Smile Train

Meet Gau from Vietnam! 🇻🇳 When Thuong and her husband first learned they were expecting, their joy quickly turned to concern at a routine check five months into pregnancy, when they discovered their baby had a cleft. “I was heartbroken,” Thuong shared. “As a first-time mother, I didn’t know where to begin.” Searching for answers and leaning on her family for support, Thuong found Smile Train’s partner hospital in Hanoi. There, she learned something life-changing — Gau’s entire cleft journey, from surgery to follow-up care, would be provided at no cost. Today, Gau is lively and spends his days chasing soccer balls, playing with toy cars, and making memories with his grandfather. He’s deeply loved at the center of his family, and his smile reflects just how far he’s come. #smiletrain #cleftcare

Meet Jian from the Philippines! 🇵🇭 Born with a cleft, Jian faced bullying and challenges growing up, but she never let them define her. With the support of her family, friends, and Smile Train-supported cleft care, she learned to embrace who she is and pursue her dreams with confidence. Now a university student studying financial management, Jian is building a bright future and hopes to one day give back by supporting others on their cleft journeys. "My message to others like me is to keep going and not lose hope. There is help out there." Thanks to supporters like you, children like Jian can access the comprehensive cleft care they need to smile, speak, and reach their full potential. #SmileTrain #cleftcare

Seeing the impact of cleft care firsthand is something that stays with you. 💙 Artist Devon Rodriguez and Miss All American titleholders August McDowell, McKinley Farese, and Noelia Velazquez recently visited a Smile Train partner hospital in Medellín, Colombia, where they met local medical professionals, families, and one of our patients. In this video, they share what it was like to witness the life-changing impact of comprehensive cleft care and the dedication of the local teams making it possible every day. #SmileTrain #CleftCare @devonrodriguezart @missaugusteloise @iam_noeliavelazquez @mckinleyfarese

Meet Hasib from Bangladesh 🇧🇩 Fatema never stopped fighting for her son. After Hasib was born with a cleft, she faced judgment from others while doing everything she could to care for her four children and support her family through her small vegetable stall. When a neighbor told her about Smile Train’s free cleft care at Nargis Memorial Hospital in Khulna, everything changed. Hasib received the surgery he needed, giving him the chance to smile, play football with friends, and dream big for his future. Today, Fatema looks at her son with pride and hope for all that lies ahead. #SmileTrain #CleftStrong #Bangladesh

#DidYouKnow more than 100,000 medical professionals have been trained through Smile Train programs since our founding? By investing in local doctors, nurses, surgeons, and healthcare teams, we're helping build sustainable cleft care systems around the world. Every training opportunity helps expand access to safe, high-quality care for children with clefts. 💙 #SmileTrain #CleftCare #GlobalHealth #MedicalTraining

Meet Khalisa from Indonesia! 🇮🇩 When Khalisa was born with a cleft, her parents were overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty. After returning home, they faced isolation, cruel rumors, and bullying from their community. Determined to find help, Khalisa's family searched online until they connected with a local Smile Train social worker through a WhatsApp support group. Soon after, Khalisa received her free cleft surgery at a nearby Smile Train partner hospital. Today, Khalisa's story is a reminder that with the right support, no family has to face a cleft journey alone. 💙 #SmileTrain #CleftCare #CleftLip #CleftPalate #Indonesia

Meet Rudra from India! 🇮🇳 Rudra is living proof that cleft care can change everything. Born with a cleft lip and palate, he struggled with eating, hearing, and breathing — until Smile Train stepped in. Today, he's confident, social, and thriving. His parents couldn't afford the surgery on their own. They didn't have to. Because no child should ever miss out on a smile. #SmileTrain #CleftCare #TransformingLives

Meet Aquetzaly from Mexico 🇲🇽 When Aquetzaly was born with a cleft, her parents were filled with questions about what the future would hold. Feeding was difficult, and they worried about her health, her confidence, and whether she would have the same opportunities as other children. Everything changed when they found Smile Train's partner, Fundación Proyecto Una Mejor Sonrisa. With specialized feeding support, free cleft surgeries, and personalized speech therapy, Aquetzaly received the comprehensive cleft care she needed to grow, learn, and thrive. Today, Aquetzaly lights up every room she enters, and her love of dance reflects the confidence she's gained along the way. Every child deserves access to the care they need to reach their full potential. Together with our local partners, we're helping make that possible, one smile at a time. 💙 #CleftCare #SmileTrain

We're proud to join Smile Train in recognizing #WorldCleftAwarenessDay today. 💙 A cleft lip and palate are treatable, and no child should go without care for a lack of access to surgery. Join us in changing children's lives through our Smile Possible initiative with Smile Train.

