Student Programs
Make a difference at any age.
Help us transform lives around the world while earning service hours, learning valuable skills, and making friends with peers from different countries.
The goal of Operation Smile Student Programs is to help you better yourself so you can better the lives of others. We empower you to help others while supporting your personal and professional growth.
The Vision of Student Programs: We envision a world where every child has access to life-changing, comprehensive medical care — and where every student across the globe takes action to make it possible. Operation Smile Student Programs nurtures a global community whose contributions to our cause ensure healthcare equity for all.
The Mission of Student Programs: We empower student volunteers to make a direct 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.
Three Steps to Get Started with Student Programs
- Connect with your regional associate who supports clubs and student volunteers in your region. Send an email to [email protected].
- Register for iSmile, our online platform for student volunteers.
- Register your club within the U.S. or outside of the U.S. so you’re official!
Our Pillars
Operation Smile offers unique experiences for young people around the world to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Operation Smile’s patients, including the opportunity to serve on an international surgical program. We rally our student volunteers to take on activities around our three pillars.
Attend Student Events
Connect with fellow students while making a difference for children born with cleft conditions around the world.
Cleft Connect Chat
Cleft Connect Chat is a monthly virtual gathering for teens who were born with cleft conditions.
With support from adult facilitators (who were also born with a cleft), you will also take part in games and exercises that help to boost your communication skills and confidence. Guest speakers often join the chat to share their wisdom and answer questions.
SIGN UP
International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC)
ISLC brings together Operation Smile’s high school and undergraduate volunteers for a weeklong gathering, where everyone learns from inspiring speakers and takes part in interactive workshops. Students leave ISLC equipped with the skills to make a direct impact on the lives of our patients.
ISLC 2025 will take place from July 21-27 at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland!
Latinoamérica en Acción (LEA)
Coming together from Spanish-speaking countries around the world, Operation Smile student volunteers from more than a dozen countries enjoy the same dynamic environment as ISLC, but in Spanish.
For more than a decade, LEA has been hosted in a different country each year and welcomes native Spanish speakers as well as those looking to improve their language skills.
LEA 2025 details coming soon.
How Students Serve on an International Surgical Program
A student must earn the privilege to serve during an international surgical program. Here’s the path most student volunteers take during their adventure with Operation Smile:
- Start or join an Operation Smile club at their high school or university.
- Rally their community to support Operation Smile through fundraisers, service projects, donation drives, awareness campaigns and more.
- Attend an Operation Smile student leadership conference, such as ISLC and LEA.
- Apply to join a regional leadership council and work with peers to host larger-scale Operation Smile initiatives.
- Apply to attend an Operation Smile international medical program. (High schoolers serve as health care educators who teach our youngest patients the fundamentals of healthy living. Undergraduate students serve as journalists who capture interviews and multimedia from the program.)
- Upon graduation, return to Operation Smile as alumni and use their talents to support the organization. Many return as medical volunteers, donors and advocates for Operation Smile.
- Volunteer to serve as adult chaperones during our leadership conferences and international programs.
Connect with Student Programs for more information.
By the Numbers
Since our first student club was founded in the 1980s, our student volunteers have grown significantly.
40+
Countries with Student Volunteers
400+
Student Clubs
40+
Years of Youth Empowerment
Our History
Youth empowerment has been at the heart of Operation Smile since its start in 1982. Operation Smile co-founders Dr. Bill Magee and Kathy Magee brought their oldest child, Brigette, on their first medical program in the Philippines and were impressed by her compassion as she comforted patients and their families. From then on, we’ve always included student volunteers in our surgical programs and within the organization. Now Brigette Magee Clifford is the associate vice president of Operation Smile Student Programs.
Ready to Take Action for Operation Smile?
Click to your region of the world and contact the Student Programs staff member who supports students and clubs where you live. Whether you’re just getting started or if you’re a longtime volunteer, this associate can help you with any questions and activities you have in mind.
Latest News About Student Programs
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“I’m the Key”
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Finding Her Purpose
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Leaving Panama Ready to Lead
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