‘Something that really stuck with me from this mission was that even through their struggles and challenge situations there was so much pride, love, support and gratitude within these families and the communities – not only for Operation Smile, but for each other and their lives.’

‘Apart from the obvious transformative power of those missions, I came to realise the long-term impact that Operation Smile missions have on the local healthcare systems: from sowing the seeds of the national birth registry, through building the infrastructure and educating local medical personnel and the patients’ caretakers. We are proud to partner with a charity organisation that cares about sustainable healthcare.’

‘The mutual love and gratitude I witnessed between the Operation Smile team and their patients is something I will forever remember, something that inspires me to be a better person every single day.’

‘The mission is a life-changing moment on several levels. Not only does a child get the start in life they deserve; the mission is also an enormous change for the whole family – the parents who can now look forward to their child being included in the society and accepted by their peers. Moreover, it is a powerful experience for us – volunteers – who can witness this wonderful metamorphosis.’