New Delhi, February 07, 2026: On the occasion of National Cleft Day, Smile Train India partnered with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to introduce a school-based awareness programme on cleft lip and palate across NDMC schools in the national capital.
As part of the initiative, Smile Train India implemented The ABCs of Change—Awareness, Behaviour, and Confidence—across 10 NDMC schools. The programme used age-appropriate storytelling, interactive learning, and creative activities to build early awareness, empathy, and inclusion among primary school students. By integrating cleft awareness into classroom settings, the initiative positioned children as participants in fostering understanding within schools, families, and communities.
A key component of the programme was Smile Train India’s picture book series, Smiles that Shine. Designed for young readers, the series uses imaginative storytelling and relatable characters to promote empathy and kindness around facial differences, including cleft lip and palate. The books aim to normalise differences, encourage conversations about identity and self-confidence, and help reduce stigma from an early age.
The school engagement concluded with a three-day creative theatre workshop led by theatre practitioner and storytelling facilitator Rahul Khanna. During the workshop, primary school students developed and performed short plays inspired by the Smiles that Shine stories. The performances translated classroom learning into creative expression, reinforcing messages of inclusion, acceptance, and empathy.
Cleft lip and palate is a treatable birth difference that affects approximately one in every 700 children. However, limited awareness, social stigma, and misinformation often delay treatment, affecting health outcomes, speech development, confidence, and social integration. By embedding awareness within schools, Smile Train India and NDMC aim to promote more inclusive environments and encourage early treatment.
Kritika Choudhary, Director, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), said, “Schools are not only places of learning but also where empathy and inclusion are shaped. This partnership with Smile Train India brings together health awareness and creative learning. By engaging children through stories and theatre, we hope these values extend beyond classrooms into homes and communities.”
Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, Asia, Smile Train India, added, “Cleft care goes beyond medical treatment; it is about building confidence, dignity, and a sense of belonging. Through initiatives like Smiles that Shine, The ABCs of Change, and the culminating theatre workshops, we are using storytelling to help children understand and embrace differences, and to grow up with empathy, kindness, and inclusion at their core.”
India sees over 35,000 babies born with cleft conditions each year, many of whom remain untreated due to stigma and lack of information about available care. Smile Train India’s school outreach programme seeks to address this gap by improving community-level awareness and encouraging understanding among young learners.
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