Young people making a difference
STUDENT PROGRAMME
Change someone’s life
and change your own too
At Operation Smile South Africa, we believe in the power, passion, and compassion of young people.
With more than 900 Student Clubs and associations around the world, our Student Programme helps to build awareness, raise funds and educate young people about our core values of commitment, leadership, volunteerism and philanthropy.
Volunteering with us is a meaningful and rewarding experience. You’ll engage with diverse communities, serve those who need it most, and contribute to a cause that changes lives, while also helping you develop skills and confidence.
Locally, students can get involved through fundraising initiatives, awareness campaigns, and student-led outreach activities across various regions. Hosting a fundraiser or organising a collection drive for patient care packs is a simple yet impactful way to contribute. You don’t need a medical background to make a difference; every effort helps bring hope and create more smiles, and makes you part of the Operation Smile family.
Students have the opportunity to participate in local and regional surgical outreach programmes once they have established a club footprint and completed the required training and protocols to engage with young patients and their families.
Students also become part of our global network, where they can connect with international student volunteers and attend the annual International Student Leadership Conference, hosted in a different country each year (this year in Thailand).
Watch our video to discover how being of service to others changes young people’s lives for the better.
We help students better themselves, so they can better the lives of others
We empower student volunteers to make an impact on the lives of our patients and their communities. We cultivate generations of compassionate, empathetic leaders, whose meaningful contributions help to increase access to medical care, educate around cleft conditions and build kinder, more inclusive communities around the world.
Our 3 pillars
Education
We’ll help you learn what you need to know in order to make a difference and be the best advocate for people born with cleft conditions. This includes:
- Taking part in Operation Smile’s annual student leadership conferences, such as our International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC).
- Using online resources such as iSmile and educational modules on cleft conditions, the history of Operation Smile and what we do.
- Connecting and networking with generations of Operation Smile global volunteers and Student Programmes alumni for career guidance and mentorship opportunities.
Advocacy
Help spread the word about Operation Smile and teach your community about cleft lip and cleft palate. This includes:
- Promote Operation Smile and its work within schools, local communities and social media. Raise awareness and reduce stigma about cleft conditions and facial differences in local and global communities.
- Identify a specific cause to advocate for that you are passionate about (such as policy change, overcoming barriers in access and availability of care, social support and so on) and ask others to amplify your message.
- Teach others about comprehensive care and its importance. Patients born with cleft conditions often require multiple surgical procedures, dentistry, orthodontics, speech therapy, nutrition guidance and psychosocial care throughout their life. To provide this comprehensive care, Operation Smile’s teams encompass a wide range of medical specialists, all professionally certified and committed to improving health equity and access.
Action
No matter your age, you can make a real difference in the lives of families around the world by starting a fundraiser, hosting a service project and collecting essential items for our patients. Other activities include:
- Start a Smile Fund, which is a crowd-fundraising platform for Operation Smile. Invite others to support your cause.
- Run, swim, cycle or paddle in an event and raise funds for Operation Smile on GivenGain.
- Collect toothbrushes and toothpaste that you can donate to Operation Smile for our patients.
Ready to join our Student Volunteer Programme?
Next Steps
Sign up at iSmile – the platform where student programme information, updates, and registration materials are shared.
Email: [email protected] to connect with your local South African student programme coordinator.