Brazil

Executive Summary

"This is one of Smile Train’s most dynamic South American programs. At 25 active partner sites and already 11,000 free cleft surgeries to date, the program is growing quickly to try to keep up with the country’s rapid growth and the tremendous needs of communities from the Amazonias to the vast north.

"Smile Train’s local partners are based in major cities across the country and are serving their communities nearby who are in need. Smile Train is now working with these partners to mobilize to reach the extremely poor families in the remote, far north and west of the country. The goal will be for our Smile Train partners to train more professionals in top quality cleft care who can be based in distant communities throughout the country. The end goal, of course, is to see that all of the families waiting for cleft care can be helped, and that all of the 4,000 babies born with clefts each year can be connected to top quality services. Be sure to check out the latest news on our Smile Train Brazil website."

— Pamela Sheeran, Vice President, Programs