Appeal
Sweet, Shy Pedro Needed Help
Comprehensive cleft care and surgery transformed Pedro's future. More children like him are waiting.
![Pedro smiles while holding his photo from before surgery.](/sites/default/files/styles/intro_cta_text_block_small/public/2024-04/COL_2020_Riohacha_242438651_Pedro_After_004-2400x3600-0999cfb.png?h=b204cd5f&itok=yIng9IIu)
more than 40 years of safe cleft care across the world.
Our founders, Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, continue to lead the organization, transforming lives through free cleft surgeries and comprehensive care.
![Photo: Lorenzo Monacelli.](/sites/default/files/styles/donation_array_impact_image_small/public/2021-07/MAR_2019_Casablanca_003_Mohamed%20Zimar_After_003-1.jpeg?h=09fb309f&itok=OvZK4sAa)
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![Jheleen and Andrea, After Surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/call_to_action_impact_small/public/2022-12/PHL_2013_Cavite_009_010_Hulatons_After_013%20%281%29.png?h=c6980913&itok=3mpWjaVd)
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What is a cleft condition?
A cleft condition is a gap in the mouth that didn't close during the early stages of pregnancy, and this happens more often than you may realize. It is estimated that, worldwide, a child is born every three minutes with a cleft condition.
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Comprehensive care from the start to the end.
As well as life-changing cleft surgery, Operation Smile provides comprehensive cleft care including nutrition dentistry, orthodontics, speech therapy, and psychosocial care.
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We are committed to care across the world.
With 6,000 volunteers from around the world, Operation Smile is one of the world's largest volunteer-based nonprofit organizations.
Operation Smile established a presence in Australia in 1999.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Bolivia was held in 1999.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Brazil was held in 1997.
Operation Smile established a presence in Canada in 2011.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in China was held in 1991.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Colombia was held in 1988.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was held in 2009.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in the Dominican Republic was held in 2009.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Ecuador was held in 1995.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Egypt was held in 2006.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Ethiopia was held in 2005.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Ghana was held in 2011.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Guatemala was held in 2011.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Honduras was held in 1997.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in India was held in 2002.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Jordan was held in 2000.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Kenya was held in 1987.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Madagascar was held in 2007.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Malawi was held in 2012.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Mexico was held in 2006.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Morocco was held in 1998.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Mozambique was held in 2014.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Panama was held in 1991.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Paraguay was held in 2005.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Peru was held in 1999.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in the Philippines was held in 1982.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Rwanda was held in 2010.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in South Africa was held in 2006.
Operation Smile established a presence in Sweden in 2010.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Thailand was held in 1997.
Operation Smile established a presence in the United Kingdom in 2001.
Dr. Bill Magee and Kathy Magee founded Operation Smile in 1982 in Norfolk, Virginia.
Operation Smile's first surgical program in Vietnam was held in 1989.
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You can help out and get involved in many ways.
You can give children a chance to grow up without life-threatening health problems, social stigma, isolation, and feelings of hopelessness.
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Your support provides children access to life-changing care.
You can make such a difference to children with cleft conditions who - through no fault of their own - are unable to access the safe, comprehensive cleft care they need.
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A smile in your inbox
Be the first to receive in-depth news, updates, and heart-warming stories from our programs around the world.
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We revolutionized cleft surgery globally in 1982.
![The pediatrician becomes the patient at a 2005 surgical program in China.](/sites/default/files/styles/call_to_action_impact_streamlined_small/public/2022-08/CHN_2005_Xian_Pediatrician_Heather_001.png?h=b2d9f031&itok=zhAsrFj7)