In crisis situations, whether natural (e.g. earthquakes, floods, tsunamis) or political (e.g. violent conflict, forced movement of populations), children are especially at risk. Children who become separated from their families are the most vulnerable.Ìý
Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) is the vital process of returning lost children to the safety and protection of their families. Despite advances in information technology the current process remainedÌýdesperately manual.
In 2010, in response to the challenges of the Haiti earthquake, UNICEF Innovation,Ìý, and ºÚÁÏÃÅ developed a system that combines smart-phone and netbook clients with a network hosted modern NoSQL backend database allowing field workers to capture children's details even where network connectivity was unavailable.ÌýToday the program is entirely open-source and driven by volunteers, including more than 100 Thoughtworkers since 2010.
RapidFTR was trialled in aÌýrefugee camp in Uganda and, most recently, in the Philippines.
Caption: Deploying RapidFTR in theÌýPhilippines.
Learn more:Ìý
ViewÌý³Ùhe recent media coverage in the and Ìý³Ùo learn how the app has been used to help reunite children with their families.Ìý
Read aboutÌýSri Prasanna, aÌýsenior developer at ºÚÁÏÃÅ, andÌýhis unforgettable experience being on the and helping children reunite with their families in the Phillippines. He also provides ways to get involved.Ìý
Share theÌýUnicef Stories: Innovations in Emergenices, Reporting from the Phillippines , and days .Ìý
Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the positions of ºÚÁÏÃÅ.