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
Veronica Kamwela is Transforming Ignorance into Love Across Tanzania
Tell me about your journey to Smile Train.
Before joining Smile Train, I worked with a youth organization that empowered young people with life skills, sexual/re...
Dr. Sally Adel: High-Achieving Women Can Have It All
What made you want to be a speech pathologist?
Communication and feeding are the two major events that we do daily, and I feel they should be done without any effort — th...
Dr. Nina Capo-Chichi: “Clefts Go Deeper Than What You See”
From your perspective, why does Smile Train’s model of local partnership and investment matter?
Our model really gives value to local professionals, doctors, cleft teams,...
