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HFMC Group News
Help Find My Child group news
Helping Hands for Missing Here to Stay
Aug 22nd
We were thrilled to announce this month that Help Find My Child is now an officially registered Charity. Three and half years ago, individually, our hearts drew us to the case of an abducted little girl and a devastated family trying to find her. For some, time almost stood still around us, imagining their pain when looking at our own children, feeling the need to just “do something” to help.
We’ve taken quite a journey together since then; our close knit team have seen both the worst and the best the internet has to offer. We were shocked at the daily struggle parents were enduring, figuring out systems and wondering how to get people to notice their child’s face in the crowd.
It’s been such a busy year preparing documents, taking legal advice but the elation felt when we heard the news our status was granted from our very first application, to the realisation we can reach out even further has been overwhelming, really its an amazing achievement for a small group of online strangers who just wanted to “do something”.
Such amazing support we have had for all corners of the globe as we explore the possibilities of new technologies and social media in the search for missing children. The original online ethics of open, free information exchange, community and collaboration are still going strong. It really does restore your faith in humanity. Please do continue to get in touch with your thoughts, skills and service offerings to help us go further.
A special thanks from all us to our parents such as Kevin, Stephen, Ken, and Glendene for their humbling support and inspirational work while going through such pain, you and your children are never far from our thoughts and prayers.
So whats next for us all, the future holds a lot of hard work, we hope a lot of joy too for our families, we have several meetings and interesting developments this month planned, and now free of the paperwork everyone can focus on what were all here to do. Thanks to the special people who are our HFMC volunteers, giving up free time to help families they may never meet, just because they can.
Personally I doubt I can ever express my gratitude enough to the HFMC team for their faith and selfless dedication from the moment I uttered the infamous words “I have an idea…”
online communities and technology find missing children!
Snippets from our press release.
Help Find My Child”, a new type of charity working with families to locate missing children worldwide. Specialising in combining the latest technologies with the power of online communities, such as Facebook and Twitter, this small charity aims to make a big impact in the global search for missing children.
Professionals, in the fields of technology and child protection, have welcomed this new service: Mark Williams-Thomas a leading child protection expert and criminologist writes:
Social Media sites are an integral part of our lives and as such it is vital that we use them to their full advantage. I therefore fully support Help Find My Child and the excellent work they are doing in using the Internet and social networking sites to reach out to locate missing children.
If there is a place online where lots of people gather, then Help Find My Child wants to have a presence there too, where it can actively engage with communities in order to increase visibility for cases. They have already built up thousands of followers across their network of sites. Become part of the YouTube’s nonprofit programme and have a cyber-office in the 3D world Second life.
Time is crucial when a child goes missing; statistics tell us that those initial hours are vital. Factual information needs to be circulated as quickly as possible. We aim to provide the means to do that online for police and family members alike as many experts believe exposure maximises the chances of a child being located and recovered safely.
Kevin Gosden Father of Missing Teen Andrew Gosden writes: “Help Find My Child has enabled me to publicise Andrew’s missing status to targeted audiences in a way that is not possible through newspapers, radio and television exposure. They have been such a supportive group to me on a personal and emotional level too. During some of the most painful times, this group has given me the will to go on and to continue searching for my son 
CEOP/Facebook Report Button
Jul 12th
All of us here at HFMC were delighted to hear today that Facebook is now going allow a “report button” application on its social networking site called ClickCeop. This in our opinion is great news with regard to the safety of children and teenagers and Facebook now join Bebo and Myspace who earlier responded to Ceop’s call for a report button to be installed on social networking sites last November. Ceop are the government’s law enforcement agency tasked with tracking down online sex offenders.
The launch of this safety application follows lots of negotiation between Ceop and Facebook and once installed it appears on their homepage to say that “they are in control online”.
“By adding this application, Facebook users will have direct access to all the services that sit behind our ClickCeop button which should provide reassurance to every parent with teenagers on the site.”
This is certainly progress as Facebook initially resisted Ceop’s attempt to interfere with their own reporting system but it would seem both sides are now happy with what they have come up with.
“We still have the Facebook reporting system and by having a pre-packaged application that users play an active part in, you not only help keep them safe, it makes all of their friends aware too, and acts as a viral awareness campaign.
