Children in Crisis
About Children and War
The Crisis
Emergency Education ...
Resources and Links Separated Children Preventing Separation - Awareness and Advocacy
Branching Out - Formal and Informal Networks
After Save the Children identifies separated children, the painstaking work of finding their family members begins. Tracing these caregivers is accomplished by a wide range of methods including mass community meetings, poster canvassing, and radio, newspaper and television announcements. One of Save the Children's latest initiatives to improve tracing programs is the development of computer software that allows the exchange of information across several regions almost simultaneously. The instability and obstacles present in any conflict or emergency complicate tracing efforts. In order to make the best use of available resources and avoid duplication of work, Save the Children joins efforts with government agencies, international and national organizations, women and youth organizations, teachers, police, military and volunteers to search for family members. To provide a comprehensive approach to reuniting families, Save the Children also works with its local partners to take advantage of long standing traditional communication networks. In Mozambique, traditional political leaders, healers, and local traders used word-of-mouth communications passed through kinship networks and trading routes. These networks helped them extend the tracing effort into controlled zones and across political boundaries into refugee settlements in neighboring countries. | |
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