Smile Train works to remedy a widespread yet solvable issue by providing free cleft lip and palate repair surgeries for children in developing nations around the world. In doing so, the charity has helped to improve the lives of more than one million children who previously had difficulty eating, speaking, and breathing due to their condition. The organization provides additional support for treatment after the surgery, including dental care, orthodontic care, and speech therapy. Smile Train also ensures that communities have access to up-to-date operating rooms and medical equipment.
Smile Train takes a sustainable approach to its charitable efforts, striving to inspire lasting change in the communities it assists. The charity teaches local doctors to perform cleft repair procedures, encouraging them to pass the skills along to their fellow physicians. In this way, Smile Train seeks to create an expanding network of knowledge and generosity.