRO
👂 Tune in to hear from Ashley CleftLove: Learning to Love My Smile as she shares insights on the various names and types of clefts.
08/05/2024
Meet Sohanpreet!
Gurjit was so ashamed of what others might say about Sohanpreet’s cleft that she hesitated to show her baby to her relatives until she was 9 months old.
That’s when she got in contact with Amendeep Hospital, one of Smile Train’s local partners in India. Knowing that Sohanpreet would receive free treatment for her cleft took away her worry and stress that her daughter may not be able to live a healthy life.
Now in 7th grade, Sohanpreet enjoys school, and especially loves math, English, and science. One day she hopes to be a teacher so she can educate the next generation to be not only successful but kind.
Thanks to your donations we were able to provide Sohanpreet with a lifetime full of smiles and opportunity!
08/02/2024
Among the unknowns of the pandemic, Desly received the news that her baby would be born with a cleft while all alone in the hospital. As the fear of possible bullying became a reality for her unborn daughter, Desly grew even more worried and doubtful about the future.
Desly started researching and found Fundación Gantz, a local Smile Train partner. By the time her baby, Siara, was born, she was knowledgeable and prepared for what was to come. Siara’s family is forever grateful to the wonderful team at Fundación Gantz for helping them navigate her cleft journey, both physically and emotionally.
Help support local Smile Train partners like Fundación Gantz by donating today!
08/01/2024
since 2007 there have been more than 2,500 Smile Train-supported cleft surgeries performed in Ethiopia alone! Since 2007 Smile Train has worked to give those all over the world free comprehensive cleft care in places like Ethiopia. Donate today and join Smile Train in changing the world one smile at a time!
We hit the streets of Midtown to ask people: "What makes you smile?" 😊 From heartwarming responses to unexpected laughter, your answers brightened our day!
Comment below and tell us what makes you smile! 👇
In her 17 years as a Smile Train partner, Sister Shoba has personally helped between 10 and 15 thousand children receive new smiles and new outlooks on life.
She embodies Smile Train’s “teach a person to fish” model by training healthcare workers around the world to provide high-quality cleft care, 100% free for families in need.
As we celebrated our 25th anniversary this year in New York, we could think of no more worthy recipient of our Teach a Woman to Fish Award than this heroic nurse in Thrissur, India, whose kindness, devotion, perseverance, and passion for education epitomizes everything Smile Train stands for and strives to be.
We are so grateful for our local medical partners like Sister Shoba and the incredible team at Jubilee Mission Hospital, who save children’s lives every day.
Your continued support makes her life-changing work, and that of our 1,000+ other selfless partners around the world, possible.
Meet Sister Shoba Lonappan!
When she was very young, her parents made the unthinkable decision to place her in an orphanage. They could not afford to send her to school, and knew that entering an orphanage would guarantee her an education.
Shoba held her memories of her parents in her heart as she grew up without them. She went on to graduate high school and soon after enrolled in nursing school, driven to comfort others in their times of need. Once certified, Shoba got placed on the cleft ward at Smile Train partner Jubilee Mission Medical College Hospital. She had little experience with clefts, but knew at once that she had found her home.
“I saw the sorrow of the mothers of these children, so I developed a mindset to partake in their sorrow,” she explained. “Helping them find treatment came automatically to me.”
Stay tuned for part 2 of Sister Shoba’s amazing story!
07/26/2024
Meet Joshua from Zambia! Joshua lives in a small village of hand-built cinderblock rooms just outside downtown Lusaka. Born with a cleft, he faced many challenges early on. His parents, Josephine and Lumbwe, worried about his health and the stigma surrounding clefts in their village.
When Joshua was four months old, Josephine and Lumbwe met doctors who pointed them to Beit CURE Hospital, their local Smile Train partner. When they learned Joshua could receive the cleft surgery he needed for free there thanks to Smile Train’s donors, they were overcome with happiness.
