Cleft Connect: A Global Community for Support, Connection and Impact 

For many people born with cleft conditions, especially during their teenage years, the struggle to find someone who truly understands their experience can feel isolating. That’s what makes Operation Smile’s Cleft Connect Chat — a virtual community where young people with cleft conditions and parents of children with cleft conditions from around the world come together each month to share stories, ask questions and support one another — so special. 

“I was the youngest of five,” said Michael Williams-Stark, a longtime advocate and adult mentor in the group and former staff member of Operation Smile Canada. “My brothers and sisters were great, but nobody really knew what it was like to be me or to have these issues. So it was a bit of a lonely life. That’s why I think Cleft Connect is fantastic — because they don’t have to go through it alone.” 

Elizabeth Alberti remembers how comforting the Cleft Connect community was when she was preparing for an upcoming surgery. 

“I hadn’t had a surgery in seven years,” she said. “I went on Cleft Connect that night and shared how nervous I was. Everyone gave me advice — not just about the medical stuff, but the little things that make us human. Like, ‘Don’t eat your favorite food after surgery — you might not like it anymore,’ or, ‘Wear comfy clothes.’ Things I wouldn’t have thought about without asking others who’ve been there.”  

Cleft Connect is led by Operation Smile Student Programs and guided by facilitators who were also born with cleft conditions. Each month, they lead conversations that blend presentations, games and open dialogue on topics like building confidence, advocacy, preparing for surgery and navigating challenges such as bullying or feeling left out. These spaces offer more than emotional support; they foster connection, understanding and a sense of belonging across cultures and continents. 

The idea for Cleft Connect took root in 2017 during Operation Smile’s annual International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC), when a panel of student volunteers born with cleft conditions shared their personal journeys with more than 500 peers. Their strength and vulnerability inspired others to become stronger advocates. That panel became a tradition at every ISLC since, and in 2022, it evolved into Cleft Connect Chat. 

ISLC is an annual global gathering where student volunteers come together to build leadership skills, engage in service and grow as advocates. The 33rd ISLC will take place July 21–27, 2025, at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, United States. Every July, Cleft Connect members reunite at ISLC — strengthening the friendships they’ve formed online and turning shared experiences into lifelong bonds. 

The power of Cleft Connect is best seen through the people who are part of it. 

Take Angie, a former patient from Operation Smile Honduras and proud Cleft Connect member. “It’s been a blessing,” she said. “We meet every month, and I’ve made so many friends.” She recently spoke at a side event hosted by Operation Smile during the Commission on the Status of Women, where she shared her perspective as a patient advocate. 

Laura Alvarez, a founding member of Cleft Connect and patient advocate from Panama, has volunteered with Operation Smile for over four years, using her voice to raise awareness and advocate for access to care. In 2023, she shared her story at a United Nations General Assembly side event as a patient advocate. She’s also spoken at the G4 Alliance in Geneva and led sessions at ISLC. Through Cleft Connect, Laura offers support and mentorship to younger members, helping them feel seen, heard and supported. 

Then there’s Aymane, a former patient of Operation Smile Morocco, who has shared his experience in different stages to increase awareness on cleft conditions and the impact of having access to surgery and comprehensive care. He discovered Cleft Connect on Instagram. “It was like a door opened — a big door — and there was a lot of light coming through,” he said.  

These are just a few of the many ways Cleft Connect members are creating an impact — not only in their own lives, but in their communities and beyond. Whether speaking at international events, mentoring younger patients or advocating for access to care, they bring a patient-centered voice to conversations around inclusion, dignity and health. Some have even advocated before the U.S. Congress in support of the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act and presented at the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. 

Since its launch, Cleft Connect has grown into a global movement. The program currently offers three types of Chats — an English-language group for teens, a Spanish-language group for teens and a group for parents and guardians — welcoming participants from more than 10 countries and counting. 

Many participants have gone on to start Operation Smile clubs in their schools and become mentors — proving that community is a powerful catalyst for change. 

Student participant William Grant said it best: “It helped me see that I wasn’t alone — and that there were people I could talk to. Now I want to give that same experience to others.” 

Jackson Doane, a founding member, added: “Cleft Connect isn’t just a support group; it’s a movement. It’s opened our eyes to this world of people born with facial differences. There’s often loneliness, but now we have the power to build something better.” 

For many, Cleft Connect is life-changing — a place to be seen, understood and supported. But even more than that, it’s a space where young people become leaders, advocates and changemakers. 

This global community reminds us that when we come together — with open hearts and shared experiences — we find strength, belonging and the inspiration to create a better world.