From 5–7 June 2026, Operation Smile South Africa hosted a Speech Therapy and Psycho-social Support Camp at Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape.
Aimed at addressing the critical gap in comprehensive cleft care for children and families living in rural communities, the camp provided speech therapy and psycho social support to 24 patients.
On 29 May, 50 Operation Smile volunteer health professionals from across the country converged at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg for a weekend of life-changing cleft surgery.
From the first day of health screenings – where 54 young patients were thoroughly examined and 40 cleared for surgery – to the joyful moments in the recovery ward, our hearts overflowed with pride and gratitude for the privilege of being part of this life-changing work.
Operation Smile South Africa will return to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital on 29 May 2026 for a weekend of free cleft lip and palate surgeries aimed at reducing the backlog of patients waiting for treatment.
On 23 and 24 April 2026, Operation Smile, joined key partners – including the Department of Health and Igwiba Lesizwe Foundation – to take the Bring a Smile Campaign to the rural community of Whittlesea in the Eastern Cape, within the Enoch Mgijima Municipality.
A massive THANK YOU to everyone who took part in this year’s Freedom Paddle – helping to raise much needed funds for Operation Smile in the process. Your efforts raised just over R55 000 for vital cleft surgery.
This year, no fewer than 35 Two Oceans Marathon runners chose to add to their achievement by raising funds for Operation Smile. Together, they raised an incredible R125 000 towards much needed cleft surgery.