In Nepal, children born with cleft lip and palate often face long journeys and limited access to care. While the main cleft centre is in Kathmandu, families from remote villages rely on outreach programmes that host monthly surgical and speech therapy camps. These centres are lifelines, but resources for speech therapy, oral health, and psychological support remain scarce.

As part of this work, Madhavi (Alder Hey children's Hospital) and Siobhan ( retired from Alder Hey Hospital) will be travelling to Nepal to support cleft care, focusing mainly on training and capacity-building for local teams. Our main aim is to work alongside the local cleft team in Nepal, developing speech therapy aids, oral health kits, and providing specialist equipment — all in a collaborative way that is mindful of culture and focused on training and empowering local teams.

To raise funds, we are celebrating the joy of food through a variety of tasty cooking events. These events bring together people of all ages and backgrounds to cook in different kitchens, share traditions from Indian and world cuisines, and enjoy fresh, healthy dishes made with simple, locally available ingredients. Cooking across three generations, we’ll show how food connects families — and how it can also bring hope and smiles to children in Nepal. Madhavi Seshu