"It was a fantastic opportunity for my son,” she Josephine says. “Otherwise, it would have been nearly impossible for us.” Josephine recalls the emotional day of Joshua’s surgery. Smile Train’s dedicated staff supported her every step of the way. Their care didn’t stop there — Joshua has since received ongoing support, ensuring his smile continues to shine.
Today, Joshua is thriving and has a bright future! He dreams of becoming a doctor, inspired by those who helped him. Josephine beams with pride when she talks about her son’s potential.
Bring the magic of joy, life, and smiles to more children, families, and communities around the world. Donate now
Happy National Intern Day!
Meet Smile Train's summer 2024 New York interns. Joining us in the beginning of June, our interns have been able to be part of the work done here at Smile Train. Thank you interns!
Last weekend overflowed with joy at . The genuine warmth, camaraderie, and kindness of our community shone brightly. Witnessing heartfelt stories, sharing journeys, and connecting with new people in the cleft community was truly inspiring. Watch to see a recap of the weekend and share your favorite memory below!👇❤️
Meet Angel Ogaz and his mom, Andrea, from Chile! Angel, at 16, is a passionate artist and budding soccer goalie, thriving despite his early challenges with cleft care. From a shy child finding solace in painting to the heart of his school, Angel's journey is inspiring.
Andrea vividly recalls the moment she learned about Angel's cleft during a routine ultrasound. Devastated and uncertain, she found hope and guidance at Gantz Foundation, where they supported her from prenatal care through surgeries and ongoing treatments.
"Angel was always my little artist," Andrea shares proudly. "He found peace in painting from a young age, a refuge that helped him overcome his shyness." Today, Angel not only excels in school — especially in his favorite subject, math — but he's also known for his vibrant watercolor paintings.
07/23/2024
Over the years, Smile Train has expanded its comprehensive cleft care treatments and programs with the help of our incredible medical partners all around the world. Some of this care can include nutrition treatments, follow-ups, orthodontics, psychosocial work, speech therapy and more.
There are currently 85 partner countries where comprehensive cleft care treatments take place. Help Smile Train and local partners by donating today.
07/22/2024
Yusuf is the eldest of three siblings and the only one born with a cleft— neither mis mother, Habibo, nor her family had ever encountered a cleft before in their family. Despite Yusuf undergoing surgery when he was four years old, his cleft was not completely healed, leading to further pain and stigma as he grew up.
The turning point came when Habibo learned that free cleft surgery was available through the media. The news that Yusuf would receive the help he needed filled Habibo with hope. The family quickly made arrangements to travel to Smile Train partner Kalkaal Hospital in Mogadishu. A few hours later, Yusuf had more than just a new smile; he had an opportunity for a brighter, more confident future. Today, Yusuf, now 11, walks through the world with confidence.
Dr. Ingrid Rios works as a cleft-specialized speech therapist in schools and at Fundación Ayninakuna, her local Smile Train partner in Bolivia. There, she helps these children receive a full spectrum of care, particularly speech therapy, for as long as they need to speak clearly and with confidence.
In her words, “The support that Smile Train gives us is important on an economic level, especially with families, for the surgeries. In the case of other professionals, we have benefitted with training. The comprehensive cleft care gives us a complete perspective of the family and the child and the needs they have.”“Working with these children gives me the opportunity to put everything I know into practice,” Ingrid said, “to teach, to share my experience, and to give them hope as well.”
Watch as Ingrid Rios gives life-changing speech therapy to a Smile Train patient at Fundación Ayninakuna in Sucre, Bolivia. Her dedication to comprehensive care transforms lives.
07/17/2024
that Smile Train has supported 6,600+ cleft surgeries and more than 30 healthcare partners in Argentina, making free cleft surgery and other comprehensive care possible for patients just like Lucas.
