What is Operation SMILE?
"Operation Smile is an international children's medical charity that heals children's smiles, forever changing their lives." - operationsmile.orgThis year at East Greenwich High School, a group of students headed by Michelle Xiong have come together to create this new club which is primarily responsible for raising funds to grant children their smiles back. The money we raise will be donated to Operation SMILE, an international children's medical charity established to pay for these medical procedures worldwide using a group of trained medical professionals and volunteers.
Facial deformities like a cleft lip can harm a child not only physically, causing ear infections, malnutrition, dental problems, and speech development issues, but also emotionally. Self-esteem issues and a lack of education due to fear of social interaction are only a few of the possible repercussions if these children are left untreated.
Our goal is raise $1,200, paying for 5 surgeries for children who suffer from a cleft lip. Each surgery costs only $240 and can take as little as 45 minutes. But despite these facts, children remain untreated worldwide because of lack of proper financial resources or adequate medical treatment in countries that are less developed.
Even if our goal is not met, an important objective of this club is to educate people about Operation SMILE and about the necessity of helping these untreated children in any way possible. More importantly, it is about expanding the school's community service outreach, giving EGHS students who have already demonstrated their commitment to service another outlet in which to help those who are less fortunate worldwide.
Operation SMILE meets every other Thursday in room 242 with the club's adviser Mrs. Schnacky, a dedicated and invaluable teacher here at EGHS. Please consider joining, or simply stop by the meeting to see what we're all about! Feel free to see Michelle Xiong, Courtney Kalk, Jane Chung, or Tanushree Girish with any additional questions you may have.
We can change the world one smile at a time.
