December 2020, Abu Dhabi Medical Mission
Student Team:
Adrika Vats & Natalie Messiha – Student Ambassadors
Kyla Cromey-Hawke – OSUAE Student Programs Coordinator
“Being chosen to be a part of a medical mission is truly a privilege I was lucky enough to have. Not only did it change my view of everything Operation Smile does but also shaped the person I am right now.
Being a small part of the patients’ life-changing journeys is simply beautiful. As students, we have a responsibility of being educators too! Fulfilling that duty, I was introduced to Eli, a speech and language professional, through Kyla. Eli, being the patient and kind person she is, gave me a crash course on speech therapy and helped me create a wonderful cheat sheet for parents on how to promote speech in the early years. It was surprising to see that the simplest things can really make a huge difference. All that’s needed is patience. I handed these sheets out to the parents and also gave them mini presentations. The late night zoom calls were definitely worth it! I can go on and on about how much I enjoyed the experience but I’m so glad I was a messenger of valuable information to parents even in these devastating times. Lastly, I went away with the revelation that it’s not one life that’s changed but so many lives intertwined together with a unified purpose.”
Adrika Vats,
Operation Smile Club President
The Cambridge High School Abu Dhabi
June 2021, Abu Dhabi Medical Mission
Student Team:
Farah Hammad & Riddhi Chauhan – Student Ambassadors
Maryam Saleel & Lenora D’Souza – We-Voice Reporters
Kyla Cromey-Hawke – OSUAE Student Programs Coordinator