International Women’s Day 2022

Building a world free of gender bias and discrimination starts with you. Will you pledge to #BreakTheBias by standing up against gender bias, discrimination, and stereotyping each time you see it? Then share a picture of yourself crossing your arms in solidarity with our UK Ambassador Matilda Lansdown (@barbieinthecity___ on Instagram), Smile Train UK’s team, and countless others committing to build a more inclusive world today and every day.

Be sure to tag @SmileTrainUK in your post so we can amplify your pledge to Smile Train’s global audience!

Introducing just a few of our pioneers – women from four countries who dared to be what they couldn’t see, who are fighting to #BreakTheBias every day in every corner of the world.

This woman, the first female plastic surgeon in North Bengal, India, is #BreakTheBias personified.

In my role with Smile Train UK, I manage public fundraising and donor stewardship programs, keeping our supporters informed of how their generous donations can make a huge difference to cleft patients across the world. I feel incredibly honoured to tell the stories of many courageous women and girls impacted by clefts, and I’m so lucky to work with incredible female colleagues every day. I’m a big believer in celebrating success, and will continue to uplift women to #BreakTheBias.

I am honoured to be among the talented, inspiring women leading at Smile Train Africa. The organisation has empowered us to thrive not only in our femininity but also to use our voices and expertise to advocate for many mothers burdened by clefts. Similarly, having attended various high-level forums talking about maternal and child health issues, I noticed the panellists were mostly men, and I wondered, Where are the women? We, the talented women of Africa, need to #BreakTheBias against women being the worker bees and men taking all the credit.

Surgery has historically been a male-dominated profession, but there are so many women across surgical specialities taking their rightful place beside their male colleagues. Smile Train is proud to help them #BreaktheBias!

We should be reminded of our constant, valuable contribution to society. We have the backbone needed to change our society and make it a better place for ourselves and generations to come. We can #BreakTheBias.

I have faced biases in my career...being denied opportunities of promotion, not being recognized for work done well…I had to be brave, deliberate, and confident, and that is why I excel in what I do. I aspire to be a leader who fosters a work environment where people from different backgrounds and races feel welcomed and included. #BreakTheBias