What is RapidFTR?

RapidFTR helps aid workers collect, sort and share photographs and information about children in emergency situations so they can be registered for care services and reunited with their families. A team of ITP students dreamed up and designed the system and are now working with UNICEF and volunteer developers from ThoughtWorks and around the world to build and deploy the system.

Why is it needed?

In times of crisis families get separated and dispersed. Children are easily lost, especially in places with limited infrastructure and lines of communication. Because every day apart from family is crucial to the well being of a child, aid organizations devote lots of time and effort to bringing these families back together through a process called Family Tracing and Reunification.

We think of RapidFTR as "faster paper" because it speeds up and streamlines Family Tracing and Reunification efforts, but does not replace them. 

How does it work?

RapidFTR is a mobile phone application and data storage system that allows for quick input of a child's photo and essential details. This information is uploaded to a central database whenever network access becomes available so aid workers can register children in their care, and search existing entries to help distressed parents find their missing children.

Initial development is focused on building an API and web interface. We have also begun development of on-phone applications for multiple mobile platforms.