![Akuya smiling while holding a picture of herself before cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-12/akuya-50.jpg?itok=87ES-4Qh)
“She Is Our Pride and What Gave Us Strength”
How a family from rural Togo overcame superstition and fear to get their daughter the care she needed
![Marciel with Ernie, Jr. and Ermalen before their cleft surgeries](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-10/pacatang-free-cleft-surgery-philippines-50.jpg?itok=t0vB0XJq)
Maricel: Both My Daughters Have Clefts and I Consider Myself the Luckiest Mom on Earth
![Dr. Gergorie Akakpo-Numado](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-10/gregorie-akakpo-numado-headshot-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-togo-chu-smile-train.jpg?itok=FTqR2vLg)
Dr. Grégoire Akakpo-Numado: Smile Train’s Model is Life or Death for My Patients
![Jula smiling in front of some plants](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-01/julia-capilli-plants-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-philippines-smile-train.jpg?itok=D9IoX0Bz)
Julia: A Rare and Beautiful Flower
How Smile Train helped a budding artist bloom through the unimaginable
![Rosemary holding Nyasha](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-09/nyasha-og.jpg?itok=D48civoT)
Rosemary Has Something to Tell You
![Munashe smiling after free Smile Train-sponsored cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-08/munashe-free-cleft-treatment-zimbabwe-50.jpg?itok=O93ipfL8)
Getting Munashe Back
![Santi standing proud at work](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-05/santi-header.jpg?itok=1akchfpM)
Santi: “Dream Big; Don’t Stop”
For adults with clefts, a smile also means fulfilling work with dignity.
![A child with an untreated cleft lip in Philippines](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-04/ingred-patient-philippines.png?itok=2aMyaHiT)
Nourishing Hope in the Philippines
Dr. Ingrid Leal lends her expertise to improve nutrition programs in the Philippines
![Smile Train Africa staff member Neilson](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-02/neilson-smile-train-africa.jpg?itok=DCRt8B57)
Ready to Meet the Challenge in Madagascar
Neilsen helped a mission organization that flew doctors into Madagascar to provide cleft care, but he knew local doctors were as capable as those flying in.
![Doha, Smile Train staff member in Morocco](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-02/doha-smile-train-mena.jpg?itok=rP3wMvv7)
Nothing Stops Our Newest Smile Maker In Morocco
Doha is ready for her next big challenge — building an infrastructure for sustainable, local cleft care in her native country as Smile Train’s first regional director for Morocco.
![Elizabeth before cleft treatment](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-01/elizabeth-before.jpg?itok=yUVE6LD2)
A Banner Year for Elizabeth
Elizabeth's family tries to find the cleft surgery she desperately needs, in the middle of a lockdown.