NATSIR'S NATURE SCHOOL

Smile Train is an international organisation, operating in over 85 developing countries around the world to provide free surgery to children and adults suffering from cleft lip and cleft palette.

In 2011, Natsir met an American couple in Makale and invited them for lunch at his family’s house. The couple saw that two of Natsir’s children had cleft lip, though there was no mention of it at the time. Natsir later received a phone call from Smile Train, telling him of their organisation’s work and offering their services to his children.

Grateful for the help that Smile Train provided his family, Natsir decided to volunteer his time;

Natsir has spent many days walking through villages, looking for children with cleft lip and cleft palette. He comforts and helps families throughout the whole process; from talking about his own family’s experience, to explaining the process of the upcoming procedures, to accompanying children to the surgeries that he has coordinated for them. Natsir also helps to coordinate follow ups between the doctor and patients to make sure that the surgeries have been successful.

In the last five years, Natsir has helped over 100 children — many of whom have become like family.