Bigbird
Kahuna
Joined: 03 Aug 2006
Posts: 2788
Location: White River, Mpumalanga RSA
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 Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject: Operation Smile |
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There is an international organisation called Operation Smile. This organisation has branches around the world, but more importantly one in South Africa, simply known as Operation Smile SA. Here is their purpose:
Our Purpose
Operation Smile South Africa's medical volunteers repair childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate sustainable health care systems for children and families in South Africa, Southern Africa and around the world. Operation Smile South Africa is part of a global alliance of Operation Smile foundations and chapters dedicated to providing free treatment to children and adults suffering from cleft lips and cleft palates. Together, we create smiles, change lives, heal humanity.
The South African chapter consists of an office in Cape Town who administrates and organises a team of highly skilled surgeons and theatre staff who donate their time (about 10 weeks per year in total) in holding surgical missions around Southern Africa totally without cost to the patients, to repair kids born with facial deformities such as cleft lips and palates. These kids can seldom attend and receive proper schooling because of the resulting speech impediments and in severe cases cannot receive the nutrition required for a growing child. In addition they are often the target of ridicule. Operation Smile puts the smile on their faces, but most importantly, back in their eyes and they can live active, normal lives.
Want to Know More?
Cleft lips and cleft palates are the fourth most common birth defects in the world and are typically corrected shortly after a baby’s birth in areas with sufficient access to health care. However, for many children in rural areas around the world, medical treatment is not available. Often these children cannot eat, speak, or breathe properly. Due to low self-esteem, as well as feelings of isolation, these children often live as social outcasts.
Here is a link to their website:
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The Blackbird Association of South Africa has decided to support this worthy cause by doing what we do best.....riding our Blackbirds. We are embarking on an ongoing fund raising drive in support of the miracles performed by this team of doctors and in support of this drive we will be undertaking a circum navigation ride around the edge of South Africa in May 2010. (please see the details under the relevant section of our forum)
We will be truly grateful for any support, ideas and efforts from anyone. Climb aboard and heal the world, one smile at a time.
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2000 CBR 1100 XX F.I. |
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