Joy as Mandela's dream of putting smiles on kids' lives on

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.

- Michel Bega

Manyathi suffered from moebius syndrome, which left her without any facial expression.

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.

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.