Our family tracing teams work tirelessly all over the world to reunite children, parents and siblings, for a lifetime of belonging.
How we've helped Martuni
Martunis was just seven years old when the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami devastated Indonesia, claiming over 167,000 lives.
Miraculously, he survived 21 days alone in a mangrove swamp, drinking rainwater and scavenging for food.
Found by reporters on a beach, Martunis received lifesaving medical care from Save the Children. We also helped reunite him with his father, who had thought he was lost forever.
This is a remarkable tale of survival, resilience, and hope that continues to move and inspire people worldwide.
How we've helped Domaac
Domaac and his mum.
Four years after Domaac’s* world was ripped apart by conflict, we reunited him with his family.
In South Sudan, when Domaac’s village was attacked by an armed group, he fled for his life, not knowing whether his mum and brother were alive or dead. He was 10.
After three weeks on the run with fellow villagers, Domaac came to a safe village, where he was taken in by a family.
At a safe play space, Domaac met Victoria, a Save the Children worker, and told her his story. She got in touch with our family tracing team. They found out that Domaac’s mum and brother had survived the attack and were back home.
Domaac and his brother.
And so, after four years away, Domaac returned home, making the journey by boat and helicopter because some roads were impassable.
He was met with tears of joy. “My son! My son!” cried his mum. “I thought he was dead. Many were killed and injured that day. Since that day, I’ve lived in pain.”
That day Domaac became the 6,736th child the tracing network we’re part of reunited with their family. It was a day Domaac had feared would never come: “Before I met anyone from Save the Children, I was afraid I’d never see my mother again. I dared not hope it would happen.”
*Name changed
HOW ARE WE HELPING
- South Sudan: Working with partners in South Sudan, between 2017 – 2023 we reunited a record 7,000 children with their families
- Ukraine: We worked with local organisations to help reunite lost children with their families and set up safe spaces for them to play and recover.
