On the last weekend of May, while the country was winding down after a busy month, Somerset West resident Melinda Mostert joined a specialist team of 50 volunteers at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg to help deliver surgeries for 40 children born with cleft conditions from Gauteng and surrounding provinces.
It was Mostert’s third programme as a medical records volunteer with Operation Smile South Africa, and she says the experience keeps drawing her back. “One of the most rewarding aspects is seeing caregivers connect and support one another after their children’s surgeries,” she says. “There is something truly special about being in a room full of people who have given up their weekend for the same purpose.”
Mostert has also found a quieter way to contribute. Inspired by a fellow volunteer, she uses any spare moments during surgical weekends to knit squares for blankets that are later gifted to patients and has encouraged others to join her, turning a personal act of care into a shared one.
Changing lives
The programme coincides with a significant milestone: Operation Smile South Africa’s 20th anniversary. Since 2006, the organisation has built a network of more than 150 active volunteers who have helped deliver thousands of surgeries across South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The anniversary also aligns with the United Nations’ declaration of 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers, recognising the vital role volunteer communities play in strengthening healthcare systems worldwide.
Among those who joined this year’s Gauteng programme was Life Healthcare chief people officer Avanthi Parboosing. “Every child deserves the chance to smile, speak, and feel they belong – without ridicule or judgement,” she said. “Engaging with the mothers and children as they are screened, many filled with anxiety and hope, is incredibly moving. It is a powerful reminder of how much this moment means to families who have waited so long.”
Beyond surgery
Beyond surgery, Operation Smile South Africa’s programmes are designed with long-term impact in mind, prioritising skills transfer and training to ensure healthcare workers are mentored and supported well beyond any single surgical weekend.
“Our long-term goal is to build sustainability, so that specialised cleft care can happen within the public health system, whether we are there or not,” says executive director Sarah Scarth. “Without these interventions, children with cleft conditions may have to wait years for surgery. We are incredibly grateful to the medical volunteers who generously give their time and expertise to help change the lives of children and families.”
- For more information, visit www.operationsmile.org.za.
