![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
![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
![Mariane Goes](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-07/mariane-goes-cleft-week-natal-brazil-day-one.jpg?itok=9k1pkz-n)
Mariane Goes is Teaching the World to Fish
Meet our Director for Education and Training for Latin America and the Caribbean
Amaro’s Smile “Fills Hearts”
His story proves the truly transformative difference our model makes
![Close-up of Juan](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-05/juan-headshot-after-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-chile-smile-train.jpg?itok=VzDC0X23)
A Letter From Juan, a 10-Year-Old Patient from Chile
Fundación Gantz: Raising the Bar for Cleft Care in Latin America
“Being recognized by Smile Train means Chile is now a regional leader training and educating doctors from all over the world."
![Smile Train patient Vicente with his mother](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-09/vicente-with-mother-in-trees-after-smile-train-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-chile-50.jpg?itok=HZsTN9yO)
Vicente is Stronger Than Fear
A mother's love + Smile Train and GSK = one confident young man
Bringing Smiles to the Amazon with Yaçuri
![David's mom holds an image her son before cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-02/david-holds-before.jpg?itok=BWHeD1_B)
David’s Cleft Journey in His Mother’s Words
Magaly is the mother of David, age five, a Smile Train patient in Quito, Ecuador. She shared with us her son’s journey to cleft care and what Smile Train has meant for her entire family.
![Pyari waits 70 years for cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-02/pyari-waits-for-cleft-surgery.jpg?itok=VW0vajK3)
A Lovely Smile 70 Years in the Making
For 70 years, Pyari knew little besides rejection and heartbreak, until you gave her hope. And a smile.
![nurse lisette with a baby](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-09/lissette-with-baby.jpg?itok=du6vyAW1)
Nurse Lisette Jerez
How Smile Train Partners Are Treating Children with Clefts Through the Pandemic