Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and videos for World Cleft Awareness Day 2026.
Smile Train is deeply moved by the incredible stories and messages shared by the global cleft community. Every contribution helped shine a light on the realities of living with a cleft and highlighted the experiences, challenges, and achievements that are often unseen. By opening up and sharing your journey, you helped raise awareness and remind others that they are not alone.
Each story was unique. Some reflected on overcoming challenges, while others celebrated milestones, shared words of encouragement, or spoke about the importance of support from family, friends, and healthcare teams. Together, these stories showed the many different ways a cleft can shape a person's life and why greater awareness and acceptance matter.
If you haven't had a chance to watch them yet, we encourage you to take a few moments to hear directly from the community. Every video and photo offers a personal perspective, and together they paint a powerful picture of resilience. They also remind us that behind every statistic is a person with their own experiences and aspirations.
Thank you for being part of World Cleft Awareness Day 2026. Whether you shared your own story, helped amplify someone else's voice, or followed along and learned something new, you played a part in making this year's campaign meaningful. Together, we're helping build a world where everyone affected by cleft feels seen, understood, and supported.
