Helping Children Smile Inc.Registered

Helping Children Smile (HCS) is a voluntary organisation based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. We provide reconstructive cleft lip and cleft palate surgery for Filipino children, sometimes adults, without any cost to the recipient and their family. This treatment is not available to indigent people in the Philippines due to poverty and lack of access to specialist surgery. We strive to send a team of qualified plastic surgeons, anaesthetists and registered nurses to the Philippines, in the dry season for a twoweek period, once a year. The team is responsible for preoperative assessment, preparation and intraoperative care, as well as postoperative care including wound management. The surgery we provide does more than repair the children s physical problem. These children would otherwise have limited opportunities to attend school and as adults, of finding work. After their surgery they can look forward to a normal life. Our work is accomplished on a voluntary basis and receives no direct funding from the Australian or Philippine governments. We rely on proceeds from fundraising activities and donations to cover travel costs, accommodation and surgical equipment. Team members give their time and expertise at no cost. Helping Children Smile has now proudly helped restore the smiles of well over 1000 children since our first medical mission in 1996.