The Marist Association :: Operation Smile

Operation Smile

The Marist Association has recently become a partner of Operation Smile. Since the beginning of the year we have managed to raise enough money for eight operations. If you would like to donate money towards an operation or if you require more information about Operation Smile please do not hesitate to contact the Marist Association.

Our Purpose

Operation Smile South Africa medical volunteers repair childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate sustainable healthcare systems for children and families in South Africa, Southern and central Africa and around the world. Operation Smile South Africa is part of a global alliance of Operation Smile foundations and chapters dedicated to providing free treatment to children and adults suffering from cleft lips and cleft palates. Together, we create smiles, change lives, heal humanity.

Our History

Founded in 2006, Operation Smile South Africa (OSSA) joined Operation Smile, Inc. as its 25th partner country. Based in Cape Town, OSSA medical volunteers provide free surgeries to children and adults throughout Southern and Central Africa, as well as educational and training opportunities that promote sustainability and self-sufficiency throughout the region.

OSSA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Department of Health in South Africa, Swaziland, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Namibia.

In 2006, OSSA conducted its inaugural medical mission in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, where 98 children and young adults received free medical evaluations and 59 patients received free reconstructive surgery.

To date OSSA have conducted two further free surgical missions in South Africa (Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga), four in Madagascar, one in Swaziland, and one in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This brings the total number of OSSA patient smiles to just over 1000.

Operation Smile provides care for children in 51 countries. 9 resource countries raise funds and provide medical volunteers, while 42 program countries receive education and training and conduct surgeries.

Quick Facts

•In as little as 60 minutes, one cleft lip surgery can change a child's life forever.
•Approximately one in every 1000 babies in Africa is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate.
•Children with facial deformities who do not receive reconstructive surgery often have difficulty breathing, drinking, eating and speaking. As a result, many suffer from malnutrition, medical and psychological problems.
•A cleft lip or cleft palate operation and follow up care costs approximately R5500.
•Operation Smile South Africa (OSSA) was officially registered as a section 21 (non-profit) company in March 2006.
•Operation Smile South Africa (OSSA) has treated over 1000 children since 2006.
•Since 1982, more than 130 000 children and young adults have been treated by thousands of Operation Smile volunteers worldwide and thousands of healthcare professionals have been trained globally.
•OSSA’s World Care Program cares for patients around the continent with more severe craniofacial malformations.
•Operation Smile provides care for children in 51 countries. Nine resource countries raise funds and provide medical volunteers, while 42 program countries receive education and training and conduct surgeries.

Awards and Honours

•2008 - Non-profit Organisation of The Year Award, by the DMA Non-profit Federation.

•2007 — William and Kathleen Magee, Special Recognition from UNICEF for the World Journey of Smiles, “The World Journey of Smiles became a landmark series of life-changing operations in 25 countries that highlighted the breath and reach of Operation Smile”; Washington, D.C.

•2004 – The Humanitarian Rose Award, The People’s Princess Charitable Foundation, Inc., London, England, “…recognizes the heroes among us who supplement their own compassion with the power of the humanitarian spirit to effect change.”

•2000 – Guinness Book of World Records, Most Reconstructive Surgery by a Travelling Team, "Operation Smile's 'World Journey of Hope '99' lasted from 5 Feb to 14 April 1999, during which time a team of medical volunteers visited 18 countries and treated 5,139 patients."

Board of Directors

Prof. Anil Madaree

Operation Smile South Africa Medical Director

Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of KwaZulu Natal’s Nelson R. Mandela’s School of Medicine.

Larry Auret

Partner, Grant Thornton

Anesh Madaree

Founder & Owner, South African Paper Mill

Ian Young

CEO Saatchi & Saatchi, Cape Town

Mehul Mehta

CEO Corruseal

Ernst Gouws

CEO OUTsurance

Catherine De Maid

Manager, Investec

Contact Us

Amanda Nel

Executive Director

Tel: +27 (0) 21 481 9165

Fax: +27 (0) 21 481 9133

Cell: +27 (0) 83 456 9709

Email: anel@operationsmile.org

Tamlin Grier

Programs Manager

Tel: +27 (0) 21 481 9165

Fax: +27 (0) 21 481 9133

Cell: +27 (0) 82 829 8587

Scarlett Steer

Media, Education and Referral Patients

Tel: +27 (0) 21 481 9034

Fax: +27 (0) 21 481 9133

Cell: +27 (0) 82 416 2471

OPERATION SMILE HEADQUARTERS

Operation Smile

6435 Tidewater Drive

Norfolk, VA 23509 USA

1-888-OPSMILE (888-677-6453)

1-757-321-SMILE (757-321-7645)

INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATIONS

Operation Smile Bolivia, Santa Cruz

Operation Smile Brazil, São Paulo

Operation Smile Cambodia, Phnom Penh

Operation Smile Colombia, Bogota

Operation Smile Ecuador, Quito

Operation Smile Egypt, Cairo

Operation Smile Honduras, Tegucigalpa

Operation Smile India, New Delhi

Operation Smile Jordan, Amman

Operation Smile Mexico, AC, Mexico City

Operation Smile Mission in Kenya, Nairobi

Operation Smile Morocco, Casablanca

Operation Smile Nicaragua, Managua

Operation Smile Palestine, Nablus

Operation Smile Panama, Panama City

Operation Smile Paraguay, Asunción

Operation Smile Peru, Lima

Operation Smile Philippines, Manila

Operation Smile Russia, Moscow

Operation Smile South Africa, Pretoria

Operation Smile Thailand, Bangkok

Operation Smile Venezuela, Caracas

Operation Smile Vietnam, Hanoi

GLOBAL RESOURCE CHAPTERS

Operation Smile Australia Limited, Queensland

Operation Smile China Medical Mission, Ltd., Hong Kong

Operation Smile Ireland, Dublin

Operation Smile Italy, Rome

Operation Smile Singapore

Operation Smile Switzerland, Geneva

Operation Smile United Kingdom, London.