Bringing back a smile to their faces

Tang Shuxi, an 8-year-old boy who was born with severe cleft lips and palate, sprinted and became the first who reached the destination when playing a game with other children at a summer camp in Beijing.

He is one of the 20 children aged between 7 and 10 who underwent corrective surgery for their cleft. Currently, they are attending a one-week event organized by the Smile Angel Foundation, a charity that was initiated to help Chinese children born with the condition.

The foundation was established by Chinese actor Li Yapeng and singer Faye Wong in 2006 when the couple's daughter was born with a cleft palate.

The condition will result in malnutrition, unclear enunciation and some nasal deformity. But surgery is only the first step, and mental issues of children born with cleft disorders need more attention.

"They still have clearly noticeable post-operative scars, and other mental issues such as being shy and refusing to talk to others," said Qi Xin, project executive of media and education at Smile Angel Foundation.

"The camp aims to help them communicate more with others and boost their confidence by teaching them singing, drawing and performing," she said.

According to the foundation, a surgery costs 8,000 yuan ($1,290) to 10,000 yuan on average. Many children who come from poverty-stricken families did not start their first repairing surgery until the age of six, such as Tang. He comes from a mountainous area in rural Guizhou province, and his family has an annual income of about 1,000 yuan.

"He is especially willing to talk to others, and is very thoughtful in his paintings," said Qi. "Most of them are intelligent and physically fit, aside from the cleft. However, their peers often isolate them. We should understand that they are the same as others."

Currently, there are about 2.4 million Chinese who were born with cleft disorders. The incidence happens to every two cases per 1,000 newborns. For children born with clefts, it is most appropriate to conduct the repair surgery when they are three to six months old. A complete cure requires a patient to go through five to six surgeries in different stages until they become adults.

Chen Linli, a 37-year-old volunteer at the camp who is cleft herself, holds a master's degree from the University of Warwick in England. Her mother trained her to speak and study when she was young, and she speaks fluent English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

"It's critical to educate the parents to help their children, since many parents isolate their children from others," Chen said.

Gao Wai, a teacher who leads the children at the camp, said the children are very smart and easier to teach than he expected.

"The society should help these children have a positive mindset and outlook in life," he said. "I hope they do not compare themselves with others, and instead do the best for themselves."