There was a girl that suffered from a rare medical condition causing facial nerve paralysis. Her mother sought help from our Chief Patron, the late honorable Nelson Mandela, who made a call that would help secure surgery for the young child as well as countless other children to come. His belief that the future of our nation is in the hands of our children has and continues to be a driving motivation for the Smile Foundation. Since then, the Smile Foundation has helped over 5363 disadvantaged children with facial abnormalities, such as Cleft Lip and Palate, Moebius syndrome (facial paralysis) and burns, receive corrective plastic and reconstructive surgery. We are currently based in 17 of South Africa’s leading hospitals where we invest in development programs and purchase much needed medical equipment. With the compassion and support of our benefactors and teams of medical staff, we can sprinkle a little bit of magic into the lives of these children and give them a future full of joy.

DONATE TO A FUNDRAISER

Choose from a list of our fundraisers that contribute to our mission in transforming the lives of children affected by facial abnormalities and burns.

CREATE A FUNDRAISER

Whether you choose to get outside of your comfort zone or to raise funds with a passion project or hobby, you’ll be helping to make a difference in the lives of children in need and their families while connecting with your friends, family and the wider community.

U Matter

There’s always light at the end of the tunnel, and those behind U Matter know this better than anyone. U Matter is a parent and peer support group for burn survivors in South Africa. Using storytelling as a healing tool, we aim to create positive experiences that build self-esteem, inspire hope and ignite possibilities among burn survivors and their families.

CLEFT FRIENDS

Cleft Friends is the only organisation in South Africa made up of parents of children with cleft lip and/or palate. Speaking from experience, they encourage new parents to celebrate their babies and seek help from the medical professionals available through Smile Foundation.