Every child with a cleft needs more than just surgery — they may also need orthodontics, speech therapy, or nutritional support.
A Single, Solvable Problem: Cleft Lip and Palate
Millions of children around the world are suffering from untreated clefts.
Most cannot eat or speak properly and are often unable to attend school or hold a job.
- 15
new babies with clefts born every year in Latin America.
4800pesos can cover the cost of surgery.
- 45
minutes can change a child’s life forever.
One Goal: To Give Every Child the Chance to Smile
Smile Train is an international children's charity that provides 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children in 90+ countries.
Comprehensive Care
Sustainable Model
We use the 'teach a man to fish' model focusing on training and empowering local doctors to provide comprehensive cleft care in their own communities.
Our Impact
Every 5 minutes, a child receives their life-changing Smile Train-supported cleft treatment by one of Smile Train's 2,100+ empowered medical professionals
News & Stories
The Reassurance of a Smile
Lourdes spent much of her childhood hiding away in her home. She shared, “I was very aware that my face was different from others, and I felt judged.” When Lourdes’ confidence w...
Teach a Man to Fish in Panama
Erika offered to help support her grandchild through selling molas, handmade fabrics common in her Guna ethnic heritage.
In July, Estefani and Gabriel’s s...
Treating the Whole Child in Ecuador
Cristian went back to Cuenca and performed cleft surgeries for patients who were able to pay at the hospital where he worked, but most of the area’s cleft surgeries were done by...
