On Saturday 21 March 2026, Operation Smile South Africa celebrated its 20th anniversary at the spectacular Cipla offices in Century City. It was an evening defined by the stories that have shaped our journey and the people who make our mission possible.
The year was 2006. The place, Empangeni in northern KwaZulu Natal. Nearly a hundred people arrived at our very first surgical programme with hope in their hearts. After health screening, 59 received free cleft surgery that would transform their lives forever.
Host Paul Miller (CEO, Cipla Africa) chats to Operation Smile’s Sarah Scarth about the extraordinary global impact of an organisation that has transformed millions of lives around the world, one smile at a time.
Finding out that your newborn has a cleft condition is overwhelming for any parent. But imagine facing that news when you can’t even see your child!
