Mending Kids provides free life-saving surgical care to sick children worldwide by deploying volunteer medical teams and supporting communities to become medically self-sustaining. Since 2005, we've mended over 5,400 children from 76 countries, including the US.
Our mission extends beyond borders, reaching thousands more through our hands-on training and exchanges of knowledge, making our impact immeasurable and everlasting.
Our mission extends beyond borders, reaching thousands more through our hands-on training and exchanges of knowledge, making our impact immeasurable and everlasting.
countries served
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surgical mission trips completed
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children mended as of 9/17/2024
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Follow us and learn how you can get involved in providing life-changing surgical care to children in need.
help
The Health Equity Leadership Project (HELP) embodies the fundamental philosophy of all Mending Kids programs.
Our Overseas/Hometown Missions and Individual Surgical Care Programs (U.S.A. & International) address health inequity by providing underserved children access to surgical care.
Our Overseas/Hometown Missions and Individual Surgical Care Programs (U.S.A. & International) address health inequity by providing underserved children access to surgical care.
Our Training, Research, and Innovation program (TRI), provides exchanges of knowledge through hands-on training, cutting-edge technology, and virtual symposia; helping elevate the standard of pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative care. Mending Kids supports its international mentees by offering observerships, medical conferences, and financial support for local surgeries. These programs cultivate leadership and self-sustainment in surgical care around the world.
Additionally, HELP affords non-medical volunteers the opportunity for internships and to travel on Mending Kids overseas missions, during which they can shadow and support medical professionals in the delivery of surgical care. Many of our volunteers go on to careers in global health and medicine, or start their own nonprofits.
OUR CORE PROGRAMS
Overseas Surgical MissionOur surgical teams travel to developing countries on specialized missions to mend children in need of life-saving surgeries, and to train local surgical staff to create sustainable programs. |
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We provide free outpatient surgical care to underserved children across the United States. Many in underserved communities lack access to necessary surgeries, facing insufficient coverage due to insurance companies categorizing them as “non-life threatening” or “elective.” This leaves uninsured, underinsured, or undocumented children facing significant obstacles, including risk of bullying, harassment and self-harm. We firmly believe in the transformative power of restoring self-esteem in children, as it serves as a gateway to enhanced learning and outlook on life.
want to find out more? interested in joining us on a mission?
Training
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In 2015, the Training, Research and Innovation department was created at Mending Kids. The department promotes effective philanthropy and expands Mending Kids’ mission through research that informs decision-making and program design.
Routine community appraisals and needs assessment, evaluation of programs and partnerships, and data collection and analysis will guide the organization’s strategic growth. Mending Kids is committed to conducting research and collecting data on key surgical indicators on nearly every mission we deploy, and then using the information gathered to monitor progress, engage communities, and inform health policies. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS & programS
Our 2024-2025 Missions Tanzania Colorectal (Jan 15-19) Ghana Cardiac (Jan 21-26) Philippines Cardiac (Multiple) Guatemala Ear Nose Throat (Feb 12-16) Cambodia Orthopedic (Feb 29 - Mar 9, 2024) Philippines Cardiac (March 2024) Nicaragua Cardiac (April 1-5, 2024) Tanzania Ear Nose Throat (April 29 - May 3, 2024) Tanzania Ear Nose Throat (July 1-5, 2024) El Salvador Cardiac (Sept 22-26, 2024) Armenia Plastic (Oct 7-11, 2024) Nicaragua Cardiac (October 20-25, 2024) Namibia Cardiac (Oct 21-25, 2024) Tanzania Ear Nose Throat (Oct 28 - Nov 1, 2024) Tanzania Cardiac (Oct 28-Nov 3, 2024) Mauritius Cardiac (Nov 11-15, 2024) Cambodia Orthopedic (Nov 18-23, 2024) Peru General + Dental (TBD, 2024) Ghana Cardiac (Jan, 2025) Cambodia Orthopedic (Feb, 2025) Guatemala Ear Nose Throat (March, 2025) Nicaragua Cardiac (April, 2025) Tanzania Ear Nose Throat (TBD) Tanzania Cardiac (TBD) Zambia (May/June, 2025) Armenia Plastic (Sept, 2025) Mauritius Cardiac (Summer/Fall, 2025) *All missions are subject to change and cancellation |
Annual Report 2023
As we reflect on 2023, we are profoundly
grateful for the unwavering support that has propelled us to reach a significant milestone in our journey: impacting the lives of over 5000 children over the past 18 years. Your commitment and generosity have been the driving forces behind this remarkable achievement... Hike to Mend!
An ongoing campaign honoring the journey that a parent takes to gain access to surgical care for their child. Join us in raising awareness of health disparity everywhere. Hike a few miles so that, together, we can provide kids with the life-changing care that they need. |
proudly supported by
and hundreds of other committed organizations, hospitals, foundations, companies, and communities. Join our heroes and team up with Mending Kids to make sure every child receives the care they need.
a map of The places we've served...
Since 2005, we have mended children in over 64 countries, including the United States. Zooming on the map and see where we've been!
* Purple markers are countries where we led surgical mission trips in while blue markers are countries where we helped individual patients
* Purple markers are countries where we led surgical mission trips in while blue markers are countries where we helped individual patients