At Fundación Ayninakuna, Dr. Yolanda Santiváñez — and the entire staff — build close relationships with the patients and families under their care from day one. It’s one of the many ways Ayninakuna is setting a standard for high-quality, comprehensive cleft care not just in Bolivia, but the entire world.
Across 48 countries, Smile Train invests in comprehensive cleft care partners like Fundación Ayninakuna, providing ongoing resources and training to staff. From initial evaluations to speech therapy, psychosocial work, and more, Smile Train is dedicated to supporting holistic, lasting cleft treatment across each patient’s entire healing journey.
Help support Smile Train partners like Fundación Ayninakuna and donate today!
07/15/2024
Sisters Ernie and Ermalen were both born with a cleft. Their mother, Maricel, was aware of clefts, as her father had been born with one and she had seen other people with clefts in the community.
Finding Smile Train allowed both sisters to receive surgery in 2022, at the Philippine Band of Mercy. Maricel was grateful both for the surgery itself and for the valuable advice that the surgical team gave to her.
Join in helping families like Ernie and Ermalen's receive free cleft care and support everlasting smiles for people in need all over the world!
07/12/2024
Meet Fadumo & Nasro, a mother and daughter from Somalia!
When Fadumo learned that both her and her daughter's clefts could be healed, it felt like the dawn of a new era for their family. She was filled with awe and gratitude, seeing it as a chance for a fresh start. "The thought of Nasro growing up with a cleft was agonizing," Fadumo confides. "I could already feel the weight of the struggles she might endure."
From a tender age, Nasro's timid nature was apparent. She shied away from outdoor play, preferring the safety of indoor solitude to evade the stares and laughter of other children.
Nasro would question her mother about why her lips looked different, and it broke her heart. But hope glimmered when a neighbor mentioned a free cleft outreach program in Mogadishu. Fadumo seized the opportunity, determined to give Nasro the chance to have a brighter future.
The surgeries for both Fadumo and Nasro, age 8, happened on the same day and were a resounding success. Returning home, Nasro blossomed, embracing her newfound confidence and sense of belonging.
Elsa Gonzales is a psychologist at Smile Train partner Fundación Ayninakuna in Bolivia. Parents of newborns with clefts regularly come to her looking like their whole world is lost. She greets them all with a warm smile and good news: “It’s going to be okay. You’ve come to the right place.”
Cleft treatment is rarely a single surgery. It’s often a decades-long journey requiring nutritional support so the baby can feed enough to be a healthy weight for surgery, then years of speech therapy, more surgeries, specialized dental and orthodontic treatments — and psychosocial care for the whole family because a child cannot thrive if their parents are in a place where they can barely care for themselves.
That’s where Elsa comes in. Rather than helping families move past or get over their feelings of anxiety, frustration, and guilt, she helps them face them. Only then can they grow from them.
Smile Train believes in investing in the skills and passions of health workers like Elsa and her team, local professionals who speak their patients’ languages, share their culture, and who they can trust will still be there for them tomorrow, next month, and for generations to come.
07/10/2024
Being raised predominately by his grandparents and relatives gave Kyle a different kind of upbringing. His birth mother was so embarrassed by the way Kyle looked, she took off 3 days after he was born. Surrounded by his family, Kyle was able to become a kind and bubbly-spirited boy, but this, unfortunately, did not stop children from bullying him.
Kyle’s uncle, a barber, heard about their nearest Smile Train partner through a customer and, despite it being far, his family committed to making the drive. Kyle was never embarrassed to show off his smile, but now, after his surgery, he can’t stop smiling.
Dr. Telma Gabriela Carnicer Leaño is a pediatric dentist at our partner Fundación Ayninakuna in Bolivia.
Dr. Telma shares, “My role is very important to me because clefts encompass children’s entire mouths,” she explained. “I think it is important that children have good dental health so that they don’t have problems in the future.”
