Formerly known as Search For Thamana and founded by (then) 15 year old Taha Fathima Khan, this was a search for Thamana: a 5-year-old girl who went missing from Marina Beach, Chennai on 11th May 2011.
A Facebook Page was created to trace her. As a student journalist for the student edition of a leading daily (Times of India NIE) at the time, Taha called a news correspondent there (Ramya M). She listened patiently to the story, called the editor and by the next day there was an article in the paper. This lead to a cascade of events. RJ Sanobar Sultana saw the story and held a segment about missing children on her show. Eventually, various major media outlets such as Times of India, NDTV & The New Indian Express began covering the story. There was non-stop coverage of Thamana's case. She went from one of many missing children to the face of missing kids across the country. In fact, other cases sought similar public involvement.
This attention eventually led to finding Thamana, abandoned at GH Chennai, 8 days later.
Thamana was a victim of kidnapping and suspected child-trafficking. She was saved by the attention that this social media-based initiative had stirred. In fact, as a result of this watch towers were erected and surveillance was increased in crowded places in the city.
The power of social media was realised. Therefore, Taha decided to further this cause to advocate for children's rights.
