Bela Risu Foundation

3 years old, Joao Paulo came to us for his cleft lip repair. Seven years later, he returned for his cleft palate repair.

Travelling 12 hours from Cuanza Sul to Lubango to reach our outreach programme, Joao reminds us what every journey toward a smile is worth.

From his first surgery to this next chapter, we’re honoured to walk alongside him.

The greatest distance is the one between need and care.

This World Humanitarian Day, we celebrate everyone working to close that gap - healthcare workers, community partners, volunteers, donors, and families who make hope possible.

Together, we are restoring smiles and reimagining possibilities.

44 years young, and stepping into a new chapter!

Here’s to new smiles, new confidence, and the impact of care that travels beyond borders!

Lights, camera, Angola!

We’re coming to Lubango August 9th - 14th!

Know anyone with cleft lip or palate? Reach out to us through the contact details on the poster.

Let’s make some smiles together!

Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe

At just 4 months old, Nathan Kipchumba underwent surgery to repair his cleft lip. And at 10 months, his cleft palate was repaired too.

Today, that tiny baby who once carried into surgery is now a cheerful five-year-old boy with a smile that tells a story of what becomes possible when children receive the care they deserve.

Watching children like Nathan grow is one of the greatest reminders that cleft care is never just about surgery. It’s about giving a child the chance to laugh, learn, speak, and simply be a kid.

Cleft care doesn’t just change faces. It changes futures, systems, and economies.

Fourteen hours on the road.
One determined little boy.
One life changing surgery.

For this 8 year old from Luanda, every mile to Lubango brought him closer to a smile he had waited his whole life for.

And we’re proud to have been a part of his transformation journey 💙

We’re chasing a goal that doesn’t end at the final whistle: making quality cleft care accessible until it reaches every child, every family, and every last mile.

For six years, Ahmed watched life from the sidelines.

As the oldest of four siblings, he was the only one born with a cleft lip. While his brothers and sisters went to school, made friends, and played outside, Ahmed stayed home, hidden away because of something he never chose.

Then, at six years old, one surgery gave him more than a repaired smile. It gave him the chance to simply be Ahmed; to learn, to laugh, to belong, and to dream like every child deserves to.

Stories like Ahmed continue to inspire our vision: Restoring Smiles, Reimagining Possibilities.

The climb made headlines.

The journey to care doesn’t.

For many families, that journey is hours on the road, missed work, borrowed money, and the hope that help is still within reach.

And that is why we’re committed to ensuring that cleft care reaches every mile.