Last year, friends like you gave baby Zander the most wonderful gift … a brand new smile
Now it’s time to do the same for more children born with cleft conditions … and parents who are almost too afraid to hope.
Every 3 minutes …
… a child is born somewhere in the world with a cleft condition. In first world countries, corrective surgery is usually done within the first 18 months of life. But in Southern Africa, where safe surgery is not always freely available or accessible, a child may have to wait years for the chance to live a normal life.
What happens if cleft conditions are left untreated?
Change despair to hope
Depending on the severity, cleft conditions can be repaired in just 45 minutes. Your donation makes new smiles possible.
How your support helps
News & Stories
Honouring the role of women during Women’s month
Over 90% of the volunteer medical professionals who serve on our surgical programmes – surgeons, nurses, paediatric anaesthesiologists and therapists – are women.
Mbombela surgical programme exceeds goal!
No fewer than 35 life-changing cleft surgeries were completed in Mbombela over the weekend – thanks to the efforts of volunteers from across South Africa and generous donor support. What began as a weekend marathon to complete 25 surgeries ended in 35 smiles....
Surgery at last for little Rorisang – thanks to mom’s determination
When young mom, Lebone, brought her baby to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital for the Operation Smile surgical programme in May 2025, her heart was in her mouth. This was her third attempt to get surgery for little Rorisang, who was born with a bilateral cleft lip.
Share our vision
We dream of a world where no child suffers from lack of access to safe surgery. As long as there are children in the world who need our help, we’ll do whatever it takes to give them the quality care they deserve.
Grateful thanks to our partners
Our global family
With more than 6,000 active medical volunteers from all around the world, Operation Smile is one of the world’s largest volunteer-based nonprofit organisations. Our supporters are people from all walks of life, who believe that anyone born with a cleft condition deserves safe, effective, and timely surgery and care.
