Repping three countries and six U.S. states, this squad of changemakers will soon support our patients and their families during upcoming medical programs.
These dedicated student volunteers and adult chaperones recently took part in our Program Training Workshop at Operation Smile Global Headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA, where they learned from medical professionals how to teach the fundamentals of health care to our young patients during programs. After more than three packed days and a deep dive into how they can best serve Operation Smile’s patients, these high schoolers and their adult chaperones are prepared to help our young patients perfect their handwashing and learn more about oral health care, burn care, and the foods that can help them go, grow and glow.
Youth empowerment has been at the heart of Operation Smile since its start in 1982. For the past four decades, we’ve invited the most involved and invested high school student volunteers to attend our medical programs, where they serve as health care educators for children on site as well as in the community.
These students are prepared for this unique service opportunity by learning from medical professionals and Operation Smile staff during Program Training Workshop, held twice a year.
The next Program Training Workshop will be held the weekend before our International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC) this July in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
