The original concept was an actual train that would travel around developing countries, providing free surgery for poor children and free training for doctors, leaving behind well-trained doctors, free equipment and self-sufficient communities.

Logistical issues made a physical train impossible but the original idea was so strong it didn’t need it.

The Smile Train was founded in 1999 and began with one surgery in China performed by a local medical team. In seven years it has grown into the largest cleft organization in the world with hundreds of partners and programs in 72 countries.

Since March 2000 we have provided free cleft surgery for 285,000 children.