An Alexandria-based nonprofit is counting on YouTube to be its latest tool in reuniting missing children with their families.
The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children announced a partnership with Google-owned YouTube that will create an exclusive channel on the popular download site featuring videos of missing children.
At the site, www.youtube.com/DontYouForgetAboutMe, more than 30 videos are already displayed, as well as endorsements from individuals such as David Beckham and Laura Bush.
Each video is required to be no more than five minutes in length, director Ernie Allen said.
It will be ICMEC’s job to work with parents and police to confirm the videos are legitimate and contain all necessary information, Allen added. The service is free to parents.
“When we created YouTube, we wanted to create a place where people can connect with others through online video,” said Brandon Boone, a YouTube spokesman. “It’s inspiring to see that it’s now being used for such important causes.”
The launch of the site coincides with the 100th day since Madeleine McCann went missing; her parents were one of the original instigators of the project.
ICMEC already works with about 400 companies to circulate photos of missing children, and one out of every six of those children on average is recovered, Allen said.
“The premise is that somebody knows where they are,” Allen said. “We think with the incredible impact YouTube is having and with the power of video, we believe this will bring millions of eyes into this effort, and lots of leads.”