“Ultimately though, this makes for a safer environment for users and that’s the most important part,” she added.
Let’s hope this partnership between Ceop and Facebook leads to our children being safer online. However, it can never take the place of careful vigilance by parents and discussing the dangers with our children should never be forgotten and should not be replaced by online safety buttons entirely.
Mystic Salazar Home Safely after 2 years
Jul 11th
Six-year-old Mystic Salazar of Clifton was supposed to return from an eight-hour visit with her biological father in August 2008. Mystic was meant to be spending that Sunday evening getting ready for her first day of first grade.
She never got to school – her father, who we understand played no part in Mystic’s life until a custody request was filed, never return to Clifton where he was supposed to hand Mystic back to the family she has lived with since she was a toddler.
We started assisting where we could in the search for Mystic in February 2009 by raising awareness online with regular news updates and circulating details through our network of sites and widgets.
Jennifer and Amie have worked tirelessly to find their little girl and bring her home, many groups and individuals after hearing Mystic’s story have helped along the way.
What joy when the wonderful news broke that Mystic had been found, she was safe, and best of all was coming home!
Mystic was located in Northern Michigan, USA, 1,500 miles from her home in Colorado by the eagle eye’d Sheriff Deputy Mike Wiers from Missaukee County. He became suspicious when spotting some girls clothing while visiting the trailer mystic had been kept in by 
her biological father since kidnapping her from her custodial parents two years before. After some investigtive work Weirs was able to confrim the little girl was indeed missing Mystic Salazar.
Sheriff Deputy Wiers has not only reunited Mystic with her custodial parents but colorador news tells us, he is working with U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI to try and ensure charges can be filed against Mystics abductors, rather than it be dealt with as a civil matter. We think he has gone above and behond for Mystic and her family and we would like to thank him and his team for all their help.
“To me, that was unacceptable,” Wiers said. “These people have damaged this 7-year-old girl. Now, by taking her away from the only parents she has known her life and filling her with lies and making her live under an assumed name, there should be some type of punishment for that, and I’m going to do everything in my power to see that to a conclusion.” Wiers said.
You can watch the interview with Deputy Wiers with 8 news below
A non profit group in America Flew Jennifier and Amie to be reunited with there little girl. Mystic was home safe and sound just in time to celebrate her 8th birthday with a huge party. We received some precious photos and a lovely message from Jennifer which you can see in our latest newsletter ,
I’m sure you join us in wishing Mystic and her family every happiness and all the best for their future together!
- Never Let Go Of Hope
A Case of International Parental Abduction
Jun 28th
The charity Forever Searching is currently highlighting the case of Ken Renoops, asking for as many people as possible to support his case by writing to their MP. I am copying the suggested format for this letter below in the hope that visitors here can help too. I believe the letter clearly explains the shocking situation Ken is in and highlights the legal and financial problems that accompany it. If you can help, thank you very much on his behalf…
Dear xxxx
Ken Spooner is a British national, he is a law abiding citizen, and he is also a loving father to two little boys, Devlan 4 and Caelan who is 2. Both of these children are British nationals.
For the last 18 months Ken has been fighting the fight of his life, a fight that has cost him in excess of £150 000 in travel expenses, legal costs and lost earnings.
In October of 2008, Zanetta Nyendwa, a Zambian national, and Ken’s former girlfriend and mother of his two sons, took their two boys on, on what she described as a holiday to her home land, Zambia. She phoned Ken, the day after her arrival to advise that she was not returning to the UK.
The British High Court issued an order for the Children’s return to the UK; Ken had to travel to Zambia to execute it. The order was successful, and Ken was given permission to take the children home, however when Ken and the children arrived at Lusaka International Airport, they were met by Zanetta and her lawyers. The children were taken from Ken and handed over to Zanetta, with the help of the Zambian police.
On the 16th June, the Zambian Supreme Court, set aside the English order, that Ken Spooner wanted registered and enforced in Zambia, effectively dismissing the English High Court Ruling.
Ken is still being denied access to his sons, he is faced with returning to Britain without his two British children and furthermore, as the Zambian Court has dismissed the English Order, he will not be able to return to Zambia for 12 months once his visa expires next week.
