Youth Empowerment

We empower student volunteers to make a direct impact on the lives of our patients. We cultivate generations of compassionate, empathetic leaders whose meaningful contributions help increase access to medical care, educate about cleft conditions and build kinder, more inclusive communities around the world.

The students who join us today become our future medical volunteers, donors and global health leaders.

We rally student volunteers of all ages to make a difference in the lives of our patients.

Youth empowerment has been at the heart of Operation Smile since its start in 1982. Co-founders Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee brought their oldest child, Brigette, on their first medical program in the Philippines and were impressed by their teenager’s compassion as she comforted patients and their families. From then on, we’ve always included student volunteers on our surgical programs and within the organization.

With activity in more than 40 countries, students make a direct impact on patients’ lives by educating communities about cleft conditions, advocating for increased and equitable access and taking action to make this a reality through volunteer and fundraising efforts.

Today, our students are young changemakers who make a difference, both locally in their communities and globally through Operation Smile. Tomorrow, they’re professionals who advance our organization as the next generation of medical volunteers, thought leaders and global health advocates.

Making an Impact, Locally and Globally

From hosting service projects in their communities to serving on an international medical program, our young volunteers make a direct and tangible impact on the lives of our patients and their families. While their experiences are unique, they all share their embrace of service and love for Operation Smile.

The journey of Operation Smile student volunteers:

• Start or join an Operation Smile club at their school or university.

• Rally their community to support Operation Smile through fundraisers, service projects, donation drives, awareness campaigns and more.

• Attend an Operation Smile student leadership conference, such as ISLC and LEA.

• Apply to join a regional leadership council and work with peers to host larger-scale Operation Smile initiatives.

• Apply to attend an Operation Smile international medical program. (High schoolers serve as health care educators who teach our youngest patients the fundamentals of healthy living. Undergraduate students serve as journalists who capture interviews and multimedia from the program.)

• Upon graduation, return to Operation Smile as alumni and use their talents to support the organization. Many return as medical volunteers, donors and advocates for Operation Smile.

• Volunteer to serve as adult chaperones during our leadership conferences and international programs.