OPERATION SMILE MENA STUDENT CONFERENCE
Lead With Compassion at MENASC 2026
Join up to 60 students in Abu Dhabi for a residential Operation Smile UAE conference focused on service, advocacy, leadership and health care education related to cleft conditions.
Required attendance: August 7–12, 2026 | Abu Dhabi | AED 1,000
Expressions of interest close July 17, 2026.
MENASC 2026 at a Glance
Required attendance
August 7–12, 2026
Location
Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School, Abu Dhabi
Format
Supervised residential conference
Capacity
Up to 60 students
Language
English
AED 1,000
Expressions of interest close July 17, 2026. School nomination is not required.
What Is MENASC 2026?
MENASC 2026 is a leadership and service conference with health care education related to cleft conditions. Organized by Operation Smile UAE, it helps students explore how service, advocacy and compassionate leadership can contribute to equitable access to health care.
Service and advocacy
Discover how students can raise awareness, educate others and inspire meaningful action.
Leadership development
Build confidence, communication, teamwork and public-speaking skills.
Health care exploration
Learn how different health care specialties work together to support patients with cleft conditions.
Build the Skills to Lead With Purpose
No previous medical knowledge is required. MENASC welcomes eligible students who are curious, responsible and ready to participate. Whether you are interested in health care, advocacy, nonprofit work or leadership, the conference will help you explore how your skills can contribute to meaningful change.
Leadership and teamwork
Collaborate with other motivated students and contribute to shared goals.
Advocacy and communication
Learn how to explain a cause clearly, respectfully and persuasively.
Public speaking
Develop confidence in presenting ideas and speaking with purpose.
Health care exploration
Explore how multiple health care specialties contribute to comprehensive cleft care.
Community impact
Develop ideas that can inspire action in schools and communities.
Meaningful connections
Meet students who share an interest in service, leadership and social impact.
Surgery
Explore the role of surgery within a wider plan of comprehensive care.
Learn From Operation Smile Medical Volunteers
Important: MENASC provides interactive health care education, not clinical training. Students will not provide direct patient care. The conference is not an internship, accredited medical course or professional qualification.
Operation Smile medical volunteers will lead interactive educational activities that introduce students to cleft conditions, comprehensive care and the collaborative decision-making involved in developing treatment plans.
Nursing
Learn how nurses support patient safety, preparation, care and communication.
Dentistry
Discover why oral health and dental care are important for patients with cleft conditions.
Nutrition
Understand how nutrition can support a child’s health, development and readiness for care.
Speech therapy
Explore how speech therapists support communication as part of comprehensive care.
Who Can Apply?
MENASC 2026 is primarily intended for students ages 15–18, but eligibility is based on academic stage as well as age. Applicants of all nationalities and school curricula may apply if they meet the requirements below.
Academic stage
Students may apply if, after the 2026 summer holiday, they will be:
• Entering Year 11, Year 12 or Year 13
• Entering Grade 10, Grade 11 or Grade 12
• Starting their first year of university
• Taking a gap year between finishing school and starting university
A student who turns 19 during or shortly after the conference may still apply if they have not started their first year of university before the conference.
Language
Applicants must have a good command of English. All sessions, workshops and activities will be conducted in English, and translation or interpretation will not be available.
Location
Students currently living and attending school in the UAE are the primary applicants. Eligible students from all UAE emirates, cities, schools and curricula may apply.
Students living and attending school in Oman may also be considered if they can travel to and from Abu Dhabi by land, attend the complete conference from August 7–12, 2026, satisfy all parent or guardian consent and residential requirements and arrange their own travel to and from Abu Dhabi.
Previous experience
Previous medical knowledge and school nomination are not required.
Check your eligibility
Before applying, confirm that:
- I meet one of the eligible academic-stage requirements.
- I have not started my first year of university before the conference.
- I have a good command of English.
- I can attend the full program from August 7–12, 2026.
- My parent or guardian and I agree to the residential requirement.
- I understand that the fee is AED 1,000 and financial assistance is unavailable.
- If I live in Oman, I can arrange land travel to and from Abu Dhabi.
Meeting the eligibility requirements allows you to submit an expression of interest. It does not guarantee acceptance or a place at MENASC 2026.
Parent & Guardian Information
Educational value
MENASC 2026 gives students a structured opportunity to develop leadership, advocacy, communication and health care literacy. Through interactive workshops led by Operation Smile medical volunteers, participants will learn about equitable access to health care, comprehensive cleft care and meaningful community service.
Approved photograph of students participating in a supervised conference activity.
Residential and attendance requirements
Full attendance is required from August 7–12, 2026.
MENASC is a residential conference, and all students must stay at the designated conference hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Commuting from home or staying elsewhere is not permitted.
Students must remain for the complete conference and may not leave early.
