In addition to our major projects, we also have smaller projects in many other countries. The size of the project depends on the availability of a suitable local partner and of course the availability of sufficient donor funds. It is our policy to encourage local partner surgeons to build their own organizations through which the expansion of cleft treatment in a country can be managed. This keeps our administrative spending low, since only as few people as possible have to be hired at German salaries.

It also ensures maximum transfer of knowledge to the local partners, since all personnel trained to perform the treatment in the country are locals, and ensures that the project networks with preexisting local structures. We thus encourage our local partners to build their own organizations. This process takes time. Currently, we have smaller projects in the following countries:

• Afghanistan
• China
• Indonesia
• Philippines

We are looking forward to see these projects grow and extend aid to many local cleft patients.