Operation Smile Shares Untold Story of Man Born with Cleft Lip in 'A Road to a Smile'

BBDO Bangkok has worked with famous Thai director Thanonchai to bring the new film to life for non-profit charity, Operation Smile. The film is called ‘A Road to a Smile’ in recognition of world smile month.

‘A Road to a Smile’ shares the untold story of Bom, a man born with a cleft lip who has been through seven operations. He was born without a smile and agreed to share his ‘road-to-a-smile’ journey with the world and asked viewers to donate towards a long waiting list of people with cleft lips who wish to have surgery.

Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft deformity. Ranging from a small gap in their upper lip to a split in the mouth’s palate. These deformities can cause significant health problems, including stunted growth and development, ear infections and impaired hearing, slowed speech development, and feeding difficulties. In addition, social stigmas towards those with clefts leave emotional scars that are not easily forgotten. So for a child’s mental and physical health, it's important to correct a cleft with surgery while they’re young.

To address this, BBDO Bangkok partnered with Operation Smile Thailand, the international, non-profit charity organisation, to raise awareness and funds to provide safe, life-saving facial surgeries to underprivileged children and young adults across the nation at no cost. The charity strives to give them a smile because it can give them a true chance in life.