International travel restrictions haven’t limited Transforming Faces’ (TF) support for children with cleft worldwide.

Commitment to local professionals has been woven into our ethos from the start. Now in our third decade of promoting Comprehensive Cleft Care (CCC), the strong roots of our global network nurture our shared vision amidst the disruption and challenges of the pandemic.

We marvel at the way the cleft community has rallied together. Membership in the Circle of Cleft Professionals (CoCP) network has increased by over 200% in 60 countries. In 2020 we also united to support cleft teams facing unimaginably difficult situations through the first ever Solutions 4 Comprehensive Cleft Care: Responding to COVID virtual conference.

The innovative solutions generated by local cleft professionals continue to improve the lives of vulnerable cleft families worldwide.

For families facing lockdowns and delays, tele-health is an indispensable tool in making care more accessible. Undeterred by the pandemic, TF also promoted the safety of patients receiving in-hospital care, empowering families, like Sofia’s, to reach their rehabilitative goals. The story of a newborn’s recovery from COVID in India, and the commitment of his local cleft team, continues to inspire us.

The kindness of TF’s supporters was also an incredible highlight from the past year. Your financial partnership has enabled us to keep faith with our partners, whose motivation to see each child experience a happier and healthier life is undimmed.

Overall, we emerge from Year 1 of the pandemic disquieted by its disproportionate impact upon the most vulnerable. And yet, we remain grateful for how the TF community, near and far, demonstrates its commitment to be In It Together.