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.
Since then – thanks to the dedication of our volunteer medical teams and the generosity of funding partners and donors like you – Operation Smile South Africa has brought safe surgical care to over 9 000* cleft patients across South Africa and beyond – reaching communities where access to treatment was once almost impossible.
*Little Siyabonga is just one of them.
When his mom saw her newborn son, she was shocked. She had never seen a cleft lip or palate before. Her child needed help. But she could not find help anywhere.
For two long years she searched – until she finally heard about Operation Smile. Little Siyabonga received his cleft lip surgery at Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela. And two years later, he had his cleft palate surgery at iNkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban.
“My boy has been fine ever since then,” his mom says with a smile. “Thank you Operation Smile for helping me when I lost hope. Siyabonga is now confident to play with other children, and doing well at school.”
Stories like this remind us why our work matters.
But surgery is only part of the solution.
Every surgical programme is also a hands-on training opportunity – empowering local healthcare professionals with the skills they need to treat cleft conditions in their own communitiies. We are building sustainable care … moving closer to a future where every child has access to the treatment they need.
But we’re not there yet.
Thousands of children and adults with cleft conditions are still waiting for care.
You can help change that.
Please consider making a donation now, to help ensure that every cleft patient has the chance to live a healthy, confident life. Whether you’re able to give R500 or R5 000, your kindness will touch a child waiting for surgery. Please don’t let them wait any longer.
