A cleft is a congenital birth defect that may occur just on the lip, on the palate, or on both. This affects 1 in 500 children in the Philippines.
A cleft changes a child’s face completely. Sufferers struggle to speak or eat properly and this can put huge strain on families. Longer term, they can become isolated and struggle to gain education and find employment.
In a country where 45% of the population live below the poverty line and 40% never see a doctor in their lifetime, children in the Philippines often go untreated because of extreme poverty. They need our support to provide this simple reconstructive surgery. The children we are sponsoring live in San Jose, where rebel groups make it difficult for aid workers to gain access. The nearest hospital is a 10-hour return car journey away.
It only costs £250 to support one child through reconstructive surgery, including accommodation and transport for the child and their guardian. So far we have sponsored over 60 children and we are hoping to sponsor a further 20 this year.