Consent and student wellbeing
Formal parent or guardian consent is required. Students will participate in a structured program supported by conference staff and chaperones, with attendance procedures, scheduled movement, room checks and student wellbeing support.
Drop-off and pickup
Parents or guardians are responsible for dropping students off at the designated conference hotel in Abu Dhabi on August 7 and collecting them from the hotel on August 12. Exact arrival and pickup times will be communicated as part of the conference information.
Parents and guardians should review the attendance, residential and fee requirements with the student before an expression of interest is submitted.
Supervision and Student Wellbeing
MENASC will maintain at least one chaperone for every five students.
Attendance monitoring
Student attendance will be monitored throughout scheduled conference programming.
Scheduled movement
Students will move between conference activities according to the supervised program schedule.
Student wellbeing support
Chaperones and conference staff will be available to support students and respond to concerns.
Room checks
Chaperones will complete evening room checks according to conference procedures.
Evening hall monitoring
Hotel halls will be monitored during the designated evening period.
Emergency communication
Parents will receive an approved contact process for urgent questions or concerns.
Phone policy
Phones will not be permitted during lectures and workshops. They may be returned during designated breaks and after scheduled programming.
Students are expected to return to their assigned rooms at 10 p.m. Parent visits are not permitted at the hotel, school or activity locations during the conference because they could disrupt supervision, attendance and scheduled programming.
These procedures support student wellbeing, accountability, consistent participation and a focused conference experience.
Aug 7
Friday — Arrival & Check-in
Student check-in: 6–7 p.m.
Opening dinner: 8 p.m.
MENASC 2026 Dates and Schedule
Students must participate in the full conference and may not commute or leave early.
Accepted students must be available for the complete residential experience from August 7–12, 2026. The main conference programming takes place from August 8–11.
Aug 8–11
Sat–Tue — Conference Programming
- Leadership workshops
- Health care education
- Advocacy sessions
- Interactive activities
- Teamwork and evening programming
Aug 12
Wednesday — Parent & Guardian Pickup
Pickup: 9–11 a.m.
Conference Fee and Inclusions
Please note
- Families are responsible for arranging drop-off and pickup in Abu Dhabi.
- Travel to and from Abu Dhabi is not included.
- Financial assistance is not available.
How to Apply for MENASC 2026
Review the eligibility, residential requirement, dates and fee with your parent or guardian. Then submit your expression of interest by July 17, 2026.
01
02
03
Review the Requirements
Confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements, can attend the full conference from August 7–12, 2026, understand the residential requirement and have reviewed the AED 1,000 fee with your parent or guardian.
Submit Your Expression of Interest
Watch for Next Steps
Complete the official online expression-of-interest form carefully. A school nomination is not required.
Operation Smile UAE will contact applicants using the information submitted through the form. Submitting an expression of interest does not automatically confirm a place.
Expressions of interest close July 17, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about the MENA Student Conference (MENASC) 2026.
Is MENASC a medical course?
No. MENASC is a leadership and service conference with health care education related to cleft conditions. It does not provide clinical training, direct patient care, an internship or medical accreditation.
Do students need previous medical knowledge?
No. Students should be curious, responsible, respectful and ready to participate.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is based on the student’s academic stage as well as age. Review the full eligibility section before applying.
Can students commute from home?
No. All students must stay at the designated conference hotel for the complete residential program, including students who live in Abu Dhabi.
Can parents visit during the conference?
No. Parent visits are not permitted at the hotel, school or activity locations during the conference because they could affect supervision, attendance and scheduled programming.
Will students be supervised?
The conference environment is fully supervised. Families are responsible for safe drop-off and pickup at the conference venue according to the schedule.
What does the AED 1,000 fee include?
The fee includes accommodation, meals, local conference transportation, activities and conference materials.
Does the fee include travel to and from Abu Dhabi?
No. Families are responsible for arranging drop-off and pickup in Abu Dhabi.
Will students receive a certificate?
Students who complete the conference will receive a certificate of participation. It is not a professional qualification or accreditation.
Does MENASC guarantee a future Operation Smile opportunity?
No. Participation does not guarantee selection for a future Operation Smile program.
Is financial assistance available?
No. Financial assistance is not available for MENASC 2026.
How do students apply?
Contact Kyla Cromey-Hawke at kyla.cromey-hawke@operationsmile.org.
Ready to Lead With Compassion?
Join a community of students exploring service, advocacy, leadership and health care education with Operation Smile UAE. Review the requirements with your parent or guardian and submit your expression of interest by July 17, 2026.
Required attendance: August 7–12, 2026
Location: Abu Dhabi
Fee: AED 1,000
Capacity: Up to 60 students
Questions? Contact Kyla Cromey-Hawke at kyla.cromey-hawke@operationsmile.org.