Since 2007, Surgical Volunteers International has treated Pediatric Patients in Egypt, Vietnam, Guatemala, Columbia, Haiti, Mongolia, Brazil, India, Nicaragua and Cambodia. We have changed lives by treating cleft lip, cleft palate, congenital head and neck deformities, nasal deformities, and ear deformities.

In developing countries, 170,000 children are born every year with cleft lip or cleft palate. While these conditions are routinely treated in developed nations, many other countries lack the surgical teams and facilities required to address them. In these countries, cleft lip and palate can have severe impacts on the lives of children and their families. Many infants born with these conditions are just killed at birth. Those who aren’t must live with eating, breathing, hearing and speaking difficulties. With these disabilities, the people affected live a life of isolation, unable to pursue education or employment.

Difficulties of Craniofacial Conditions

Conditions like cleft lip and cleft palate develop in the womb as a result of improper tissue development. Although it’s not fully understood what causes this to happen, developing countries are certainly at a disadvantage because of the lack of accessibility to reconstructive treatments. The longer that these conditions go untreated, the more severe disabilities can become. Those affected will initially have difficulties feeding, and develop speech and breathing difficulties in the following years.

How We Help

Surgical Volunteers International helps by providing treatment for cleft palate and cleft lip, as well as other craniofacial surgeries, to unprivileged communities in developing countries. These treatments may not only save the lives of the children affected, but they can also benefit their entire communities as the patients are able to begin engaging and contributing in a way that was not previously possible. Furthermore, patients are able to achieve a huge improvement in their quality of life with an enhanced ability to eat, speak and breathe. Lastly, these patients also experience a new sense of confidence and appreciation for life as they gain a new smile to share with the world. We have helped countless patients around the world with these treatments, and we will continue to seek out and serve communities where we can make a difference.

How You Can Help

Our efforts are made possible entirely thanks to the help of our dedicated volunteers and our generous donors. If you’d like to join our mission, we welcome you to fill out a volunteer inquiry. If you are interested in providing a donation, please visit our online donate page.