In Guatemala City, Guatemala, siblings lost contact with each other after being separated by war from 1960-1996. With the help of Facebook, sisters and brother Ofelia, Avilio, and Elsira Funez Velasquez reunited after 31 years at the headquarters of the Mutual Support Group. Ofelia and Avilio grew up in the family’s home town of La Democracia, in Huehuetenango, orphaned when their parents were killed.
However, Elsira, their sister, was adopted by a family in Honduras more than 20 years ago. Without knowing where her siblings were she studied nursing in San Pedro Sula and started a family. With the help of the Mutual Support Group, they helped reunite another one of the family’s children, Criserio, with brother Avilio.
Their picture was posted on Facebook then their sister Elsira spotted them and immediately contacted the Mutual Support Group for help. One of the sisters said, “I felt so happy because I have found my sisters and brother,” who is now 35 years old and was separated from her brother and sisters at the age of four.
Luckily, there have been at least four of the seven children that have been brought together to reunite but three of the children remain missing: Victor, Estela, and Roberta.
Who would have thought a social media site would bring a family together? I felt very happy knowing a family was brought together even if it was not the entire family. I used to not be a fan of Facebook but reading this story made me think more highly of it. There will always be bad situations that are created through Facebook but knowing it can also bring do good things such as reunite a family is something I hope to see and read about more often. Social media have been known to be mostly negative as students would “waste” their time on these sites but maybe that time will lead to something better.
I think this is a great example of how social media can be used in positive way and can essentially change people’s lives forever. This family most likely would’ve never been able to have reunited had it not been for Facebook, a social media site that is often criticized for its lack of privacy and frequent over sharing. Although this is a happy example of how things can work out positively, one thought that came about, however is a negative aspect that can be associated with this. These people weren’t necessarily looking for their family members but found them, and it just so happened that they wanted to be found. One criticism is: what if Facebook can be used to find people that don’t want to be found. An example of this would be if a family left an abusive spouse or parent. That person could use social media to find those people who left for their own safety. Although I think this example is a happy one, looking at the other side of things shows a different perspective. I still think social media should be more private because of this reason.
After reading this article I was very pleased by the outcome. It’s truly incredible what the world of social media has come to that it is able to do something like this. I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose my parents and then be separated from my siblings. The fact that these siblings could reconnect after 30 years with the help of Facebook and the Mutual Support Group is just great. This story should put to rest the argument that social media has a negative impact on people’s lives. I can only imagine the happiness that this family has felt due to their usage of Facebook. I really hope that this family is able to reconnect with the rest of their siblings. Hopefully with the help of Facebook more Guatemalan families can reconnect with their lost family members.
I think that this is an incredible story, and shows just how much technology has had an impact on our culture today. A decade ago, there is no way this family would have been able to reconnect, however, with the introduction of social media, we have begun to see these types of stories on a regular basis.
The part I found so incredible about this story is the fact that the siblings were able to recognize each other after thirty-one years! This was really special to me because it shows just how important family can be. No matter how harsh the circumstances may have been, this family never gave up, and did whatever was possible to be reunited. Their story is very inspirational, and speaks volumes about how strong a family’s bond can be.
Another part of this story I’d like to discuss is the fact that there are three children still missing. I strongly believe that the fact that most of the family has reunited means that their search for the final three members will be that much more intense. It would not surprise me if the final three members were found within the next few years, due to the fact that this family will stop at nothing to be whole again.
The last part I’d like to touch upon is the final paragraph in your posting. I completely agree that social media is looked at as a platform students use to waste time, and nothing good comes out of it. However, as this posting clearly states, a lot of good can come out of social media. There have been tons of inspirational stories that have gone viral mainly because of social media, and many people are able to help those in need after hearing their stories through social media. While many will argue that social media is having a negative effect on people, I would show them this story, and ask them to reconsider their opinion.
I really enjoyed this post was touching. Our society today in my opinion takes everything for granted, they do not understand how good we have it with our technology and freedom of speech in the United States. Think what the world would be like without social media. Famous artist have rose through social media, companies use it for advertisement, and in this case it brought family members together who were separated for 31 years. Through Facebook someone saw one of their family members, and then contacted the Mutual Support Group. Social media is normally frowned upon because it is known to start drama, and you can spend a countless amount of hours browsing through news feeds. To think that if our media, and technology were not as advanced as they are , or had restricted internet use, this family would never have reunited after all those years.
This story is such a great one and really expresses how far technology has come in the past decade. Facebook and other forms of social media have truly become important tools for communication and outreach in countries all over the world. It was so amazing to read how a family, separated for more than 20 years were able to reunite thanks to a simple website I use several times a day for entertainment!
This article also made me think about the countries that don’t allow access to social media, let alone the internet, like North Korea. I am hoping that in the future, with the continually expanding and progressing technology, every country will allow access to the internet and social media websites like Facebook so all people can experience the same joy and happiness that this family experienced.