The net result of this, as is usually the case where countries ignore court orders, is that these two British children will be lost to their Father and their Homeland indefinitely.
I hereby respectfully ask that assistance is afforded to Mr Spooner via the British Consulate in Lusaka who are aware of him and his and the boys plight.
I look forward to hearing from you, on how you will be taking this issue forward.
Kind Regards
Canadian Children Internationally Abducted and Missing
Jun 6th
Newmarket, ON – Canadian Father of two internationally abducted missing children is releasing 2 online PSA videos in the languages of English, Polish, German and French in hopes that someone has seen his children somewhere in Europe and will report what they know to local Police authorities in their country.
In order to achieve world-wide coverage of these online videos, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc. and Sony in the United States has licensed the father, Stephen Watkins, a one-hit-wonder song by Jimmy Harnen with Synch which hit the US billboard charts in the top #10 in 1989. Mr. Harnen was contacted by Mr. Watkins directly in November 2009 asking his permission to use his song “Where Are You Now” for this special campaign and Mr. Harnen himself and associated publishing companies paved the way by providing their written consent to Sony for the tracks use in helping to find Mr. Watkins Missing Children.
To see the PSA Music video see: http://www.WATKINS-MISSING-CHILDREN.com
Mr. Watkins sons, ALEXANDER & CHRISTOPHER WATKINS, was selected to be ONE-of-FIVE Canadian cases which was highlighted in the 2010 International Missing Children’s Day on May 25th within the 17 participating Global Missing Children’s Network (GMCN) nations, which is sharing all the Missing Children cases in each country in hopes to locate these missing children. On behalf of all member countries, the Australian Police took the lead in this year’s effort and produced the world-wide PSA commercial, which will be shown in each country, and created the official website for all the featured missing children cases here:
http://www.HelpBringThemHome.org.au
International Missing Children’s Day 2010 – Official PSA Commercial
Stephen Watkins is the father and sole custodial parent to Alexander and Christopher Watkins. He has spent the past 15-months working with authorities to locate the abducted boys. Stephen Watkins is enduring a nightmare that no parent should have to live through. It is believed that the abductor and the boys were driven across the U.S border on March 8, 2009 during a weekend access visit with the mother aided by the maternal grandfather, Tadeusz (Ted) Ustaszewski. Since that time, Mr. Ustaszewski has been charged with “aiding and abetting” and his trial has been set for December 13, 2010.
In September 2009, a rare INTERPOL “Red Notice” was issued by the Canadian Government seeking the arrest of the abducting Mother. However, it wasn’t until in January of this year, Mr. Watkins was able to obtain a Court Order in Poland which allowed the Polish Police to actively search out the abducing parent and ordering a nation-wide police effort.
It is important to note, however, that even though the Polish Courts have Ordered the Polish Police to search, NO Polish investigator or officer has been assigned to this case which is making the sharing of information by enforcement authorities and searching very difficult.
U.S. Homeland Security have confirmed that Edyta Ustaszewska – Watkins and the boys – then ages 7 and 4 – boarded a flight to Germany. They have not been heard from since and are believed to be in Poland, Austria, Germany or somewhere inEurope.
Mr. Watkins has been petitioning the Canadian Government for changes to its regulation – specifically in two areas – to prevent similar incidents in the future. His ex-wife was able to take the boys out of the country even though the Courts had ordered:
- That her passport be canceled due to non-payment of support;
- That she surrender the boys’ passports;
- That the boys not leave Ontario; and
- That no new passports be issued
Mrs. Edyta Ustaszewska – Watkins, who claimed in Court that she had lost the boys’ passports, apparently used them – and her own ‘Canceled’ passport – to enter the U.S., board a airline and flew from there to Germany.
U.S. Homeland Security has confirmed that all three flew on Canadian passports.
In this instance, foreign custom officers failed to ask for an ‘authorization’ letter – this is required when minors travel with one parent. In the case of Mr. Watkins’ sons, custom officers in two countries in addition to the Northwest/Delta Airlines, failed to ensure that the abducting parents’ Canadian passport was valid, as it had been cancelled by the Canadian Government and confirmed suspended 42-days prior to the abduction onJanuary 26, 2009.
