Latest news with #MissingChildren
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Missing in America Network uses billboards to help find Arizona children
The Brief May 26 is National Missing Children's Day, coinciding with Memorial Day. Billboards are being used across the Valley to help locate missing children in Arizona. The Missing in America Network and Phillips Law Foundation are working to raise awareness and provide hope to families. PHOENIX - May 26, 2025 marks not only Memorial Day, but also National Missing Children's Day, and billboards are being erected across the Valley to help bring missing children home. Rhonda Dequier, founder of the Missing in America Network, says the numbers of missing children surprise everyone. "Every time, every time they're shocked, yes," Dequier said. By the numbers Her organization has helped to find more than 200 missing children, but much more work remains. "Currently, as of today, there are 606 missing children in Arizona," she said. There are many reasons why children are reported missing. "The top ones we see are substance abuse, mental health issues, and then some people go missing because they want to go missing," Dequier explained. Another disturbing reason is children being lured by online predators. "Within 48 hours of every child going missing, they come in contact with a trafficker," Dequier said. The Arizona Missing Children's Task Force states that billboards are the most important way to spread the word. What they're saying "They reach people that normally don't see missing children," Dequier said. "We do a lot online, social media, and in the community handing out fliers and doing events, but some people don't see any of that. So some people are driving to and from work, and they pop up, and now they're aware there is a missing child in their area." Olivia Lemorrocco with the Phillips Law Foundation said the law group donated their billboards for the cause. "We saw a missing child online and thought, 'Let's put them on our billboard, let's do what we can to help out," she said. "I am always hopeful there's a day where we don't have to see missing children on our billboards, but I'm glad we are there to help." Dequier emphasized the impact of these efforts on families. "It gives the families hope, and that's the one thing I want to do to these families every single day is give them hope that their loved one is coming home," she said.
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Ariel Kouakou: 7 years later, family hopes new poster will help find missing boy
The Missing Children's Network unveils an updated poster of Ariel Kouakou in the hopes he'll finally be found. (Swidda Rassy/CTV News)
Daily Record
24-04-2025
- Daily Record
Family of missing Scots toddler make fresh appeal over unsolved mystery
The family of a missing Scots toddler have appealed for help solving the mystery almost five decades on from his disappearance. Sandy Davidson was three years old when he went missing from the garden of his grandparents' home in Irvine, Ayrshire , on April 23, 1976. He had been playing with his younger sister, Donna, who was two at the time, in the garden of their home in St Kilda Street on the Bourtreehill housing estate when he was last seen. Now, on the 49th anniversary of his disappearance, the family have made a fresh bid for information. A social media appeal from Missing Person's Support Group, on the family's behalf, said: 'Donna's recollection is that the gate swung open, the family dog ran out and Sandy ran after him. She went into the house to alert their grandparents who were babysitting for them at the time. ' The police were immediately alerted and they suspended building work on a new housing estate for extensive searches to be done. Unfortunately, despite extensive searches, Sandy was not found. 'The initial theory was that he may have followed the dog down to the river and drowned. Since then, the general consensus is that a man delivering leaflets may have opened the gate and took him. 'Sandy's mother Margaret and father Phillip believe that it was a lonely man wanting a son. Another theory is that he ran down to the river five minutes away and followed the dog in, and subsequently drowned.' A photo of Sandy as he may have looked at the age of 43 was released on the 40th anniversary of his disappearance in 2016. The family's hopes have been raised and dashed on several occasions. A man travelled from the Czech Republic to tell the family he believed he may be the toddler but a DNA test found no match. Other false leads have proved malicious and hurtful for the family. Donna has campaigned to keep Sandy's name in the spotlight over the decades and told the Record in 2023 that she was desperate for a body to be found to get 'closure' for loved ones, saying: 'I've lived my whole life with this.' Four years ago she filmed a heartbreaking video retracing the toddler's final steps as she paid tribute to the 'beautiful blue eyed boy'. Sandy's case featured on Lorraine Kelly's Missing Children series in 2009 but no fresh leads were forthcoming. The Broomlands Primary School that was being built when the toddler disappeared was demolished in 2014 but no trace of him has ever been found on the construction site. Charity Missing People also shared a reappeal for Sandy yesterday, saying: 'We send our thoughts to his loved ones today.' Detectives investigating the case have previously described Sandy as 'a distinctive-looking child with light blonde hair and blue eyes'. They say his case will always remain open. Anyone with information which could assist the investigation should contact Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Missing People can also be contacted on 116 000.
