Fouzia Jbara Mahmoudi with Sheikh Hamdan/Image: XWhat is Operation Smile? Dr. William Magee and Kathy Magee/Image: Operation Smile WebsiteHer journey with Operation SmileExpanding access to free surgeriesMedical centres and outreach missionsUnderstanding cleft lip and cleft palateCleft lip/Representative ImageCleft palate/Representative ImageA humanitarian missionFor thousands of children born with cleft lip and palate, access to surgery can be life-changing. In many parts of North Africa, however, specialised treatment is often out of reach for families who cannot afford it. For more than two decades, Moroccan humanitarian Fouzia Jbara Mahmoudi has worked to change that reality by helping provide free surgeries and medical care to children through the global charity Operation Smile.Fouzia Jbara Mahmoudi is a Moroccan humanitarian based in Casablanca and the co-founder and vice president of Operation Smile Morocco. Today, the organisation is supported by more than 650 volunteers from across Morocco, helping expand surgical services and strengthen healthcare capacity in underserved areas.Under Mahmoudi’s leadership, Operation Smile Morocco has grown into a key healthcare initiative in the region.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 15, 2026 10:56 UTC