An event showcasing talent of Cleft Warriors at Ganga Hospital on 30th May 2024

The Idea!

The idea to conduct a talent show for cleft children was conceived in the month of April 2024. It was the time when the exams were getting over and children were wrapping up their final work at school & getting ready for the holidays; This reflected in our OPD numbers. There were kids everywhere and we were meeting some of them after a long gap! The team then decided it was the right time to have a get-together of cleft lip and palate children. What started as a small idea, slowly with the enthusiasm and interest shown by the children and their parents (all of whom were more than happy to take part), snowballed into a grand event.

The 30th of May 2024 was fixed for the event & work began quickly after. The whole cleft team dived into organizing the event. Numerous phonecalls were made, and a WhatsApp group was created for communication with the participants. In the first round of phone calls we had 30 children who evinced interest in the event.

SPOTLIGHT – the event!

The name SPOTLIGHT was chosen as we wanted the children to be the center of interest. Invitations, a backdrop and a cute little selfie booth were designed. Gifts for the children was planned out.

The day finally arrived & Ganga hospital was ready to host the show and the children were all ready to perform. What made the event extra special was that it was being organized at a time when Smile Train was celebrating 25 years

On the day of the event, we got some extra enthusiastic participants. Overall, 40 children were performing various programs from dancing to singing to monoacting and monologue. We also had children bring in their drawings which were displayed.

Some parents braving various odds bought their children to the event. One mother bought her small child from Trichy which is about 217 km from Coimbatore. For another child who lost his father 2 months before, the mother being the sole breadwinner was worried if she could bring her child for the event … and she did!

The children performed with full zest and enthusiasm. Parents appreciated the event and some even shared their experience. The emotional quotient was high as many of the parents were able to relate to each other. They developed a newfound confidence and felt immense gratitude to smile Train and the hospital. New friendships bloomed as parents exchanged numbers.

The show was a grand success from the start till the end. Organizing this event was gratifying and emotional. It instilled in us a sense of pride and increased our fervor to do more for these children… which we will in the years to come.

Some photos from the event

Inauguration

Welcome address by Dr Parvathy – Lactation consultant and clinical psychologist and prayer song by our cleft warrior Master Ashwin

Mrs Kanagavalli Shanmuganathan, Chairman and Managing Director Ganga Hospital, Dr S Raja Sabapathy Chairman and Head of Plastic Surgery Department Ganga Hospital and Director of the Smile Train Project in Ganga Hospital and Dr Ravindra Bharathi Cleft Surgeon addressed the gathering.

Performance by the children

Drawings by our young talented buddie

Budding photographer in talk with the professional ( Dr Bharathi also specializes in bird photography).

Selfie time