Every child with a cleft needs more than just surgery — they may also need orthodontics, speech therapy, or nutritional support. Where these services are available, we aim to provide them to our patients.
SMILE TRAIN COVID-19 UPDATE
A Single, Solvable Problem: Cleft Lip and Palate
Many children around the world are living with untreated clefts.
Most have difficulties eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking.
- 32
children born with a cleft lip/palate annually in Africa.
250can cover the cost of surgery.
- 45
minutes can change a child’s life forever.
One Goal: To Give Every Child the Chance to Smile
Smile Train is an international children’s charity that supports 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care for children globally. Our sustainable model empowers local medical professionals to provide cleft care in their own communities.
Comprehensive Care
Sustainable Model
We use the ‘teach a man to fish’ model focusing on training and empowering local doctors to provide comprehensive cleft care in their own communities.
Our Impact
As a result of our efficiency, Smile Train has supported more than 1.5 million cleft surgeries since 1999. Every 5 Minutes Smile Train-supported cleft treatment helps a child in need.
News & Stories
Healthier Together: A path to a better world
Dr. Amos Zacharia Muzuka, a Smile Train partner anesthesiologist in Mbeya, Tanzania, is afraid of the dark. He’s not alone, and his fears are justified.
In an oper...
Fares Speaks Up
Thankfully, she soon discovered Alexandria Pediatric Hospital, a Smile Train partner nearby. Their world-class team of cleft specialists told Nadia that they would always be the...
Dr. Adeola Olusanya : Cleft surgeon who doubles as Cleft Speech Therapy Provider for the love of her patients.
Can you tell us about your background and how you became a speech therapist?
First, let me say I am not a speech therapist, as there’s a lot more to speech therapy than c...
