A 12-member delegation from the Operation Smile programme of Australia will visit Vietnam in late this month to explore the country’s activities in the field.

The programme has received great support from the community of Kiama in the Australian state of New South Wales , providing free operations for thousands of Vietnamese children suffering from harelip and cleft palate.

During its stay in Vietnam , the delegation, headed by Operation Smile Vietnam Ambassador Andy Keating, will hand over donations raised by residents of Kiama city to fund operations for 88 more children.

Since becoming the programme’s ambassador in 2004, Andy Keating has raised over 240,000 AUD (nearly 5 billion VND), helping bring smiles to over 2,400 Vietnamese children.

In November, 2010 Andy Keating was awarded with the “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” insignia by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations for his great contributions to charitable activities, contributing to bolstering the two countries’ friendship./.