Fares Speaks Up
Fares felt closed off from the world, but a local Smile Train partner is helping him express himself
![Makiba holding a picture of herself before cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2023-04/makiba-50.jpg?itok=ynwjkZ1H)
History Did Not Repeat Itself with Makiba
In the shadow of unthinkable tragedy, Smile Train helped turn sorrow into hope
![Dr Nina with child](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2023-03/nina-50.jpg?itok=YGTEJvo9)
Dr Nina Capo-Chichi: “Clefts Go Deeper Than What You See”
Our Program Director for West Africa on the particular impact of clefts on women and girls
Susanna Finds Her Voice
Denied care as a child, she had to relearn to speak at age 20
Behind the Smiles: Dr Preciosa Bento
Our Program Assistant for Southern Africa reflects on what working at Smile Train is really about
![Yohanes and his mother smiling and holding a picture of him before cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2023-01/yohanes-50.jpg?itok=efOKM9gV)
Never Sleep on Yohanes
More proof that nothing is stronger than a mother’s love
![Akuya smiling while holding a picture of herself before cleft surgery](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-12/akuya-50_0.jpg?itok=aBIVMluM)
“She Is Our Pride and What Gave Us Strength”
How a family from rural Togo overcame superstition and fear to get their daughter the care she needed
![Alimatu and Rawdah](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-10/rawdah-mother-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-ghana-smile-train-50.jpg?itok=mkFfQEJ3)
My Husband Left When Our Daughter Was Born With a Cleft
![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
![Audrey and Herve holding their twins, Lloyd and Floyd](/sites/default/files/styles/1_column_470_x_305/public/2022-06/lloyd-floyd-with-parents-before-free-cleft-lip-palate-surgery-cameroon-smile-train.jpg?itok=iu-CWLPL)
Lloyd and Floyd: From Double the Shock to Double the Smiles
![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