Mr. Watkins originally obtained a Joint Custody Order in 2006. In November, 2007, the courts ordered the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CCAS) to remove the boys from Mrs. Watkins care and her parental authority was suspended. On Jan. 29, 2008 their father was given Custody Care by the courts and after a lengthy trial Stephen Watkins was awarded Final Sole Custody of his sons on Jan. 26, 2009. Six weeks later, Alexander and Christopher Watkins were abducted. Both little boys were diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; the older son has been diagnosed with High Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
This is the first known Canadian case of a concerned parent involving a missing children’s organization before an abduction. Mr. Watkins contacted Child Find Ontario in September, 2008, when he saw signs that his ex-wife was going to abduct his sons. Ms. Terry Smith, case director of Child Find Ontario has been assisting in searching for the Watkins Missing Children.
CHILD FIND ONTARIO and MISSING CHILDREN SOCIETY OF CANADA are supporting Mr. Watkins in Canada; ITAKA Centre for Missing People in Poland (ITAKA Centrum Poszukiwan Ludzi Zaginionych) is assisting in Poland.
Mr. Watkins hopes that the release of the PSA abduction story video of his sons in the languages of English, French, Polish and German, will create the media attention to his case will lead to the safe location and return of his little boys and also promote public awareness to evoke change in Canadian regulations. “My wish is through simple changes within Canadian regulations that I can help to prevent another parent going through the same trauma I feel every day since my boys have been gone.”
Mr. Watkins has documented the issues which led to the abduction and provides more information on how to help find Alexander Watkins and Christopher Watkins on his website, http://www.Watkins-Missing-Children.com . He has also created pages on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and a blog with the assistance of two world online organizations, FOREVER SEARCHING and HELP FIND MY CHILD.
Bunny Run Raising Funds for runaway prevention
Mar 24th
Since our son Andrew went missing in 2007, we have taken part in more newspaper, radio and television interviews than we can now remember as part of our efforts to find him. We have distributed over 50,000 leaflets and posters with the help of friends, family and supporters. Various charities have created videos, assisted with email campaigns and posted Andrew’s details on thousands of websites and social networking sites.
My wife and I have still not found our son after all this effort, but at the same time we have often wondered who speaks up for the thousands of kids who run away each year from situations that are tough for them? What if English is your parents second language? What if you have run away from a care setting? What if your family do not have the confidence to deal with all those reporters?
It never occurred to us to talk about the subject of running away as we did around other safety issues in our home, yet thousands place themselves at risk each year of being homeless, cold, hungry, abused, exploited or just plain lonely by running away. Losing Andrew has had such an enormously painful impact upon our family life that we hope to promote this issue by participating in the Safe@Last Bunny Run.
Safe@Last aims to raise £5,000 to begin a runaway prevention scheme in our home town of Doncaster. It is a sad fact in our society that many young people run away from very difficult domestic situations, but there are very few safe places to run to and this is why Safe@Last has our full support. If we can do anything to encourage young people to talk things through with someone they can trust before placing themselves in risky situations: If we can encourage parents to raise the issue with their kids: If we can help to ensure that kids who have run away know where to turn for help and support: and if we can encourage the public to look at charity websites and keep an eye out for missing kids, then we will have achieved a very positive thing.
Doncaster Bunny Run for Safe@Last
The Doncaster Bunny Run will take place at Town Field, Doncaster on Saturday 3rd April. The event starts at 10.00am and will involve up to 500 participants dressing up as bunnies and completing a one mile fun run. Other attractions include local celebrities such as Donny Dog and Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers, competitions and prizes, food and drink and Donaster’s biggest bouncy castle.
Participants can either register on the day (aim to arrive by 9.30) or on the website at www.doncasterbunnyrun.co.uk. Runners are asked to try and raise a minimum of £10 but all donations are gratefully received. Children can take part for a small registration fee of £2. Bunny ears will be for sale on the day for £1.50. All proceeds go to SAFE@LAST. Every participant will walk away with a certificate and hopefully the memories of a fun day. To find out more visit www.doncasterbunnyrun.co.uk or call the organisers, Austin Banks Ltd, on 01302 822 228.
