Aesthetics Media, as part of Easyfairs (the company behind the Aesthetics journal, ACE, CCR and the Aesthetics Awards) is supporting Facing the World for 2020, following a recommendation from nurse prescriber Sharon Gilshenan.

The UK-based organisation aims to create sustainable solutions for children in Vietnam who have severe facial differences. 

According to Facing the World, the occurrence of severe facial birth defects is 10 times higher in Vietnam than in neighbouring countries. The charity suggest this is as a result of the effects of dioxins in Agent Orange, a herbicide and defoliant chemical that was used in the Vietnam War, which is thought to have caused a mutation in the genetic make-up. 

Donations go towards funding missions to Vietnam where specialist teams work with their Vietnamese counterparts to operate on the children affected, training Vietnamese doctors to learn new techniques and approaches to treatment, as well as purchasing new equipment to improve efficiency.

Sharon said, “Facing the World is such a pertinent charity for the industry we represent. As aesthetic practitioners we are in the  unique position to see and understand the value and importance out faces have on us in society.” 

Gilshenan continued, “I also have a special affiliation to this charity because if I had been born in Vietnam, I could have been one of the children in pain and unable to speak properly, eat or drink, or possibly shunned by my community, as I was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate and have had 25 operations. Yet I consider myself lucky as I was born in a society that had the ability to change my outcome and have consequently enjoyed a fulfilled life. I wish that for the children of Vietnam.” 

CEO (voluntary) of Facing the World, Katrin Kandal, added, “The charity’s international team from medical institutions across the UK, Canada, the US and Vietnam all share the dedication and passion to help children born with facial differences. FTW and its partners have collaborated to create the first blueprint for replicable Craniofacial Centers which, once fully up and running will be able to treat 60% of all new facial birth defects in Vietnam. The charity has a clear vision for a sustainable healthcare solution.”

Editor and content manager at Aesthetics Media, Chloé Gronow, said, “Sharon approached me at the Aesthetics Awards and told me all about this worthy charity. After learning more and hearing Sharon’s experiences of living with a cleft lip, I felt that it was imperative we used our platform to support Facing the World and encourage the aesthetics community to join us in raising much-needed funds. We will be encouraging donations throughout the year and hope you can support us.”