Al-Ahram Weekly
04-02-2025
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Putting an end to school bullying - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
A national campaign, Ashabi (My Friends), aimed at reducing violence among school children aged six to 18, was launched last week by the Ministry of Social Solidarity. The campaign, carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, the Egyptian Red Crescent, the Missing Children Initiative, the Healing House Centre, and the Welmnt platform, also aims at enhancing mental health awareness in educational and sports institutions, public squares and places where children and adolescents gather. The campaign comes in response to increasing violence in schools with several cases of bullying making the headlines. Earlier this month, high school girls in a private school assaulted a younger sixth grade student, breaking her nose and leaving her with multiple head injuries. The girls were expelled. According to a ministry press release, the campaign focuses on achieving a set of strategic goals, including increasing awareness of the dangers of violence among school children by highlighting its psychological and social effects on society, promoting a culture of peace and tolerance by providing effective tools for early detection of dangerous behaviour and instilling the values of tolerance and understanding among children. The campaign also aims to provide practical and sustainable solutions, including training teachers, coaches and parents to deal with problems effectively and supporting mental health using innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence to monitor violent behaviour. As part of its contribution to the campaign, Egyptian Red Crescent volunteers will provide field psychological support services. The Missing Children page will contribute to expanding the scope of the campaign through its digital platforms. The campaign includes a variety of awareness and interactive activities, including training workshops targeting teachers and school administrators to provide them with conflict containment and rapid intervention skills when needed. Interactive activities are also being organised for children that focus on building emotional intelligence and encouraging a violence-free culture. The activities are accompanied by an intensive media campaign that highlights success stories and positive behavioural models to encourage healthy behaviour between children. Psychologist and play therapist Esraa Farag, who has been holding sessions for parents and children with the aim of raising their awareness about bullying, welcomed the campaign. 'The phenomenon of violence has become widespread and prevalent in society — as if it is an acquired right — in reactions between children in their interaction with each other and in their communication with each other in a violent, harsh and loud manner,' Farag told Al-Ahram Weekly, adding that this could ultimately cause mental and behavioral disorders if not addressed. Attention, observation and expression are among the most important pillars in dealing with children, Farag suggested. Parents must also observe their own behaviour since they are role models for their children, she stressed. * A version of this article appears in print in the 6 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link:
CairoScene
26-01-2025
- Health
- CairoScene
‘Ashabi' Campaign Launched to Combat Violence Amongst School Children
The initiative aims to promote mental health awareness and address the long-term effects of violence. Jan 26, 2025 A nationwide campaign, 'Ashabi', has been launched to combat violence among school-age children, targeting those aged six to 18. The initiative aims to promote mental health awareness and address the long-term effects of violence, both physical and psychological. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Social Solidarity in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, the Egyptian Red Crescent, and the 'Missing Children' initiative, the campaign is focused on educational institutions, sports venues, public spaces and foster homes. Key objectives include raising awareness about the societal impacts of violence, fostering values of peace and tolerance, and equipping communities with tools to identify and address harmful behaviours early. Teachers, trainers and parents will receive specialised training to handle these challenges effectively, while advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, will be used to monitor and address violent behaviors. The Egyptian Red Crescent will provide field psychological support and conduct awareness campaigns through its volunteer network. Digital platforms, including those associated with the 'Missing Children' initiative, are expanding the campaign's reach and engagement. A range of activities is planned, including workshops for teachers and administrators on conflict resolution and intervention skills. Children will participate in interactive exercises designed to enhance emotional intelligence and promote non-violence. A media campaign will complement these efforts by sharing success stories and encouraging positive behaviors to further amplify the initiative's impact.
