8 reasons why high schoolers should Operation Smile

Imagine not being able to smile, ever. Unfortunately, it’s a reality for too many. Yeah, you can join the photography club on campus, but how about taking photos of kids smiling for the first time? By joining an Operation Smile high school club like the ones at Walnut and Diamond Bar, you can do just that. These clubs rely on students like yourself to raise money and awareness for free cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries that Operation Smile provides overseas. Become and be a part of this growing impact and read these eight reasons why you should join.

1. You are the change. Operation Smile gives the opportunity to students to attend its medical missions, which take place all over the world. Students learn and then present life-saving healthcare modules to parents at medical-mission sites.

2. You have so many opportunities to show off your leadership skills. Operation Smile grows and invests in their student leaders, offering them several leadership opportunities — for example, taking a role in the National and Regional Leadership councils, which coordinate larger scale projects for students.

3. Your countless hours make Operation Smile successful. In the past 35 years, it has performed more than 180,000 surgeries. In 2015-16 alone, it had 320,000 patient interactions.

4. You can use your creativity and host fundraising events. As little as $240 can fund a life-changing surgery!

5. You will make amazing friendships and connections with people all around the world throughout your years with Operation Smile.

6. You are invited to Operation Smile’s annual International Student Leadership Conference, which takes place every summer. Here, you will work with and learn from students from 30 countries to further improve the organization. In previous years, it’s been hosted in Beijing, China; Limerick, Ireland; and Chapman, California.

7. Your smarts and skills are needed! There are more lives to save; two billion people lack the access to safe, well timed and effective surgery.

8. You can seize on the chance to do something greater. Operation Smile has rolled out the global campaign Until We Heal to knock down barriers to care, and students have been leading the charge, growing this movement and helping to reach 35,000 pledges by its 35th anniversary. Check it out at untilweheal.org.