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… Their hearts broke with the possibilities. Then they learned about Fundacion Proyecto Una Mejor Sonrisa, their nearest Smile Train partner. After a quick evaluation, the team taught her mom, Ameyali, special techniques for nursing … three months; her cleft palate surgery when she turned nine months. Suddenly, Aquetzaly’s future looked as bright as her smile. A few years later, it got even brighter once she completed her courses of personalized speech therapy, also made possible by Smile Train. Today, life is her dance floor. Aquetzaly’s Dance Floor Photo Gallery Prev Next Learning how to gracefully …
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… in Cairo. Dr. Ghaffar eased the family’s fears and told them there was no need to sell their possessions because Smile Train Partner Kids Hospital would provide corrective surgery free of charge. When Initissar and Rawda finally arrived at Smile Train Partner Kids Hospital, Initissar was full of worries. She wondered: “Would such a young child survive anesthesia?” However, Smile Train partner surgeon Dr. Mamdouh was there to walk her through the steps, and help ease her fears every step of …
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… impossible. He screamed with hunger night and day and was at risk of malnutrition or worse, when his mother discovered Smile Train partner Fundación Gantz. Sixteen years of complete, comprehensive, local care later, Vicente looks to the future with health, confidence, hope, and a brilliant smile. Follow Vicente’s Journey Whatever the need, Smile Train is there to meet it with the safest, highest-quality care possible because children with clefts deserve no …
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… the one they were here for popped out of his tiny brick house, a half-eaten ham sandwich in his hand and a huge, hammy smile on his face. Christine on the narrow, steep, cluttered stairs “¡Hola!” hollered three-year-old Mathias. Yesica and Mathias greet the YLC Journeyers at their home Instantly, their smiles matched his. Without saying a word, the women knew this child would change their lives almost as much as they had changed his. And this was still only the first hour of the two-day Young Leadership Circle (YLC) Journey of Smiles to Medellín, Colombia in April. Different Paths, One Journey As members of the YLC Board, Christine Smessaert, …
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… Cleft Awareness Month Cleft Awareness Month In honor of Cleft Awareness Month, Smile Train hosted educational programs and community-building events to celebrate the global cleft community and raise … below to hear from US Cleft Community members about their personal cleft journeys. What My Cleft Means to Me Members of Smile Train’s Cleft Community Advisory Council discuss what being cleft-affected means to them. Our Cleft Journey: Parents of Cleft Affected Individuals Members of Smile Train’s Cleft Community Advisory Council (CCAC) discuss their experiences as parents of cleft-affected children and …
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… Her Cleft “You may have a disability, but you never have to let your disability have you.” Iva Ballou is a new member of Smile Train’s Cleft Community Advisory Council (CCAC), our board of cleft-affected Americans who help advance our … Below, she shares how she went from voiceless kid to loud-and-proud cleft advocate and how that journey led her to Smile Train and the CCAC. I was born in Jacksonville, Florida, with a cleft lip and palate and a genetic condition called … but also in my body, and even in my cleft. Yes, joy in my cleft . Because I came to understand that there’s power in a smile, every smile, absolutely. You see, smiles have a ripple effect — one causes another, causes another, causes …
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… the fundraiser.” One student in particular who supported and encouraged him during this time was Britney Guo, a former Smile Train Student Ambassador. She found her friend’s passion for doing good for himself and others inspiring and introduced him to Smile Train. Though he has no personal experience with clefts, Michael was immediately onboard, and not only signed up to become a Smile Train Student Ambassador himself, but also decided to sell straws for another week to help Smile Train fund cleft …
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… the speech challenges that often persist even after treatment. Currently, she works with the Misi ó n Caritas Felices, a Smile Train partner treatment center in Lima, Peru. “If children with clefts don’t learn to speak properly, they don’t … become frustrated and aggressive, which affects every aspect of their lives,” she says. For many patients supported by Smile Train, who live in areas where services like speech therapy are not available, this essential aspect of … available in each region is critical in ensuring our patients not only survive but thrive. At Misi ó n Caritas Felices, Smile Train supports speech therapy alongside surgical care and nutrition services. “Speech therapy can be very …
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… work would give me the highest level of satisfaction. After graduation, one of my professors recommended that I explore Smile Train’s program at BMJH. I was intrigued by the idea of working with a multidisciplinary team providing free care, … harder time finding employment opportunities. L to R: Dr. Shruti, former Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu, and Leela Imam, Smile Train’s Senior Program Director for India Why does Smile Train’s model of empowering local professionals such as yourself matter? What difference has it made for you, the …
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… Mamta Carroll Bio Mamta Carroll Senior Vice President and Regional Director, Asia Mamta joined Smile Train in 2006 managing the largest program area in India. Currently she manages South Asia, Southeast Asia and … These are intricate, dissimilar and complex geographies with diverse socio-economic and cultural dynamics. Mamta has led Smile Train’s Asia team in extending both reach and impact besides creating sustainable programs, strategic partnerships and a deeper, broader integration of Smile Train’s engagements with multiple stakeholders. Mamta was educated in India at Isabella Thoburn College and the …
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… marketing technology teams. Before joining Smile Train's team, she served in marketing and fundraising roles at 92nd Street Y, overseeing the marketing for the Simon Center for Adult Life & Learning, as well as North Shore Animal League …
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… in the words of the heroic staff who made it happen. Kids Hospital in Giza, Egypt was gearing up to become the first Smile Train partner in the Middle East to offer vital non-surgical cleft care services like speech therapy and … to leave these vulnerable children behind. In this video, our local partners tell the story of how, with help from Smile Train and local experts, they safely expanded their programs during a pandemic to give cleft patients and their families something to smile about when they needed it most. … The incredible story of Kids Hospital in Egypt in the words of the heroic staff …