News / Health & Wellness
For International Day of Peace (Sept. 21), Operation Smile Announces Details of Its Upcoming World Journey of Smile
Simultaneous Medical Missions Taking Place November 7-16 Across the Globe Commemorate 25 Years of Helping Children Born with Facial Deformities
Operation Smile was launched 25 years ago by Dr. Bill Magee, a plastic surgeon and his wife Kathy Magee, a former nurse and clinical social worker, to help children born with devastating facial deformities. To date, the organization has provided free surgeries that have changed the lives of more than 100,000 children around the globe. In addition to contributing free medical treatment for children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its 25 partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.
On November 7, 2007, Operation Smile will launch World Journey of Smiles with the first surgeries in Naga City, Philippines, where Bill and Kathy conducted their first mission 25 years ago. During WJOS, 1,500 volunteers will work at 40 hospitals, care centers and clinics in 25 countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America to treat an estimated 5,000 children.
According to Dr. Bill Magee, CEO and Co-founder of Operation Smile: “The World Journey of Smiles is our anniversary gift to children around the world and will be the largest surgical mission ever conducted. When we began this effort 25 years ago, we hoped to fulfill our promise to the hundreds of children in Naga City who we were not able to treat on that first mission. With the World Journey of Smiles, our goal is to bring smiles and hope to children around the world.”
“An effort of this magnitude is possible only through the long-term partnerships we have created and through the commitment of more than 5,000 medical and non-medical volunteers worldwide,” adds Kathy Magee, President and Co-founder of Operation Smile. “Through the establishment of seven Comprehensive Care Centers in key regions worldwide, and by sharing the training, equipment and expertise needed to ensure that the mission continues long after we return home, our goal is to make sure that every child who needs this life-altering treatment has access to it.”
For the World Journey of Smiles, the Co-founders' journey begins November 7 in the Philippines with the first surgeries in Naga City. A ceremonial marker commemorating the first Operation Smile mission site will also be unveiled. The Magees will travel to additional countries and conclude their journey with a final stop in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on November 16 for the final mission day and the closing ceremonies of World Journey of Smiles.
Below is a summary of the highlights and activities that will take place during the weeklong World Journey of Smiles in countries worldwide:
Latin America
- Fortaleza, Brazil - 10th Anniversary of Operation Smile Brazil. A Comprehensive Care Center will be under construction during WJOS
- Tegucigalpa, Honduras - Comprehensive Care Center opened earlier this year; mission will take place in Santa Rosa de Copan.
- Bogotá, Colombia - Comprehensive Care Center opened earlier this year.
- Barinas, Venezuela - Participation of salsa singer Oscar D’León.
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Closing ceremony of WJOS.
Africa, Europe and the Middle East
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Casablanca, Morocco - The opening of a Comprehensive Care Center will take place in Casablanca during WJOS and will tentatively feature participation from Operation Smile Italy Board Chair Santo Versace and/or the Royal Family.
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Nairobi, Kenya - 20th Anniversary of Operation Smile Mission in Kenya.
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Amman, Jordan - Mission will treat both Iraqi and Jordanian children.
Asia
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Naga City, the Philippines - First Operation Smile mission country (1982) and launch site for WJOS on November 7 where Dr. Bill Magee will perform the first surgery.
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Bangkok, Thailand - Mission site will treat mostly minority refugees from Myanmar.
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Vietnam - Comprehensive Care Center opened earlier this year in Hue; second one to open in Ho Chi Minh City. All-Vietnamese team will conduct mission in Paske, Laos.
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Kolkata, India - Comprehensive Care Center housed in Student Health Home. Operation Smile Co-founders invited there by Mother Theresa in 1985; this Center is the realization of her dream that Operation Smile could help the children of Kolkata.
View World Journey of Smiles map here.
About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Founded in 1982, Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is a worldwide children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. Since its founding, Operation Smile has treated more than 100,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its 25 partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency. Operation Smile commemorates its 25th Anniversary with a year-long, multi-faceted series of initiatives to promote sustainability and capacity-building among its 25 mission countries. The year-long anniversary celebration will culminate in November 2007, with the World Journey of Smiles, 40 simultaneous missions in 25 countries, with a goal of providing new smiles and new lives for an estimated 5,000 children living with facial deformities.
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Media Notes: To receive images, b-roll footage or additional information about WJOS, or to request an interview with an Operation Smile spokesperson, please contact Lisa Jones at ljones@operationsmile.org or 757-321-3252.
