Help2Smile is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing medical support to children with a form of cleft palate around the world, regardless of their location. Cleft palate, also known as harelip (we prefer not to use the word harelip because of stigma), can cause lifelong disability or impairment if timely treatment in the form of surgery is not provided.
Help2Smile has several projects currently under development. Members of the team offered (under the banner of the Care4Tina foundation) free help in the form of operations and education to Chinese doctors at a large children's hospital "Xian Children's Hospital" in Xian.
In 2024, we flew to Vietnam to be the first Dutch team to provide schismatic care in cooperation with the Hue University Of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital.
In the Netherlands, cleft palate care is provided in a limited number of hospitals with a cleft palate team. A cleft palate team consists of a group of specialists who specialize in treating children with cleft palate. The team usually consists of a plastic surgeon, an oral surgeon, an ENT doctor, an orthodontist, a speech therapist, a pediatrician, a psychologist and a cleft palate nurse. Problems with nutrition, hearing and speech are treated by multiple specialists.
Janny van der Heijden, in addition to being the author of many (cooking) books, is a beloved TV personality. The programs she makes and the columns she writes often revolve around "connecting.
'Personally, I experience a smile as a great reward' she says 'so if I can contribute to delivering that smile, I will not fail to do so. That is also why the work of the Help2Smile foundation appeals to me so much'.
We are honored that Janny van der Heijden is an ambassador for our foundation!
