BY GEORGE NAVA TRUE II
CLEFT LIP and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when the baby’s lip or mouth do not form well during pregnancy.
Both are called orofacial clefts and are common in women who smoke, have diabetes, or use certain medicines to treat epilepsy. In others, the cause is unknown.
According to Smile Asia, a global alliance of charities working together to treat facial deformities, a child is born with these defects every three minutes. Aside from affecting their appearance, kids with orofacial clefts find it hard to eat, speak, socialize, or smile. They’re also prone to ear infections and hearing problems. In many cases, their parents can’t afford the surgeries they need to live a normal life.
Smile Asia helps these children by providing free medical services through medical missions and outreach center. To date, the organization has performed 75,513 surgeries in 190 missions.
Student conference
Recently, the organization brought more smiles when third-year students Irma De Jesus and Hannah Felix represented iACADEMY as one of the eight delegates from the Philippines at the Asia Student Leadership Conference 2021. The event was hosted by Smile Asia Organization in Singapore.
The Asia Student Leadership Conference is an annual event that trains students across the globe to enhance intercultural awareness, strengthen leadership skills and character, and become creators of change.
This two-day conference taught student leaders about the core values of service, leadership, education, and volunteerism. With the theme Lux Brumalis which means “The Light of Winter”, the conference shed light on the universal experiences and changes brought about by the pandemic, likening it to the experiences of isolation and detachment in winter.
Helping kids with cleft palate
Aside from leadership and volunteerism, the conference also touched on the advocacy of Smile Asia which is to raise awareness and provide aid and support to cleft lip and palate patients.
“I am thankful to iACADEMY and Smile Asia for this opportunity. I was greatly moved by the stories of the speakers and students from different Asian countries. It was inspiring to know that during this time of difficulty, people can come together to share their drive and passion for service. One of the speakers, Justyn Olby is an English educator whose child was born with a cleft lip. His stories of kindness and compassion towards the cleft lip community sparked within me a new love for this advocacy”, said Felix, one of the delegates.
Through this event, Smile Asia hopes to facilitate conversations about the personal volunteering experiences of international and local students to inspire a new generation of leaders who can bring light to others.
Inspiring stories
“I listened intently to the stories of my group composed of students from Singapore, China, and Timor Leste. They recounted times where they have stood up as leaders and volunteered to bring their causes forward. Inspired by their volunteer projects, it dawned on me that beyond wanting to lead, I also want to make more leaders and enable them to perform their best,” she added.
iACADEMY encourages students to take an active role in volunteering and leading for change. This initiative is spearheaded by the Office of Students Affairs and Services (OSAS) which seeks opportunities to engage students with both local and international organizations.
“We are very thankful to the Philippine Embassy in Singapore and to the staunch support of Ambassador Joseph Yap and Chief of Staff Wilford Wong who have generously extended this invitation to the Philippines and have selected iACADEMY students to participate with several student leaders in Asia,” according to Anna Fernandez, senior manager for student affairs at iACADEMY.
Founded in 2002, iACADEMY has pioneered specialized programs that are technology-focused, innovative, and industry-relevant. Its programs in computing, business, and design were developed to address the mismatch between graduates of academic institutions and the actual needs of the industry. To know more, visit iacademy.edu.ph.
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National Press Club and Philippine Dental Association awardee George N. True II has written two bestsellers based on his popular column which has been running for almost 40 years. For questions about health, email georgenavatrue@yahoo.com./PN
