Our campaign raised awareness among refugees about Refugees United, a search engine network designed to help reconnect refugees separated from one another after fleeing their homes in terror and turmoil.The campaign raised awareness among refugees and brought into play the established refugee agencies in need of a high-tech system to support them in helping refugees seeking missing family.A network of endorsers generated progressive partnerships, successfully pairing Refugees United with global business entities, harnessing their vast networks and skills to further the cause and secure Refugees United as a trusted global emblem signalling a way to reunite people with missing loved ones.In May 2008 we worked on a pro-bono basis with Refugees United by offering the support of 39 of our global offices to disseminate information. We also served as a special liaison between Refugees United and partners, promoting more than 10 partnerships and 30 meetings with refugee agencies. On the 10th of November our media launch and blog campaign reached more than 6.5 million online readers and was taken up by more than 12,000 active bloggers.Refugees United successfully targeted companies in the business of bringing things, thoughts and people together, harnessing their networks of proficiency to disseminate knowledge of the family portal to key audiences.

We began work in May 2008, engaging a further 39 of our offices worldwide, to optimize the local/regional flow of information.To pave the way for partnerships and rally power behind Refugees United, a global media relations campaign was rolled out simultaneously with an online blog campaign to create awareness about Refugees United. Press kits and teasers were rolled out in accordance with each market.5 countries were determined as priority markets, with local offices mapping the markets, contacting local humanitarian agencies, making contact with potential private companies, scheduling meetings and interviews.

The newly started Brazilian Refugees United blog will serve as a model for Refugees United blogs in other languages: Spanish and Arabic.

The campaign generated a multitude of articles about Refugees United in main media outlets worldwide, including Monocle Magazine which championed Refugees United as the “New World Heroes of 2009.”Blog posts regarding refugees almost doubled during the online campaign, as measured by BlogPulse. Google search registered 12,000+ with bloggers also participating and reaching more than 6.5 million readers on the day of the launch.As a result of the campaign, partnerships were established with private corporations with the IT, Transportation, and Telecommunications sectors with several more in the pipeline for 2009. Strategic partnerships with various entities working directly with refugees were also established in many countries.Refugees United was also invited to participate in the Sao Paulo Executive Committee on Refugees and Immigrants, the first initiative in Latin America congregating efforts between the public sector and civil society to inform, propose and implement public policies aimed at vulnerable immigrants and refugees.