As both a teenager and then again while working for UNICEF, I was aware of the teams of volunteer doctors that worked around the world to provide free surgery to children to correct cleft lip and palate problems. Organizations like Operation Smile, Smile Train, and Alliance for Smiles (AfS) offer surgery globally to transform lives, improve eating/speaking, and build local capacity for ongoing treatment. One of the volunteers to Smile, Dr. Emil Hecht, ENT and Facial Plastic Surgeon and Tannia Hecht MA, Speech Pathologist were invited to join the team of one of the Smiles Programs who came to operate on cleft palate children in Los Cabos Mexico. the Hechts became aware that even after the lip and palate were surgically corrected, these children were not able to communicate correctly. They realized that a problem needed to be solved.

The Hechts became aware that even after the lip and palate were surgically corrected, these children were not able to communicate correctly. They realized that a problem needed to be solved. The Hechts found three licensed speech therapists who were willing to be trained by experienced master therapists in Mexico and and US on the anatomical, physiological difference, and techniques needed to teach these children new sounds.

With the support of the Los Cabos Children’s Foundation, International Community Foundations (ICF) and Monarcha Canada Foundation, the Hechts began providing services to children in Baja California Sur in 2017. In 2020, ComuniCabo became a Mexican Foundation with non-profit status and through its partners can accept charitable donations in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

With a team of three trained speech therapists, ComuniCabo AC provides free speech therapy and psychological support to the children, counsels parents, holds educational seminars, consults with experts, refers families to other specialists including dental and throat specialists to seal the palate and helps children get additional surgery if needed – all at no cost to the families. However, their services are not limited to speech therapy and psychological support, ComuniCabo AC provides social opportunities through the Boys and Girls Club, continuing eduction for the families, dental exams and orthodontics, audiology testing, and outreach to schools.