This isn’t just surgery – it’s hope
Witness the love, hope, care and compassion of our latest surgical programme at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg.
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
Weekend surgeries to reduce cleft backlog in Gauteng
In a major push to reduce the backlog of cleft lip and palate surgeries in Gauteng, Operation Smile and Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital (NMCH) – with key support from Life Healthcare – delivered an intensive weekend surgical programme from 16 to 18 May 2025.
National Strategic Meeting on Safe Surgical Care
On 15 May 2025, Operation Smile was proud to support the National Strategic Meeting on Safe Surgical Care, hosted in Johannesburg by the SA Safe Surgical Care Technical Working Group (TWG).
Cipla Team joins Pondo Trail Run to fund more smiles
The Pondo Trail Run which takes place this year from 28 May – 1 June offers runners the chance to traverse one of the world’s most untouched coastlines while raising funds for The Pondoland Conservation Trust and the Cipla Foundation’s Miles for Smiles initiative....
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.
