Latest news with #YoungPresidents'Organisation
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Smile Foundation's 25 years of changing lives
What began with a mother's letter to Nelson Mandela has grown into a legacy of free life-changing surgeries, helping over 1 500 children smile with confidence. Smile Foundation director Marc Lubner, left, 17-month-old Zaylin Jantjies, with mother Amy, and the first beneficiary of the Smile Foundation Thando Manyathi. Picture: Michel Bega Twenty-five years ago, Thando Manyathi's mother wrote a letter to former president Nelson Mandela asking for help with her seven-year-old daughter's lower facial paralysis. Manyathi suffered from moebius syndrome, which left her without any facial expression. The beginning of the Smile Foundation Mandela reached out to philanthropist Marc Lubner, who at the time was with the Young Presidents' Organisation. The two intervened and after much research and investigation, decided rather than sending Manyathi overseas for surgery, it would be best to bring the world's leading surgeons to South Africa and, in turn, help train local medical professionals, which would see this become an ongoing effort. The face of a national legacy Today, Manyathi smiles readily and confidently holds a receptionist job at the Smile Foundation. After going through various medical procedures Manyathi completed a number of administrative courses and computer skills training programmes. She also worked through a number of different departments within the Smile Foundation and Lubner's other charity, Afrika Tikkun. Spending time in the presence of Manyathi, Lubner and his associates recognised that she possessed a lot of love and joy and realised that Manyathi would be ideally suited to being 'the face' of their company – at the helm of the front desk. Thousands of lives changed She is among about 1 500 beneficiaries of the Smile Foundation's 25 years of efforts to provide life-changing reconstructive surgery to underserved communities. This week, as part of Smile Week at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital where it all started 25 years ago, 14 children will receive surgeries that will give them new smiles, fresh confidence and a hope for the future. ALSO READ: Baby girl's life saved by surgery One mother's emotional journey to hope Among them is 17-month-old Zaylin Jantjies from Fochville, who is receiving cleft palate surgery. Mother Amy Jantjies said being a beneficiary of the Smile Foundation is life-changing. 'These operations are so expensive and I'm really grateful for them,' said Jantjies. When describing what it was like finding out her baby had a cleft palate at birth, Jantjies said: 'It was heartbreaking. It was traumatising. It felt like my world did crash. I lost a lot of weight.' Jantjies goes on to explain how the surgeries have not only helped Zaylin, but also her mental state as a mother. 'After Zaylin's first operation, I started gaining weight again. I feel like my heart is clean. I do still cry about this because it's heartbreaking but at the end of the day, it's also tears of joy because I never thought it was possible for her to become more beautiful than she already was to me. I'm relieved that now no-one will be able to tease her when she grows up.' Eleven-month-old Gorataone Modise and mom Kgothatso at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital during Smile Week. Picture: Michel Bega A mother's gratitude Lubner is quick to point out that the Smile Foundation is just a facilitator of this programme and that it's the surgeons at the hospital that deserve the recognition for their time and skills. Additionally, Lubner thanks the Vodacom Foundation that has supported the initiative from the start. Looking back over the 25 years, just before Mandela Day, Lubner recalls how he and Mandela's dream came true. 'This is proof of what's possible when people come together to make a difference, and it's just the beginning of the next chapter.' *Smile Foundation is a South African non-profit organisation dedicated to providing comprehensive health care for children and families affected by facial conditions and burns. NOW READ: Smile Foundation give little Caroline a reason to smile
Times of Oman
31-01-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Foreign Minister says dialogue cornerstone of Oman's foreign policy at YPO Summit
Muscat: His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed that dialogue is a cornerstone of Oman's diplomacy, deeply rooted in the nation's history and values. Speaking at the opening session of the 2025 Young Presidents' Organisation (YPO) Summit at the National Museum in Muscat, he addressed a delegation of young CEOs visiting Oman to foster dialogue and exchange views on regional and international issues. His Excellency emphasised Oman's commitment to creating spaces for dialogue, where disputes can be resolved through mutual understanding rather than division and hostility. He outlined Oman's foreign policy principles—openness, neutrality, and mutual respect—as essential foundations for regional peace and stability. He stressed that Omani diplomacy is more than a tool of foreign policy; it reflects the nation's identity and historical role as a bridge between continents, cultures, and ideas. Oman has long welcomed explorers, traders, and thinkers, shaping its approach based on dialogue and openness. Highlighting Oman's culture of hospitality, he noted that welcoming others is not merely generosity but a diplomatic practice—an essential first step towards building relationships founded on trust and understanding. Describing diplomacy as "the art of balance," he underscored Oman's pivotal role in fostering dialogue and mediating conflicts. He expressed concern over rising global hostility, warning that avoiding dialogue with adversaries only deepens divisions and prolongs conflicts. Addressing the Palestinian issue, His Excellency observed that while many governments support a two-state solution, they hesitate to recognise the State of Palestine due to political considerations. This stance, he argued, overlooks the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for security and independence—rights enshrined in international law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He concluded by stressing the importance of engaging with differing viewpoints, listening, and striving for understanding as essential steps towards lasting solutions. The Young Presidents' Organisation (YPO) is a global network of over 35,000 chief executives from various industries across 142 countries.
