The Malawi Red Cross Society has successfully concluded a week-long Restoring Family Links (RFL) workshop in Lilongwe, bringing together delegates from across Africa to enhance their capacity in tracing missing persons and reuniting separated families.
The workshop, held at Ufulu Garden in the capital city, drew participants from nine African countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, and Malawi. The event focused on training National Societies to efficiently locate missing people, exchange messages, and provide support for family reunification while clarifying the fate of missing individuals.
Speaking to The Atla Malawi, Malawi Red Cross Society Director of Programmes Leonard Maganga explained the significance of the gathering.
“Family links is all about tracing people who are missing due to different events such as wars in their countries and natural disasters. We have a special program in tracing their whereabouts and linking them to family members who they missed, probably after escaping from such unfortunate events,” Maganga said.
He added that participants spent the week discussing various approaches to improve RFL services and addressing critical questions facing their operations.
The workshop concluded with a vibrant cultural evening at the Red Cross Society premises in Area 14, where delegates shared cultural experiences through traditional dances, cuisine, and entertainment from their respective countries.
“It is a first of its kind in Malawi in the Red Cross family and they have really appreciated how we have hosted them. We are happy,” Maganga noted.
Nadege Saah, a Cameroonian delegate working for the Red Cross Society in Southern Africa and based in Pretoria, South Africa, praised the event’s organization and Malawi’s hospitality.
“We use RFL data tools to connect families and follow up cases. During this week we came together to share the experience and services that we render,” Saah said. “Malawi is indeed the warm heart of Africa. Since we arrived, all participants have been welcomed well with nice food. We felt the warm welcome.”
The Restoring Family Links network brings together Red Cross and Red Crescent teams to strengthen services that help families find missing loved ones. These services are particularly crucial in contexts of conflict, disaster, or migration, where families often become separated.
Supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the workshop aimed to improve how National Societies operate across the continent. The training covered strategies for needs assessment, resource management, communication, and ensuring local ownership of humanitarian services.
Key objectives of the workshop included enhancing capacity for staff and volunteers in RFL operations, sharing experiences across borders, strengthening regional networks, developing effective strategies, and promoting accessibility of services to affected populations.
