The Smile Foundation in South Africa lives up to its name: in the past 10 years it has enabled 600 children to smile by offering free reconstructive surgery.

The foundation, started by surgeon Professor George Psaras, operates on children with facial paralysis, cleft palates and abnormalities to their faces or skulls.

It is one of the organisations at which psychologists can apply to work for for a year as part of the Vodacom Change The World challenge. The Vodacom Foundation, in conjunction with Avusa, has decided to offer 10 skilled professionals a chance to spend a year working at a selected NGO.

South Africans from across the country, who have work experience and tertiary qualifications, can apply. Successful applicants will be paid R25000 a month.

Vodacom's Mthobi Tyamzashe says the Change The World project "allows those with experience to share an innovative way of giving.

''If you have the skills and the time, why not throw your name into the hat and contribute towards a better South Africa?"

One such applicant, Sarah Barnes, is a clinical psychologist who works at Helen Joseph hospital in Johannesburg.

She has applied to work at the Smile Foundation as a psychologist. One of her goals is to support the people who provide a service.

"Very often the people that are forgotten are the nurses and doctors who work with the patients and families, yet they too need support and care in terms of debriefing and therapy . Implementing a debriefing programme for medical staff is imperative."

Applicants have until the end of the week to apply.

For more details see www.vodacom.com/av_foun_ctw.php