The Stimulus: On the front page of The New York Times on Tuesday April 27, an article by David Rohde with an accompanying picture by Tyler Hicks ("In Macedonia, Lost Children Wait Helplessly for Reunions") chronicled the plight of children in the Macedonian refugee camps who have been separated from their parents. The article described how the Red Cross was posting names on bulletin boards in the camps hoping parents and relatives will come forward. "It has been 17 days" Mr. Gaytam said, holding his first and only child's birth certificate. "We don't know where he is". Particularly poignant was the statement from relief worker Albert Ramirez, a social worker from Austin, Tx., who said "It's quite likely we're not ever going to find their families".

The Idea: On reading the article, Penn State Professor Peter Cavanagh realized this was a solvable problem and that he had in his bag at that moment all of the technology that was needed to help organizations such as the Red Cross and Save the Children make connections between parents and children who were separated. The plan is to provide relief organizations with the technology to send professionals into the field equipped with high tech versions of the equipment Professor Cavanagh had at his disposal - namely a digital camera, a cell phone, and a laptop computer capable of accessing the World Wide Web.

Cavanagh and Penn State computer engineer Bob Lambert have started an organization called Kosovo Reunion. The organization is soliciting funds and donations to equip and train a network of relief organization staff members with digital cameras, satellite or cell phones, and computers which will allow images of children separated from their parents to be captured in the field and posted on the organization's website kosovoreunion.org. Personnel with identical technology (perhaps also with multiple desktop workstations) will be available at sites where relief organizations are receiving inquiries from parents who have been separated from their children. They will use the laptops to show the faces of children on the Webpage to these parents - and reunions can be expected! Also, since many refugees have already been dispersed to other countries, the Web Page will provide borderless access to parents in search of their lost children.

What You Can Do: If you are a technology company you can help us by donating funds to purchase equipment which we have identified. If you are a computer professional or skilled webpage designer you can help us build and maintain the website. If you just think that it is a good idea and would like to help, then you can make a cash or credit card pledge.

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