Operation Smile (@operationsmileinc)

When Eunice first held her newborn son, she imagined the future every mother hopes for. Then she saw that Lukas had been born with a cleft condition, and excitement turned to worry. Lukas was her third child, but nothing had prepared her for this. Children born with cleft conditions often struggle…

Many of the approximately 2,000 children born with cleft conditions in Kenya each year still face significant barriers to care, and many families must travel hundreds of kilometers to access the care they need. Through Operation 100, Operation Smile is investing in frontline health workers and…

It's National Estate Planning Week. What legacy will you leave? For more than 40 years, Operation Smile's legacy has been built by thousands of supporters, volunteers, patients, families and advocates who believed every child deserves access to safe surgery and care. When you include Operation…

Our volunteers are part of a global community helping bring more smiles within reach. This World Smile Day, we're spotlighting the people whose dedication helps expand access to care, strengthen local health systems and create lasting impact for patients and families around the world. Watch as…

This World Smile Day, Global Smile Ambassador Pritika Swarup shares Mahoma's journey to receive cleft care in Madagascar. Access to safe surgery is only one part of the journey. Through comprehensive care and support for patients and families, Operation Smile is helping bring healthier futures and…

Ahead of World Smile Day, Global Smile Ambassador Pritika Swarup reflects on the patients and families she met in Madagascar, including Dalio's journey from malnutrition toward a healthier future. From nutrition support to surgery and recovery, comprehensive care helps bring healthier futures and…

Behind every smile is a community of people who care. This World Smile Day, Operation Smile volunteers from around the world are sharing what makes them smile. Their stories reflect the connections, experiences and opportunities that inspire them to help make access to care possible for more…

Every smile begins with access to care. That's why for World Smile Day we're celebrating how, together, we're bringing #SmilesWithinReach. Join the celebration by sharing what makes you smile! #WorldSmileDay #OperationSmile #ShareWhatMakesYouSmile

What makes you smile? 💙 This World Smile Day, we're celebrating the people, moments and connections that make smiles possible. From patients and families to volunteers, supporters and healthcare providers, every smile reflects the power of a global community of care. When we work together to bring…

This World Smile Day, we're celebrating the people, moments and connections that remind us what's possible when we come together. We asked some of our patients to share what makes them smile through artwork, and their answers are as unique as they are inspiring. Every smile tells a story. Every…

Psychosocial care is an essential part of comprehensive cleft care, supporting patients and families before, during, and long after surgery as they move through treatment and return to their communities. 🔗Learn more about Operation Smile's comprehensive cleft care by visiting the link in our bio.

If you had to choose just one word to describe Operation Smile, what would it be? We asked our volunteers and received some inspiring responses. Now it’s your turn. Share your one word in the comments below. #OperationSmile #Volunteers #Impact

Gladys’s scars mark survival, motherhood, and the moment care changed everything. #BadgesOfHope #SafeSurgery #WeBuildHope #OperationSmile

Access to surgery didn’t just treat Reginaldo’s lip. It opened his world. His scar is proof he was finally seen. #BadgesOfHope #SafeSurgery #WeBuildHope #OperationSmile

Access to safe surgery left Palisha with more than a scar. It gave her confidence, creativity and hope. #BadgesOfHope #SafeSurgery #WeBuildHope #OperationSmile

This year, we're partnering with @thepeachcobbler on Twitch! Tune in on December 27 at 5 p.m. Eastern, and together, we can raise funds to help kids and adults with #cleft conditions receive free, life-changing #surgeries and comprehensive #care. Can't join the livestream? You can still help! Make…

Once bullied for her cleft, Narya now stands proud with a classroom of friends by her side. Her scar is proof of all she overcame. Learn more about her journey at https://bit.ly/4qjr5hf. #BadgesOfHope #SafeSurgery #WeBuildHope #OperationSmile

This is what hope looks like. Scars aren’t signs that something went wrong. They’re badges of hope – signs of access to surgery in a world where 2 in 3 don’t have it. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3N8EBWv #BadgesOfHope #WeBuildHope #OperationSmile

When you visit Junior Jeremias at his home in rural Guatemala, you find a confident, spunky 5-year-old with a wide smile. He’s come a long way from being the newborn Operation Smile volunteers first met when he was just 1 day old and in need of #cleft surgery. The scar that’s lightly visible in…

Today, we’re excited to share our new brand campaign: We Build Hope! Every scar tells a story. They’re not marks of what went wrong, but proof of what went right — symbols of care, resilience and transformation. Our campaign celebrates the beauty of these stories and the brighter futures they…

Building stronger health systems starts with education. By training local health workers, we help ensure safe, high-quality care is available where it is needed most. In many areas, including Latin America, limited specialized services and workforce shortages make timely treatment difficult. Our…

In many parts of the world, including Latin America, families often face long, difficult journeys to reach essential health care. Operation Smile is closing this gap by bringing safe, high-quality care closer to home. Through Operation 100, we’re strengthening local health systems and expanding…

A donation to Operation Smile goes the distance! It takes as little as $240 to provide a child with cleft surgery in the more than 35 countries where our surgical programs operate — but donations of any amount go far and wide to make a difference for our patients in many lifechanging ways…

It's #FromtheField Friday! Today, we are highlighting a day in the life of one of our incredible volunteers in #Egypt. Meet Saber Mostafa, a dedicated clinical nurse educator with a profound commitment to global health equity, patient advocacy and nursing education. Since 2015, Mostafa has…

Happy National #Speech Pathologist Day! Because of dedicated speech pathologist volunteers like Lucia in Guatemala, Operation Smile is able to provide speech therapy programs that ensure our patients can communicate clearly and be understood. Thank you to those incredible speech pathologists…

We'll never forget that providing care where it's needed most is the whole point. At Operation Smile, we believe that every child deserves access to high-quality care. That's why we’re working hand-in-hand with communities worldwide to expand access to care through training and educational…

Mothers — biological, adoptive and chosen — are the heart of resilience. They navigate challenges, make sacrifices and stand as pillars of unconditional love and strength for their children and families. This Mother’s Day, Operation Smile honors the incredible mothers who inspire hope, persevere…

Happy National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! Did you know that even after surgery, 50% of 5 year olds with repaired cleft conditions continue to experience speech challenges? Operation Smile's commitment to our patients goes beyond #cleft #surgery. Our specialized #speech therapy programs are a…

At Operation Smile, our dedicated teams are committed to providing care that ensures every child’s journey is safe, supported and successful. Learn more at OperationSmile.org.

Today, we're sharing a glimpse of the incredible gratitude we receive from our patients and their families. These heartfelt cards, filled with drawings, kind words and expressions of joy, are a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. They're a testament to the transformative power of #surgery…