Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck Receives Inaugural Smile Asia Philanthropic Visionary Award
Over 230 children in Bhutan have received free surgeries for facial deformities through a partnership between Smile Asia, a Singapore-based non-profit organization and the Tarayana Foundation, which was established by Bhutan's Queen Mother, Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck.
(Source: Tarayana Foundation)
In recognition of Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck's philanthropic efforts, including this initiative, she was awarded the inaugural Smile Asia Philanthropic Visionary Award on August 15 by Singapore’s Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan.
Tarayana Foundation, along with Smile Asia—a global alliance of charities focused on treating facial deformities like cleft lips and palates—organized volunteers from Singapore who performed surgeries on 231 children during medical missions to Bhutan from 2013 to 2019.
After receiving the award, the Queen Mother emphasized the significance of the surgeries organized by Smile Asia in preventing social prejudice and isolation for children born in areas where healthcare is less accessible.
The award was presented during the Smile Asia Charity Gala, which took place at the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel on August 15. Smile Asia created this award to recognize inspirational leaders who have made substantial contributions to improving the lives of communities.
Recipients of this annual award are typically those who have had significant collaborations with Smile Asia, an alliance that includes seven charities from Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, the United States, Japan, and Singapore.
Since its establishment in 2008, Smile Asia has facilitated over 80,000 surgeries for children in 13 countries and territories, including Bangladesh, Laos, and Indonesia.
The Queen Mother founded the Tarayana Foundation in 2003 to enhance the quality of life for Bhutanese people in rural regions. The non-profit has supported families in over 600 villages across Bhutan through various initiatives, including housing schemes, scholarships, training, and economic development projects.
After receiving the plaque, the Queen Mother said the surgical procedures organised by Smile Asia can prevent social prejudice and isolation for children born in regions where healthcare is harder to access.
“Due to the dedication of medical professionals who volunteer their expertise, and your invaluable financial support, the miracle of reconstructive surgery has become a reality for families who once faced seemingly insurmountable barriers to treatment,” she said.
“When we support Smile Asia, we are giving more than just medical care – we are giving the gift of confidence and belonging. For many children, birth defects like cleft lip and cleft palate have cast long shadows over their lives. There is no greater legacy than using our resources to make a positive impact.”
“Smiling is a universal human attribute, and it is hard coded. Beyond the 45 minutes that Vincent takes to perform surgery, it truly transforms the life of that child. Most of us in this room who are parents would know that if you have a child with a developmental abnormality, the burden, the anxiety, the fear, encompasses the whole family,” said Dr Balakrishnan, referring to Smile Asia’s chairman, Dr Vincent Yeow.
“Supporting these charities financially is almost the easier part, but to get organised, to travel, to set up an operating theatre in difficult and inaccessible areas, is far more challenging.”
According to Singapore General Hospital, cleft lip and/or palate is one of the most common birth defects, affecting approximately two in 1,000 live births in Singapore.
Full speech of Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck at Smile Asia Charity Gala
Your Excellency Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan,
Foreign Minister of Singapore,
Dr. Vincent Yeow and Mr. Ranjit Barthakur,
Dear Friends and Supporters of Smile Asia
It gives me immense joy to be here this evening to celebrate the remarkable power of giving. Your unwavering compassion and generosity have truly transformed the lives of thousands of children across Asia, offering them new opportunities and hope.
Due to the dedication of medical professionals who volunteer their expertise, and your invaluable financial support, the miracle of reconstructive surgery has become a reality for families who once faced seemingly insurmountable barriers to treatment.
Each multi-day surgical camp organized by Smile Asia is a testament to the profound impact of your contributions. These camps not only perform life-changing surgeries but also provide essential nutritional support, speech therapy, dental care, and psychological counselling, helping children and their families reclaim their rightful place in society.
With a surgery costing as little as $300, you help prevent a lifetime of prejudice and isolation. Suddenly, a child can eat, breathe, speak, and smile with confidence, fully embracing their boundless potential.
When we support Smile Asia, we are giving more than just medical care-we are giving the gift of confidence and belonging. For many children, birth defects like cleft lip and cleft palate have cast long shadows over their lives.
Your role is crucial. Your donations, advocacy, and spirit of giving literally restore smiles and brighten futures for children who would otherwise face very different lives.
You hold the power to create a world of inclusion and belonging for these children. You open doors to hope and connection. This is the true art of giving-seeing beyond ourselves to uplift the human family and recognizing in each renewed smile the universal nature of our hopes, struggles, and dreams.
Your giving embodies purposeful compassion. It shapes lives both for those who receive and for those who give. There is no greater legacy than using our resources to make a positive impact.
Let us celebrate this virtue we have cultivated together- the art of giving as a driving force for human progress. Let us reaffirm our commitment to this mission of restoring smiles and possibilities, one child at a time.
Together, our collective efforts can ignite a brilliant revolution of human dignity, where everyone can share in the joy of lives lived to the fullest. My friends, patrons, and supporters of Smile Asia, thank you for your steadfast commitment to this transformative cause. Your generosity and compassion breathe life into this organization's vital work.
Thank you for your generous spirit that makes all of this possible. Together, let us continue to spread smiles around the world.
About Tarayana Foundation
About Smile Asia Philanthropic Visionary Award
About Smile Asia
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