Children born with cleft lips deserve to have the same quality of life and level of confidence as those who are not. To accomplish that goal, Smile Train is now becoming the world’s leading nongovernmental organization providing free surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates.

According to the organization’s website, Smile Train has helped millions of children from over 85 developing countries around the world since 1999, including Peru, Nigeria, Nepal and Mexico, just to name a few. As stated in their mission statement, the nonprofit has “transformed the lives of more than one million children by giving them the power of a smile.”

Smile Train prides itself on offering a variety of services that not only cover medical equipment and surgeries to repair cleft lips but also address financial needs, provide comprehensive cleft care and raise awareness about cleft lips. More details on these areas of focus can be found on the organization’s website.

In February 2016, Smile Train organized a visit to one of their local partner hospitals in Cap Haitien, Haiti. Four of the organization’s celebrity advocates, including Miss USA Olivia Jordan, Karrueche Tran, Quincy Brown and Kristen Taekman, took part in this trip.

They had a chance to see with their own eyes how cleft lip surgeries can transform the lives of children in developing countries. The group’s participation has a positive impact on the work of Smile Train by directing more public attention to this solvable issue.

Recently, Herts & Essex Observer reported that a 14-year-old teenage girl who “doubled up at the village pantomime by hosting the interval activities as well as performing” had raised £900 for Smile Train. This highlights that anyone of any age can make a difference.

More real-life stories about Smile Train’s goals and achievements are published regularly on the organization’s blog.

– Hoa Nguyen

Sources: The Quint, Herts & Essex Observer, Smile Train 1, Look to the Stars, Smile Train 2