Students Convene to Help Children with Facial Deformities

From July 29 - Aug. 1, forty-five students train to serve on medical missions
Then from August 2-6, hundreds of students participate at Operation Smile's 16th Annual International Student Leadership Conference

Hundreds of teenagers from high schools and colleges around the world will meet at San Diego State University in San Diego, Calif., to learn how they can help children suffering with facial deformities. This conference has two distinct programs, the Mission Training Workshop, from July 29-August 1, and the International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC), from August 2-6, both of which will encourage the students to embrace a lifetime of volunteerism at home and in the global community. The 16th Annual International Student Leadership Conference is being hosted by Operation Smile, a worldwide children's medical charity that provides free surgery to children in developing countries who were born with facial deformities.

Forty-six students from 13 United States, Ireland, Mexico and Paraguay will participate in the Mission Training Workshop, which will train students to effectively teach oral rehydration therapy, burn care and prevention, proper nutrition and dental care to families and patients during Operation Smile international medical missions. The students trained will participate on international medical missions taking place during the next year.

More than 350 students from 17 United States and 17 other countries will participate in Operation Smile's International Student Leadership Conference. The conference offers students an overview of Operation Smile's work around the world and teaches them how to be leaders, learning confidence, public speaking, fund-raising, and club organization. Goals are to educate teens on the value of service to the community and to help them establish a lifetime of giving to others. Students will participate in team building activities, compete in field games and complete a service project for future Operation Smile patients. A favorite event is the "International Party" where the international students display their cultures through costume, dance and representative items for their countries.

Conference highlights will include talks given by Lisa Nichols, contributor to the self-development phenomenon The Secret and Chris Attwood, co-author of The Passion Test, which will help students discover their true passions and make life decisions aligned with what matters most to them.

One of the ISLC attendees is Claire Crawford, a 17-year-old high school senior from Starkville, Mississippi. She turned her misfortune into an opportunity to help children around the world. Born with a cleft lip and a cleft palate, Claire can relate to the thousands of patients Operation Smile treats each year. After enduring nine corrective surgeries, Claire knows what it's like to feel different and how scary surgery can be for youngsters. That's why she started "Claire's Bears," a project which raises money to purchase teddy bears with stitches above their lips, made available by the Cleft Palate Foundation, to give to children undergoing surgery to correct facial deformities. She co-founded an Operation Smile Student Association at Starkville High School in 2006. To date, the club has raised more than $10,000. After attending Operation Smile's International Student Leadership Conference and a Mission Training Workshop in 2007, both held in Limerick, Ireland, Claire traveled to the Philippines in January 2008 to volunteer on an Operation Smile international medical mission. After the mission, Claire said, "One of the most important lessons I learned was the importance and universality of a simple smile. A smile is a symbol of hope, peace, love and friendship that is timeless and irreplaceable."

Operation Smile student volunteer Barron Frazier, an 18-year-old from Norfolk, Va., said, "After attending my first ISLC in 2006, I was changed and inspired to do more. The conference focuses on leadership and discovering your potential. Not only did I become more involved in the Operation Smile club at my high school, but I was also motivated to run for a Student Government Association position."

"Operation Smile is unique in its commitment to youth and student education," said Operation Smile Co-founder and President Kathy Magee. "The spirit of volunteerism shines throughout the United States and the world as thousands of young adults participate in associations in their high schools and colleges. The greatest illustration of the commitment of youth is found on the medical missions and at the International Student Leadership Conference. Watching students from all over the world join together and work on the skills and knowledge needed to participate on a mission and develop student associations is an exhilarating experience."

Thousands of students in more than 500 schools around the world are involved in the Student Program, raising an estimated $1 million annually for Operation Smile. Through service and leadership, Operation Smile students make a difference in the lives of children worldwide and learn the importance of volunteerism. Since the program began, hundreds of students have participated on medical missions to countries such as the Philippines, Kenya, Cambodia, Brazil, Jordan, China and many other countries in the developing world. The student conference is the educational component of Operation Smile's Student Program, which provides training and volunteer opportunities for students in education, global awareness, and fund-raising.

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 volunteers have treated more than 115,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and currently works in more than 40 countries. In addition to ontributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.