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Our History

Throughout the world, Operation Smile volunteers repair childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate for sustainable healthcare systems for children and families. Together, we create smiles, change lives, heal humanity.

Operation Smile Ireland is a part of a global alliance of Operation Smile foundations and chapters dedicated to providing free reconstructive surgery and ongoing care to children and young adults suffering from cleft lips and cleft palates.

The growing interest from donors and medical professionals in Ireland about Operation Smile’s mission prompted the creation of Operation Smile Ireland in 2003, and in May 2004, it proudly gained registered charitable status.

As an Operation Smile Resource Chapter, Operation Smile Ireland raises awareness, funds and recruits medical volunteers to support the breadth of the Operation Smile’s global medical programmes and promotes self-sufficiency by helping Operation Smile mission countries care for more children on their own.

Operation Smile Ireland has focused its efforts on providing essential resources to its partners in Ethiopia, Gaza Strip/West Bank, India, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, and Russia.

In organizational structure, Operation Smile Ireland is an independent Ireland-registered branch of an international charity that has: (1) its own signed constitution, (2) a separate local Management Committee, (3) its own bank account, (4) its own annual, independently examined accounts, and (5) control over how the income raised in Ireland is spent.