And just like teeth in the mouth, children with clefts never hurt in isolation. Their mothers and fathers so often arrive at Ayninakuna in a state of panic, afraid their child will spend their whole lives homebound, struggling to eat, breathe, speak, and make friends — all while feeling alone and stigmatized themselves. So Telma and her colleagues’ work always involves getting parents involved in their child’s cleft journey, too, because, in truth, it’s also their own.
Smile Train makes multi-disciplinary, world-class cleft treatment available 24/7 to all in need and gives children who have too often known bullying and isolation friends and role models who speak their language, share their culture, and who they can rest assured will still be there for them tomorrow, next month, and for generations to come.
Watch Dr. Telma's full story here: https://www.smiletrain.org/2024/07/09/dr-telma-carnicer-sets-teeth-and-misconceptions-straight
Meet Pablo Estuardo and his mother, Paulina, from Chile! At 14, Pablo excels in school. His passion lies in acting, where he thrives in portraying challenging characters.
Paulina discovered Pablo's cleft during an ultrasound, finding solace and guidance. From prenatal care through surgeries, speech therapy, and orthodontics, Pablo has received comprehensive support. Paulina recalls the challenges, especially a difficult surgery that required re-hospitalization, but credits the foundation and their family's strength for overcoming each hurdle together.
"I didn't experience the process as a problem," Pablo shares. "My mom gives me a lot of support. She's kind and beautiful and helps me with everything."
Looking ahead, Paulina dreams of Pablo's happiness and success, envisioning a future where he may even become a Hollywood actor. With his determination and Paulina's support, Pablo is sure to achieve his dreams and inspire us all along the way.
07/05/2024
🌟 Proud of Jimmy Pardo and the incredible team at Never Not Funny for 15 years of laughter and impact through their annual Pardcast-A-Thon! Comedian Jimmy Pardo, hosted a yearly Pardcast-A-Thon of his own, to benefit Smile Train.
After 15 years and more than $1.5 million raised, Jimmy came into 2024 knowing this Pardcast-A-Thon would be his last. But if this year was to be the punchline at the end of a long, long setup, he was going to make sure no one ever forgot it.
This year also marks Smile Train’s 25th anniversary, and this February, we sponsored our 2 millionth life-changing cleft surgery.
So what better way to sign off than by announcing that, after taking in $126,570+ that last night, the Pardcast-A-Thon had raised a grand total of nearly $2 million for Smile Train!
Read the full story here: https://smiletra.in/3RTMMWg
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Our Story
Smile Train's goal is to provide free, quality, and safe cleft surgeries to those in need. The organization partners with hospitals around the world and leverages technology and innovation to train and utilize local partner hospitals and doctors, providing them with the resources, knowledge, and skills to enable long-term sustainability.
Smile Train's local partner surgeons use the training and resources to provide 100% free cleft repair surgeries for children in need. Local doctors are empowered to help their own communities with Smile Train's training on the latest cleft techniques, while ensuring they abide by our strict standards. After surgery, our local medical professionals evaluate whether or not additional dental, orthodontic, and therapeutic care is needed. Our speech therapy programs ensure each child gains confidence with their smile.
Smile Train provides essential free training and education to cleft surgeons and related medical professionals around the world. Since 1999, we have provided more than 66,000 free scholarships, surgical training resources, workshops, and symposiums for doctors and medical professionals from 140+ countries. Smile Train provides financial support that has been used for a wide range of applications, including new operating rooms, cleft surgical instruments and supplies like scalpels and sutures, crucial safety equipment like pulse oximeters, and much more. All of these investments make not only a significant number of incremental surgeries possible, but also make these surgeries safer and of higher quality.
Smile Train uses all kinds of proprietary technology to save money and do things faster, cheaper and smarter. Instead of mailing patient charts all over the world, we built a digital patient database called Smile Train Express that's on the Web. Our partners upload all of their patient records to us via the Web, which not only saves millions in shipping, handling and storage costs but also allows us to review and monitor the quality of their work.
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