The Power of Storytelling to Build Hope and Expand Access

Stories of resilience and hope are at the heart of Operation Smile’s powerful new brand campaign. Spotlighting patients whose lives were transformed after receiving surgical care, We Build Hope brings attention to an urgent global need: 5 billion people lack access to safe surgery. It also highlights Operation 100, the organization’s bold commitment to bring safe, accessible surgery closer to patients and their communities. The campaign celebrates the surgical scars left behind as symbols of courage and proof of care received. 

Discover the stories of We Build Hope. 

“My hope is that we shift perceptions — that scars are no longer seen as something to hide but as badges of courage and proof of access,” Kristie Magee Porcaro, chief strategy officer at Operation Smile, told Devex recently.  

The campaign shares patient stories that have been made possible through the organization’s work, which is evolving to meet the needs of communities it serves. Operation 100 involves equipping 100 cleft operative teams with advanced skills, essential equipment and infrastructure to regional hospitals. Because education is a force multiplier, providing training and mentorship helps health care providers work in their own communities. This closes the distance patients need to travel for essential care – whether that be for cleft condition care or other life-changing procedures. Operation 100 is just the start. 

Watch: A Teen Finds Her Confidence, 18-year old Narya’s story 

For Porcaro, the theme of celebrating scars is very personal. “When we began talking about scars, I also thought about my personal experience. Twenty-four years ago, I had open-heart surgery, and I started to recognize that my scar is my journey. If I didn’t have access to care, I think about where I would be [today],” she said.

The stories in We Build Hope represent some daunting statistics. Statistics that represent real people. Five billion people lack access to safe, affordable surgery, and 7 million people are living with cleft conditions that could be improved with care.  Operation Smile is on track to launch surgical training programs at 60 district hospitals across Latin America and the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia by the end of 2025. Operation Smile is committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent people from accessing safe surgery. Expanding care requires systems-level change, which is why we strengthen local health systems through Operation 100 as well as policy and advocacy efforts. By fostering local and regional partnerships that create lasting impact and by advocating on global stages like UNGA, we help shape health policy and expand access to safe surgery, ensuring no one is left behind. As Porcaro told Devex. “My hope is that the first 100 hospitals become the foundation of something much bigger: a global ripple effect of training, mentorship and stronger surgical systems that continue to expand access.” 

Read more about the inspiration behind the campaign, the early impact of Operation 100, and how storytelling is helping shift perceptions around safe surgery on Devex.