Micro blog gives boost to hunt for missing kids
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E-mail China Daily, November 21, 2012
Feng has traveled thousands of kilometers and met many parents in similar situations. But after setting up xunzi.cc, a website that collects information on lost youngsters, in 2011, he realized the Internet could be a more powerful tool for finding children.
The website contains information on nearly 400 missing children, all provided by their parents. Feng's journeys now attract hundreds of young volunteers.
"I get an allowance from the government, about 700 yuan ($112) a month. My power is too small," said Feng, who is tanned and has a husky voice. "Occasionally, I've seen people develop anti-trafficking campaigns through micro blogs. I thought it would be a good tool and opened an account."
Feng and his wife came to Beijing to meet with executives at Sina Weibo, China's largest micro-blogging website, in August.
"I knew that I should paste abundant notices with my daughter's photo and information," he said. "I tried asking for help from media and some advertising companies, but it was hard and expensive, which I couldn't afford."
But when he published information on missing children on his website and micro blog, he found it received more attention and elicited more responses from the public.
"The micro blog, which is not restricted by time and space, has much more influence on finding children," he added.
Bei Xiaochao, head of micro blog charities for Sina Weibo, said he admires Feng and gave him some tips on how to develop his micro blog to attract more netizens.
"Publishing information of missing children online can bring greater social effects," he said. "More people will pay attention and forward the information, while those who have tips will give feedback quickly."
Sina's micro-blog charity division also has cooperated with some fundraising organizations to solicit contributions online from the public, Bei said.
During Feng's visit to Beijing, he also met Deng Fei, a micro-blogger interested in charity, who sponsored this year's journey.
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