Smile Train is the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, with a sustainable and local model of supporting surgery and other forms of essential care. Over the last 20+ years, we have supported safe and quality cleft care for 1.5+ million children and will continue to do so until every child in need with a cleft has access to the care they deserve.
Locating children in need
Local staff and in-country volunteers raise awareness about clefts and the services that Smile Train offers through media campaigns, visits to neighboring communities, health worker outreach, and word of mouth. Families learn that clefts can be treated at no cost at a local partner hospital.
Empowering local medical professionals
Smile Train provides training and financial support for the treatment of clefts, empowering medical professionals around the world to treat cleft patients with life-changing surgery and related comprehensive cleft care that they would not otherwise be able to access.
Providing comprehensive cleft care
In addition to life-changing surgery, our local medical partners provide essential care, such as speech therapy, emotional support, nutrition services, and orthodontic care, to ensure that children have the opportunity to lead full and productive lives.
What Causes Cleft Lip and Palate
The exact cause of a cleft is not known in the majority of cases. It is often caused by a combination of environmental factors and genes that are passed from the child’s birth parents. It is never one parent or the child’s fault that a cleft develops.
