Behind the Smiles: Dr Preciosa Bento
Our Program Assistant for Southern Africa reflects on what working at Smile Train is really about
![Valery and her family](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-09/valery-with-family-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-colombia-smile-train.jpg?itok=W1gNKdgM)
Valery Finds Her Happy Place
When a child is born with a cleft, it affects every member of the family
![Immaculata before surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-08/immaculata-before-surgery-social-media-header_0.jpg?itok=ruB-mpPm)
Immaculata: How a Mother’s Faith Brought Hope and New Beginnings
A story of maternal love and faith bringing a family light out of darkness
![Mariane Goes](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-07/mariane-goes-cleft-week-natal-brazil-day-one.jpg?itok=o-GCw-2-)
Mariane Goes is Teaching the World to Fish
Meet our Director for Education and Training for Latin America and the Caribbean
![Mathias holding his Smile Train bears](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-07/mathias-bear-colombia-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-smile-train.jpg?itok=-nDgys6G)
Mathias’ Life Could Have Turned Out Much Differently
![A baby with her mother at FISULAB](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-04/baby-with-mother-dentsply-sirona-fisulab-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-colombia-smile-train.jpg?itok=AJlaB8AL)
Dentsply Sirona Donation Ushers In the Future of Cleft Care
![Opeyemi riding on his mother's back](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-02/opeyemi-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-smile-train-nigeria-50.jpg?itok=QliTmTFc)
Opeyemi: Families, Like Smiles, Come in Many Forms
His father abandoned the family when he was born with a cleft. His mother never stopped trying to make him smile
![Comrade Olubunmi Lawal-Aiyedun](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-12/oral-health-training-group%20%284%29.png?itok=8hl26D85)
![Smile with his family. His dad holds an image of him before Smile Train-sponsored cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-01/smile-rai-with-family-after-smile-train-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-nepal.jpg?itok=uYKGyodm)
Destiny's Smile
![Professor Ogunlewe](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-05/professor-ogunlewe-smile-train-partner.jpg?itok=elbnDHzs)
The Pioneer Professor: Olugbemiga Ogunlewe
Nigeria's first female oral surgeon has dedicated her career to improving the lives of children with clefts across the country. She found a worthy partner in Smile Train.
![Cristian with dog](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2021-05/cristiang-w-dog.jpg?itok=zBHvC1e8)
Healing Heartbreak with a Smile (Dogs Help, Too)
Angelica was 15 years old, single, and had just given birth to a baby with a cleft. All she knew about clefts was how she had seen people with them harassed without mercy. But she promised to never give up on the little life before her.