Atnasia received cleft palate surgery at our Bahir Dar programme, she is one year and seven months old and attended with her mother.

Bilal came to our recent programme in Bahir Dar, with both his mother and father who are farmers in North Gondar. Bilal has previously had surgery to correct his cleft lip and returned to receive cleft palate surgery. He is 3 years and four-months-old and is the fifth chid of his parents.

Now that Gammachu is treated I am so happy, I cannot stop smiling. My son is one of the lucky children to have received treatment at such a young age. When he grows, he will go to school and he can achieve his dreams — feeling comfortable in how he looks.

Read about Eba’s journey, how a polio vaccination programme was able to put his family in touch with Project Harar, enabling him to receive the cleft treatment he needed.

"I was also born with cleft lip, I had surgery when I was child. I was always worried that one of my children would be born with one too... My son is a happy child now and not aware of the communities discrimination, but I know the experience — and when I heard of this opportunity I was so happy, beyond words.”

This family accessed Project Harar's cleft lip and palate services in November 2021, but unfortunately this baby was underweight and not healthy enough to receive surgery. We gave the family targeted nutritional support and advice so that their baby will be healthy enough to receive surgery as soon as possible.

10 Year old Obsa received treatment at the end of December for his cleft lip

Sariya travelled to Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa with her 10 month old daughter Indiya, after she had been identified as needing treatment for her cleft lip and palate by Project Harar.

Four year old Yohanes was attacked by a hyena in his home town Harar leaving his face scarred and left eye closed. Yohanis had facial reconstructive surgery on the Project Harar Complex Mission 2020

Teyib and his mother travelled for two nights from one of the most remote areas in Oromia to access surgery for Teyib's cleft lip.

We met Tirusew on our 2020 complex surgical programme, she had a large growth on her chin. Tirusew had been forced to drop out of school because of bullying.

We met Sifan on our 2020 Complex Mission. She came to us with a large growth on the right side of her face. Read about Sifan's transformation story here.

In 2018, Project Harar was able to provide Mohammed with life-changing surgery. Following a successful operation, four year-old Mohammed came out of his shell and was finally able to speak, attend school and play like a normal child. Read his story.

When Banchigize was born, his mother had never come across such a condition. Horrified by what she saw, fear for her son’s future and talk of his looks in the community kept her awake at night. Read his story.

10-year old Abinet arrived at Project Harar's complex surgical mission in 2016 with a nasal lipoma (a small lump on the end of his nose) which was causing him difficulties with breathing and sleeping. He also faced problems at school - the other kids held their noses and called him names. He was really badly bullied.

In 2015, 11 year-old Fami arrived in Addis Ababa hoping for treatment for her ameloblastoma (a type of facial tumour). Sadly, the surgeons could not find a way to operate that year, and she was sent home. She received treatment in 2016 and then again in 2018 by our international team of specialists.

Three years ago, a small growth appeared on Gemechu’s cheek that continued to enlarge. Eventually, it got so large that if left untreated, it would threaten his life. The growth was a giant ameloblastoma, which caused Gemechu great pain both physically and emotionally. Not only did his face constantly ache, but he also experienced discrimination from those around him.

Seso was treated for Trismus, a condition that caused her mouth to remain tightly closed - she has had this since she was three years old.

When little Merwa was born, her mother Rocla was shocked and frightened. She had never seen a child with a cleft lip before. ‘I was really scared when I gave birth to Merwa and saw her for the first time,’ she said. ‘Nothing can prepare you for that feeling.’

At the age of 15 many girls are conscious of their appearance, but for Mechot the way she looked affected every aspect of her life. Over three years a giant cell tumour had rapidly grown in the roof of her mouth, making eating, speaking or even smiling extremely difficult.