About

Cleft Friends is a project of Smile Foundation.

 It is the only organisation in South Africa that offers support to parents from the perspective of a ‘lived experience’ rather than the expert view that we can get from the medical fraternity. 

We are parents who speak only from experience. We encourage new parents to celebrate, love and affirm their babies in every way possible. This is essential throughout the Cleft Journey.

We encourage parents to ask the medical personnel specific questions that has been proven to help alleviate anxiety and also provide clarity with regard to their child’s diagnosis. 

Mission

To improve lives by empowering and educating all South Africans affected by cleft lip and palate.

How we came to be

The day Heléna and Matthew’s son was born and diagnosed with a cleft palate changed their lives. They had no idea what a cleft lip and palate was. As they progressed on the cleft journey, they realised this is common in most people who have children affected with the condition. Heléna was overwhelmed and it took time to process what the diagnosis meant. She was worried about the future of her son, Joel. Both parents had to grieve for the idea they had about their first child and they had to embrace the reality that involved their new born needing plastic surgery when he was 6 months old and having to feed him with a special needs bottle. They realised that other parents were experiencing similar emotions and together with Madge Blignaut, who was born with cleft lip and palate, co-founded a South African cleft lip and palate parent support group called Cleft Friends. Cleft Friends has helped more than 1,000 parents and children affected by cleft lip/palate.