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.

When Felhano’s mother, Kose, gave birth to her daughter Felhano, she was astonished to discover that Felhano had cleft lip and palate. ‘I was appalled when I first saw Felhano,’ she said. ‘I had no idea what to do, how on earth to deal with this disability.’

12-year-old Ayantu came to Project Harar from a life of hardship and stigma. Born with a third nostril in the middle of her nose, the bullying she faced from other children stopped her going to school.

Elili came to us with a giant ameloblastoma and was treated in 2016 by in our annual complex mission.

When Abel's mother fell pregnant, she had to drop out of school, but she hoped that after his birth she would be able to return to pursue her dream of getting an education. However, when Abel was born with a cleft lip and palate, she realised that he would require additional care that would prevent her from returning to school. After hearing from a local doctor about Project Harar, Abel received the life-changing surgery he needed and his mother can now achieve her dream of going back to school.

Amlaku came to our recent Bahir Dar programme with his mother and father, where he received surgery for his cleft palate. Amlaku previously received treatment with Project Harar to correct his cleft lip, now eight years old, his parents were called and asked to return for a follow up appointment to get the second surgery for his palate.

Amen came to Arba Minch General hospital to receive surgery for his cleft lip, he is four months and two weeks old and came with his mother and father. The family found out about Project Harar’s programme from Facebook, his mother told us that her “husband uses the app and he saw one of the posts on Facebook and we followed up on the date of the mission. After that we travelled here so Amen can get his surgery.”

In June 2022, Project Harar conducted a surgical treatment program in Debre-Tabor, with one of our partnering hospitals Debre-Tabor Hospital. We had the chance to interview Selam and her mother Thehay about their journey from when Selam was born with cleft lip and palate, to now receiving treatment at 4 years old.