What is a Mission?

International Missions

During an Operation Smile standard International Medical Mission, a team of credentialed medical professionals from around the world travel to an Operation Smile partner country to treat children during a two-week period. On a typical International Medical Mission, 300-500 children receive full medical evaluations and 100-150 children are surgically treated. Thanks to your support, we are able to conduct over 25 International Medical missions in a year.

Operation Smile also uses the International Medical Missions to provide educational opportunities to in-country healthcare professionals. Ranging from a formal medical conference, to an informal workshop on a specific skill or technique, the programs are designed to meet the needs of the facility and the healthcare workers from within the partner country.

For the current international medical mission schedule, click here.

Local Missions

Operation Smile Foundations in each of our 26 medical mission countries not only support International Missions, but nearly three-fourths of our Foundations also organize year-round Local Missions. Based on the Operation Smile International Mission model, teams of in-country medical volunteers conduct local programs to take care of more of their children. As the foundations work towards self-sustainability, many foundations now have clinics, where children can be treated all year, receiving not only post-operative care, but also consultations on dental health, speech therapy, nutrition and psychology.

Medical Mission Photo Journal

Below are activities of a standard mission as shown through photos taken during the Managua, Nicaragua mission in 2005. Delwin was just one of the 121 children selected for surgery.

SCREENING

“I know I’m just a baby, but I can tell people treated me differently. Something was wrong. That’s why my mom and I traveled miles to get to the Operation Smile site.”

MEDICAL RECORDS & EVALUATION

“We waited in a long line and the doctors filled out some papers. Then they examined me to see if they could help us.”

PRE-OP

“They called my name and my mom started to cry. She hugged me and I could tell she was relieved.”

SURGERY

“Lots of other kids had their smiles fixed too.”

RECOVERY & POST-OP

“They showed Mom how to care for me when we got home.”

TODAY

“Look at me now, six months later. I feel so much better. So does Mom. These days, we’re both smiling.”

DELWIN

Before & After his surgery

Photos: R. Jason Towlen © Operation Smile