Will you help change sadness to joy for someone like Zivezile?

Look beyond the cleft lip … deep into Zivezile’s eyes. You can’t help but be moved by the sadness and resignation you see there. At 36 years old, this man had lived with the stigma of being ‘different’ all his life.

Growing up with a cleft condition was anything but easy. “I was bullied a lot when I was younger,” he says, “Although my family was very supportive, it was hard for me to accept my condition. But as I grew older, I had to come to terms with it.”

When he heard about Operation Smile, Zivezile couldn’t believe there was finally a chance to receive the help he never thought possible. Speaking just before he went into theatre last October, he said, “I didn’t think I would ever receive help, but today, I can finally fit into the world and be the same as everyone else. This will change my life. I feel amazing, happy, and blessed.”

Imagine being able to give someone this truly wonderful gift.
You CAN – simply by making a donation towards life-changing cleft surgery.

Five months after surgery, Zivezile can’t hide his joy and new found confidence. He says that people don’t recognise him now that he has a new smile. Best of all, “I am able to go anywhere without fear.”

Please support our surgical programmes this year. Your contribution towards medical supplies and equipment – scalpels, sutures, dressings and drugs – enables our volunteer surgeons and medical professionals to give cleft patients like Zivezile their brand new smiles.

Surgery can cost as little as R5 500 (R458 monthly for 12 months). Any amount you donate makes a difference to an adult or child waiting for life-changing surgery.