This Teacher Watched Her Student Thrive with Cleft Care
Ravaoarisoa welcomed Ferdinand into her classroom and stood up to his bullies
In recent years, Smile Train has doubled down on expanding resources in Madagascar, where too many cleft-affected children still suffer from lack of care, and too many communities remain unaware of available treatment options.
Ferdinand is one of many success stories from this recent initiative. Below, his teacher, Ravaoarisoa, recalls witnessing his growth after he received cleft treatment — transforming from a quiet, timid boy into a standout student.
When Ferdinand enrolled in my class, I noticed a few things about him.
First, he was shy. He also had a tight-knit circle of friends, which I was happy to see.
One day, those same friends came to me out of concern: Other kids were bullying Ferdinand due to his cleft.
I did what I could to make him feel welcome. I confronted the bullies and ordered them to be respectful. I took extra time to chat with Ferdinand, hoping he would open up. Bit by bit, he did.
Still, it was clear his cleft weighed heavily on him. As he struggled to focus and keep up in class, I began to wonder if there was any medical treatment that could help him.
The answer to my question came sooner than I could have imagined. Out of the blue, Ferdinand’s father arrived at our school with news: A Scout had told him cleft surgery was available for free in a city a few hours away, thanks to an organization called Smile Train!
I was so thrilled to hear it. A few days later, Ferdinand’s friends and I sent him off with well wishes and plenty of encouragement. When he returned a week after his cleft surgery sporting a brand-new smile, he was the talk of the entire school!
Today, Ferdinand is one of the best students in his class. It brings me great joy to see him excel, playing with friends and interacting with classmates without an ounce of shyness.
My students are like my own children. Each one deserves to feel welcome. No one should be left out. As I tell them, we are all from the same place, like branches from the same tree. Now, when I see Ferdinand’s smile every day, I can tell he and his classmates believe that, too.
All across the world, children like Ferdinand need your support.
