Smiles Action Volunteer Group

The Smiles Action Volunteer Group is comprised of college-aged students from Southern California dedicated to bettering the lives of underprivileged children living in the Baja California region of Mexico. They have been volunteering with the Smiles International Foundation since 2010. The Smiles Action Volunteer Group offers unique opportunity for students. Once every four months, groups of 5 to 10 travel to Tecate, Mexico to prepare the clinic for cleft lip and palate procedures and assist in patient care. Members also are involved in group projects with Tecate Rotaract. Two of the current projects are providing computer equipment to a local elementary school and working with the Casa de la Misericordia Orphanage in Tecate. The Smiles Action Volunteer Group provides an opportunity to future medical personnel by providing them with early clinical experience and provides other non-medically bound students a chance to participate in international service work.