Volunteer Spotlight: Healing Smiles, Changing Futures Alliance for Smiles Brings Hope to Africa

Submitted by Laura Dent - Public Image Chair, Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties

In a region where specialized medical care is often out of reach, the recent Alliance for Smiles surgical mission to Lagos, Nigeria, in Africa, delivered life-changing results—one child, one family, and one smile at a time. For many families, a cleft lip or cleft palate can mean limited access to education, social isolation, and lifelong health complications. But for one extraordinary week, hope arrived in the form of skilled surgeons, compassionate volunteers, and a global medical team committed to restoring dignity and opportunity.

Starting with day one of the mission, the incredible teams of medical and non-medical volunteers jumped right into action — registering patients, capturing medical photographs, and conducting essential health evaluations. Each child was carefully assessed for speech, anesthesia readiness, and overall surgical fitness — ensuring we, the team, could provide the safest and most successful outcomes possible. Over the coming week, the team performed free cleft lip and palate surgeries for children in need — helping them breathe, eat, speak, and smile with confidence

Mission Director Tina Fischlin described the impact of the work with unmistakable emotion. “Every child we treat represents a future changed,” Fischlin said. “These surgeries take less than a few hours, but the difference lasts a lifetime. We’re not just repairing smiles—we’re restoring confidence, possibility, and belonging.”

Journeys of Courage

Maria and her mother arrived at the Lagos clinic filled with hope. The nine-year-old was born with a cleft lip and came seeking the chance for a life-changing surgery — and she got it.

After her unilateral cleft lip procedure, the transformation was visible from Day one post-op. Maria’s smile said it all — confidence, joy, and a new beginning. Both Maria and her mom left the clinic with smiles on their faces and gratitude in their hearts. 

Her daughter’s cleft lip had drawn painful stares and whispers in her community. She feared he might grow up unable to attend school or fully participate in village life. But when she arrived at the mission site and learned her daughter would receive surgery, she wept with relief. After the successful repair, she held her baby close, staring at her transformed face with wonder. Through a translator, she said softly, “You have given my child a new life.”

Stories like hers were common throughout the mission—each one a testament to resilience, a mother’s love, and the profound difference access to medical care can make.

Volunteers Are Crucial To The Mission

Rotary volunteer Kelly Beasley, who helped manage patient intake and family support, described the experience as one of the most meaningful of her life.

“I can’t tell you what a blessing this mission has been.  Parents and children alike are exceptionally kind and resilient.  The team has been awesome – it is a blessing to see lives impacted in such a positive manner.”

She added that the teamwork among international clinicians and local healthcare staff was “inspiring, seamless, and deeply human.”

A Mission That Lasts Beyond the Operating Room

In addition to performing surgeries, Alliance for Smiles worked to strengthen long-term healthcare systems by training local medical professionals. Their goal: to ensure cleft care continues long after the mission departs.

By the end of the week, dozens of children had received transformative surgical care—each one a new beginning.

As Fischlin noted, “This is the kind of work that reminds us of our shared humanity. No child should be defined by a condition that modern medicine can repair. We’re here to bridge that gap.”

This mission wasn’t just about providing life-changing cleft surgeries for children — it was also about sharing knowledge and building partnerships.  The amazing medical volunteers worked side by side with their Nigerian counterparts in surgery, anesthesia, speech pathology, and dental hygiene, exchanging techniques and strengthening local expertise. LASUTH Hospital, the Rotarian partners, and all the dedicated medical and non-medical volunteers all made this mission possible. Together, they are creating brighter smiles and stronger communities. For the families served, the mission was more than a medical outreach—it was the start of a brighter future.

For additional information, contact the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties at www.greeneputnamcounties.org.