For thousands of children born with cleft lip and palate, having surgery can be life-changing. However, in many parts of North Africa, specialized treatment is often out of reach for families who cannot afford it. For more than two decades, Moroccan humanitarian Fouzia Jbara Mahmoudi has been working to change this reality by providing free surgeries and medical care to children through the global charity Operation Smile.
Who is Fauzia Jabala Mahmoudi?
Fouzia Jbara Mahmoudi is a Moroccan humanitarian based in Casablanca and co-founder and Vice President of Operation Smile Morocco. She also serves as Operation Smile’s Senior Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa.In February 2026, Mahmoudi received regional recognition as Dubai’s top Arab Hopemaker and received a Dh1 million prize for his humanitarian efforts in helping children with cleft lip and palate receive free treatment.
Fouzia Jbara Mahmoudi and Sheikh Hamdan/Photo: X
Through her work, Mahmoudi helps oversee programs across the Middle East and North Africa region, working with global teams to plan programs, budgets and fundraising efforts to expand access to surgical care.Operation Smile is one of the world’s largest volunteer medical charities, providing free surgeries to children born with cleft lip and palate. The organization was founded in 1982 by Dr. Bill Magee, a plastic and craniofacial surgeon, and Kathy Magee, a nurse and clinical social worker.
Dr. William Magee and Kathy Magee/Photo: Operational Smile website
The charity operates 31 care centers in 16 countries and regular medical projects in 32 countries, bringing together volunteer surgeons and medical teams to provide life-changing surgical care and long-term treatment.
Her Operation Smile journey
Mahmoudi’s journey with Operation Smile began in 1999 when she volunteered on a medical mission in Morocco. At the time, she was working as a vice president at Citibank, a position she held from 1983 to 2007.Inspired by the impact of volunteer surgeons treating children born with clefts, she helped establish Operation Smile Morocco that same year. What began as a volunteer initiative quickly grew into a national program dedicated to providing free medical care to children with cleft lip and palate.Over time, Mahmoudi built a strong network of volunteers and health care professionals across the country. Today, the organization is supported by more than 650 volunteers from across Morocco, helping to expand surgical services and strengthen health care capacity in underserved areas.
Expand the scope of free surgeries
Under Mahmoudi’s leadership, Operation Smile Morocco has grown into a major health care program in the region. The organization has performed more than 19,000 free reconstructive surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lip and palate.In addition to surgical care, the program provides oral and dental health services to more than 120,000 people.Since the organization’s work began, Operation Smile has helped more than 204,000 patients receive cleft surgery, oral health care and comprehensive cleft treatment across the wider Middle East and Africa.
Medical Center and Outreach Mission
To expand access to care, Operation Smile Morocco currently operates three specialized medical centers in Casablanca, Al-Jedida and Oujda. A fourth center in Marrakech is nearing completion, which will further strengthen surgical services in the country.The organization also operates mobile medical missions across Morocco, sending surgical teams to communities lacking specialized medical facilities. These missions typically last five days, during which doctors screen 100 to 150 patients and perform about 90 surgeries.To date, Operation Smile Morocco has carried out 164 medical missions in 30 cities in the country.
Learn about cleft lip and palate
A cleft lip is a congenital birth defect that occurs when the tissue in the upper lip fails to fuse properly early in pregnancy. This causes openings or gaps in the lips, which may appear on one or both sides of the mouth. The condition can range from a small notch on the lips to a larger separation extending into the nose. Children with clefts may face feeding difficulties and may require medical care soon after birth.
Cleft lip/representative picture
Meanwhile, a cleft palate occurs when the upper jaw does not close completely during development in the womb. This leaves an opening between the mouth and nasal cavity. The condition can affect the way your child eats, talks, and breathes, and if left untreated, can lead to ear infections or hearing problems.
Cleft Palate/Representative Image
Although these conditions can pose significant challenges in early childhood, they can be treated with surgery and specialized medical care. In many cases, a child may require multiple forms of treatment over time, including reconstructive surgery, dental care, speech therapy, and long-term follow-up with medical specialists. With appropriate treatment, most children born with cleft lip and palate are able to live healthy, active lives. More than two decades after she first volunteered with Operation Smile, Fouzia Jbara Mahmoudi continues to lead efforts to provide life-changing medical care to children in need. Her work reflects the power of humanitarian service, demonstrating how determination, collaboration and compassion can help expand access to health care for vulnerable communities in Morocco and the wider region.