Missing Children & Social Networking
Mar 1st
We received an email tonight thanking our volunteers for helping disseminate information so rapidly for missing Chelsea King. The email also informed us of a blog article wrote by Mirna Bard highlighting the unique work we are doing for missing children.
Mirna Bard is a highly regarded Internet marketing expert. She is a consultant, a mentor, a coach, an educator, an entrepreneur, a public speaker and we are honoured she choose to blog about our work in the article titled A Whole New Use for Social Networking
Social media has been used for many things, from dating to business promotion, but now it can help save lives as well. An organization called Help Find My Child has set up a system to help parents of missing children get the necessary information out fast on multiple networks, including Twitter, Facebook, Bebo and MySpace, among others. It’s just one way to make sure that social networking sites are giving back to families and helping them find their missing children.
When a child is missing time is crucial, statistics tell us that those initial minutes and hours are vital, its therefore imperative that factual information gets out immediately to the right places. This maximises the chances of the child been located, of facts surrounding the circumstances to be circulated early on, and retrieval of information from potential witnesses while its fresh in the minds eye.
For older missing children its often the case they have a online circle of friends who may not be aware their friend is missing until they see alerts like ours. We target our information to where it will be the most effective and our growing community of supporters and volunteers are key in the success of our messages getting through.
Our service is one parents hope they will never need, and one we wish wasn’t ever called on, we might not be able to guarantee the outcomes but we aim to ensure that no family has to struggle to raise awareness online for their missing child alone.
Help Us Reach Our Goal
Feb 22nd
Help Find My Child provide a service parents hope they will never need. Now we need your help to go further.
For parents the trauma of having a child missing, abducted or exploited is perhaps the worst nightmare anyone can endure. The distress to the child and all involved as time goes on is unimaginable to most.
We raise awareness for missing children and assist with the the search by using the latest online technologies. Supporting families with practical and technical skills for as long as it takes to locate their child.
Click to visit and donate here – http://bit.ly/a2AIIH all donations are secure via paypal.
Our Founding Mission is aearching for missing children online to save lives and reduce the distress to their families. This year with your support we hope to become an official charity to be able to help our families further,
Please consider donating via paypal through the secure donation panel to the right of this page, every pound really helps reach our target
Thank you so much
HFMC Team
BirdBreath tackles Child Safety for HFMC
Feb 14th
Support for our work or for the missing children we are raising awareness for comes in many different forms.
Everyone has something to give, be it time, skill, money or a service we never cease to be amazed at the generosity and creativity of those who offer there assistance in a variety of ways.
Recently we have had the pleasure of meeting Robert Seymour, the creator and cartoonist of BirdBreath. Through BirdBreath, as well as reflecting on the peculiarities of daily life, Robert often manages to bring home a serious message in a unique and gentle style.
He is a valued member of our forum and has kindly given permission for HFMC to use a number of his special cartoons that superbly illustrate our concerns for the safety and well being of children.
Thank you Robert HFMC are indebted to you!
You can see more BirdBreath cartoons at http://birdbreath.com
Virtual Volunteer Meetings
Feb 7th
This weekend marked our very first virtual volunteer meeting for Help Find My Child. Attended by eight of us from three different countries and 4 different time zones (I think I counted that right). It was quite an enjoyable evening with no real technical hitches (Hurray!). Often as volunteers we are working on a specific task, case or team and not always aware of all the other work that goes on. So to address that, we intend to hold these meetings once a month, to share information, and enable all our volunteers to participate in shaping HFMC for the future.
These formal meetings are in addition to the popular, informal update that starts our monthly lounge thread, this blog and our regular newsletter ensuring everyone gets to share what they are doing and read about the amazing amount of work that goes on across our sites for the families of the missing children we are assisting.
After Hours Social – Once the formal meeting was finished, we opened the discussion room for several hours as a meet and greet for any volunteers online, it was really nice to get to chat in real time and get to know each other a little more. This went so well it’s going to be a regular fixture too. So even if volunteers can’t make a meeting, they can hopefully drop in to the social event through the night and say hi.
I’m looking forward to next months already!
PS we are als running an appeal at the moment to help raise funds to reach our goal this year any help you are able give, posting or passing to your contacts would be much appreciated, you can read more about this here - http://helpfindmychild.chipin.com