Thank you to everyone who has supported World Cleft Awareness Day so far! Every post, every story, every share, and every conversation is helping more people understand what it means to live with a cleft and why awareness matters. But we're not done yet! Keep the momentum going by sharing your story, reposting our content, or using the resources at cleftday.com to help spread the word. Together, we're building a more informed, inclusive, and supportive world for the global cleft community. Keep posting. Keep sharing. Keep raising awareness. #CleftDay2026 #WorldCleftAwarenessDay #Cleft #SmileTrain

Cleft Con is so much more than an event—it's a reminder that no one should face a cleft journey alone. When families, adults born with clefts, healthcare professionals, advocates, and supporters come together, something powerful happens. Stories are shared. Friendships are formed. Questions are answered. Confidence grows. A community that spans continents becomes a little closer. At Smile Train, we believe that cleft care is about more than surgery. It's about creating a world where every person affected by cleft feels seen, supported, and empowered. Cleft Con brings that vision to life, connecting people and proving that community has the power to change lives. Because no matter where you're from or where your journey begins, you belong. And together, we're building a stronger, more connected global cleft community. #CleftCon2026 #SmileTrain #CleftCommunity #CleftCare #cleftday2026

Your voice can help change perceptions about cleft. For World Cleft Awareness Day, we're asking one simple question: What do you want the world to understand about a cleft lip and a cleft palate? Download our toolkit with customizable social media graphics and resources, then share your answer using #CLEFTDAY2026. Access the toolkit here: cleftday.com/resources Let's raise awareness, spark conversations, and make every voice heard.

#DidYouKnow Every three minutes, a baby is born with a cleft. Access to surgery and comprehensive cleft care can make a world of difference for children and their families. Together with local medical professionals and partners, Smile Train is helping make that care possible around the globe. #SmileTrain #CleftLip #CleftPalate #CleftCare

Meet Ferdinand from Madagascar! 🇲🇬 When Ferdinand started school, he was quiet and shy. Because of his cleft, he was bullied by some classmates, making it difficult for him to feel confident and focus on learning. His teacher, Ravaoarisoa, stood by his side, supporting him and helping create a more welcoming classroom. Everything changed after Ferdinand received free cleft surgery through Smile Train's local partner. He returned to school with a bright smile and newfound confidence. Today, he eagerly participates in class, plays with his classmates, and has become one of the top students in his class. Ferdinand's journey is a reminder that access to comprehensive cleft care can do more than transform a smile—it can help a child thrive at school, build confidence, and embrace new opportunities. #SmileTrain #CleftStrong

When Fares was born with a cleft, his mother Nadia worried about what the future would hold. Even after surgery, speaking clearly remained a challenge, making him nervous about starting school and making friends. With ongoing cleft care and weekly speech therapy sessions, Fares found his voice — and his confidence. Today, he's a chatterbox who loves meeting new people and sharing what's on his mind. “I became better because of Dr. Sally,” says Fares. From Egypt, Fares' story is a reminder that comprehensive cleft care goes far beyond surgery, helping children thrive at every stage of life. #smiletrain #cleftcare

When Noah was born with a cleft, his mom says the only thing she noticed was that he was healthy, strong, and full of life. “He gives me peace of mind,” she shares. “They are born super strong, and they teach you so much.” Now five years old, Noah continues to amaze everyone around him with his kindness, determination, and bright spirit. His mom hopes he grows up knowing he can become anything he wants to be — and that she’ll be there supporting him every step of the way. Photos like these capture more than a smile. They capture resilience, love, and the power of comprehensive cleft care. #SmileTrain #CleftCare #Argentina #CleftStrong

Did you know that 1 in 700 babies worldwide is born with a cleft lip and/or palate? Clefts can affect eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking, yet there is still so much the world doesn't understand about them. This World Cleft Awareness Day on July 20th , help us change that. What do you want the world to understand about a cleft lip and a cleft palate? Share your voice and help spread awareness, understanding, and acceptance. #CleftDay2026 #WorldCleftAwarenessDay #WCAD #CleftLip #CleftPalate #EveryCleftEveryJourneyEverySmile

#DidYouKnow More than 75 countries around the world have access to Smile Train’s free cleft care programs, helping children receive the surgery and support they need to live healthy, confident lives. From surgery to speech therapy and nutrition care, every smile is part of a global impact. #SmileTrain #CleftCare #GlobalImpact

What do you want the world to understand about cleft lip and cleft palate? This World Cleft Awareness Day, join our global campaign by sharing your answer and helping raise awareness for the cleft community. Download our free social media toolkit, featuring ready-to-use graphics and resources, and post your message using #CLEFTDAY2026. Get the toolkit here: cleftday.com/resources Together, we can build greater understanding, acceptance, and support for everyone affected by cleft.

When Sikujua was born in Tanzania, her family didn’t understand why she had a cleft. Her mother struggled to feed her, and as she became severely malnourished, the family faced isolation, stigma, and overwhelming challenges. At home, Sikujua would hide her face whenever visitors came. But everything changed when her family found Smile Train’s local partner hospital. After receiving cleft surgery, her mother chose a new name for her: Upendo, meaning “Love.” Today, Upendo’s journey continues as she prepares for cleft surgery and speech therapy — with hope for a brighter future ahead. #SmileTrain #CleftCare #Tanzania #GlobalImpact