For thousands of children born with cleft lip and palate, access to surgery can be life-changing. However, in many parts of North Africa, specialized treatment is often out of reach for families who cannot afford it. For more than two decades, Moroccan humanitarian Fouzia Jabara Mahmoudi has worked to change that reality by helping provide free surgeries and medical care to children through the global charity Operation Smile.
Who is Fauzia Jabra Mahmoudi?
Fouzia Jabara Mahmoudi is a Moroccan humanitarian based in Casablanca and co-founder and vice president of Operation Smile Morocco. She also serves as Regional Senior Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa at Operation Smile.In February 2026, Mahmoudi received regional recognition when she was named Dubai’s Top Arab Hope Maker, and received an award of Dh1 million for her humanitarian efforts to help children born with mutilation diseases receive free treatment.
Fawzia Jabara Mahmoudi with Sheikh Hamdan/Image: X
Through her work, Mahmoudi helps oversee programs in the Middle East and North Africa region, collaborating with global teams to plan projects, budgets and fundraising initiatives that expand access to surgical care.Operation Smile is one of the world’s largest volunteer-based medical charities providing free surgeries to children born with cleft lip and cleft palate. The organization was founded in 1982 by Dr. Bill Magee, a plastic and craniofacial surgeon, and Kathy Magee, a nurse and clinical social worker.
Dr. William Magee and Kathy Magee/Image: Operation Smile website
The charity runs 31 care centers in 16 countries and regular medical programs in 32 countries, bringing together volunteer surgeons and medical teams to provide life-changing surgical care and long-term treatment.
His journey with Operation Smile
Mahmoudi’s journey with Operation Smile began in 1999, when he volunteered during a medical mission in Morocco. At the time, she was serving as a vice president at Citibank, a position she held from 1983 to 2007.Inspired by the impact of volunteer surgeons treating children born with mutilation diseases, he helped establish Operation Smile Morocco that same year. What started as a volunteer initiative soon grew into a national program dedicated to providing free medical care to children with cleft lip and palate.Over time, Mahmoudi built a strong network of volunteers and health care professionals across the country. Today, the organization is supported by more than 650 volunteers from across Morocco, helping to expand surgical services and strengthen health care capacity in deprived areas.
Expanding access to free surgery
Under Mahmoudi’s leadership, Operation Smile Morocco has become a leading healthcare initiative in the region. The organization has performed more than 19,000 free reconstructive surgeries for children and young adults born with clefts.In addition to surgical care, the program has provided oral and dental health services to more than 120,000 people.Across the wider Middle East and Africa region, Operation Smile has helped more than 204,000 patients receive cleft surgery, oral health care and comprehensive cleft treatment since the organization began its work.
Medical Center and Outreach Mission
To expand access to care, Operation Smile Morocco currently operates three specialized medical centers in Casablanca, El Jadida and Oujda. A fourth center is nearing completion in Marrakech, which will further strengthen surgical services in the country.The organization also operates mobile medical missions throughout Morocco, bringing surgical teams to communities that lack specialized medical facilities. These missions typically last for five days, during which doctors examine 100 to 150 patients and perform about 90 surgeries.To date, Operation Smile Morocco has carried out 164 medical missions in 30 cities across the country.
Understanding cleft lip and cleft palate
Cleft lip is a congenital birth defect that occurs when the tissues of the upper lip fail to fuse properly during early pregnancy. This results in an opening, or gap, in the lips, which may appear on one or both sides of the mouth. This condition can range from a small scar in the lip to a large separation that extends toward the nose. Babies born with cleft lip may face difficulties with feeding and may require medical care soon after birth.
cleft lip/representative image
Meanwhile, cleft palate occurs when the roof of the mouth does not close completely during development in the womb. This leaves an open space between the mouth and nasal cavity. The condition can affect the way a child eats, speaks and breathes and can also lead to ear infections or hearing problems if left untreated.
cleft palate/symbolic image
Although these conditions can present significant challenges in childhood, they are treatable with surgery and special medical care. In many cases, a child may need several types of treatment over time, including reconstructive surgery, dental care, speech therapy, and long-term follow-up from medical specialists. With proper treatment, most children born with clefts are able to live healthy and active lives. More than two decades after first volunteering for Operation Smile, Fauzia Jabara Mahmoudi continues to lead efforts that provide life-changing medical care for children in need. Their work reflects the power of humanitarian service, showing how determination, collaboration and compassion can help increase access to healthcare for vulnerable communities in Morocco and the wider region.