I found this post very interesting to read. It details how significant social media has become and how drastically it is changing the way we live. In the United States, we notice that almost everyone has access to the Internet as most people use it more than once a day. It’s crazy to think as a society we might not be able to survive without it. People use the internet for a number a activities: checking mail, weather, travel, using social media, watching movies and shows, doing homework, skipping, listening to music, etc. The possibilities on a computer are endless, and you can pretty much figure out anything with a computer in front of you. Facebook has become a vital social media website that is used all around the world. Based off of the information presented in this article, it has become popular in places like Guatemala as well. People use Facebook to stay in touch with the rest of the world and keep up to speed with everyone’s lives. It is crazy to think that it is doing more than that, and reuniting families. I believe it is truly impressive that social media has the ability to bring people together like that and all and all is benefiting the world around us. As we just learned in class, North Korea, however, is unfortunately not apart of the Facebook world. They choose to remain in isolation and have banned anyone from using Internet. It’s hard to imagine our lives without it, as difficult as it probably is for them to imagine what it might be like. Although Facebook may seem like just a social media website for the pure form of entertainment and to avoid listening in class, it’s clearly much more than that. It has the ability to bring people together in this huge world that we all live in. Maybe one day North Korea, and other countries in similar situations, will see that and realize that they are really missing out on the rest of the world
This article really shows how much how world has changed with the addition of the internet and an extension of the internet being social media. Social media often gets a bad reputation but in reality it has a lot of really good benefits such as reuniting a family like the article talks about. The media tends to always show the negative aspects of different things but there needs to be a push towards showing the positive aspects. This article about Facebook is a prime example.
I think this story is a really good example of how social media is changing our lives every day. It used to be a platform just for contacting college students but it has turned into so much more than that, like a connection to lost family members. Even though there are a lot of negative things I could say about Facebook, there are just as many positive things. It is truly amazing that a social networking site could connect siblings that otherwise would never have found each other. Some countries in Central America are very poor too, so have a free site to connect with others all over is definitely beneficial. I could never imagine living without my sister so I know that all of these siblings lives will be better from something as little as a Facebook post. While not all technology is good, is has its benefits that are clear in this situation. Facebook and other social media sites are becoming more and more news focused, many people get their news directly from social media sites. In countries that are poor or under strict control, social media is a great way to spread news, learn and stay connected.
New communication technologies have opened the door to new ways of connecting with each other. This story is an excellent example of just how powerful modern technologies can change lives. Social media websites have truly created a more dynamic and engaged world. There are so many stories that are linked with Facebook that depict how Facebook has brought new relationships from even lost loved ones. It’s amazing to think that this could have never happened years ago. Social media sites alter the communication between people in a positive manner. This story can even influence other’s to try to reach out on Facebook to see if they can connect with people from their past. Faccebook is a global site, which allows the connections to be made even around the world. Even after a 30 year separation, this story illustrates how time doesn’t have to effect new connections. This story is truly inspiring and can help make a difference by promoting the Mutual Support Group. Even blogs and other social media platforms can help others connect. Overall, communication technologies have truly improved our form of staying connected with one another regardless of how much time has passed.
This is a great story about siblings reuniting with one another after decades apart. This, at its core, shows the positive powers that social media poses. It allows people from around the globe to connect and share information at a rate never seen before. While there are plenty of negative aspects to social media, this story proves that feats once thought to be impossible can be overcome with social networking. Clearly, the Mutual Support Group is a shining light in the social media sphere. I am curious and would love to learn more about how these siblings adjusted to life after being reunited. What was that first encounter like? How have they gotten to know each other better now that they’re adults? Are their children becoming close family? I also wonder about the years posted here, and whether there might have been a typo. You state that they were separated until 1996 at which point a Facebook group posted a photo which led to the family reuniting. My guess is that this happened sometime more recently, not in 1996. Regardless, while Facebook can be dangerous if not used properly, this is an inspirational story and definitely shows how with the help of nice people on Facebook, families can find each other following decades of separation.
This is a really inspirational story. It is amazing how new technologies like social media can help families like this one. I have always been a fan of Facebook. I understand that there are many negative things that people use it for but if used the way it is meant to be, it can be such a great tool. It is supposed to bring people together who would not be able to talk otherwise and that is what I use it for. It is nice that Guatemala has a Mutual Support Group that can help families reunite. Now that 4 out of the 7 siblings found each other, which is incredible after more than 30 years, it would be great to find the other 3. With the use of tools like social media and the headquarters of the Mutual Support Group, it should be easier.
This is truly a heartwarming story. I have to say, though remarkable, this doesn’t come as a huge surprise to me. Never before in the history of the world have so many people been connected with such little effort. With the popularity of Facebook and other social media sites, you can find and connect with pretty much anyone which could be both positive and negative. The way I look at it is, Facebook is like a double-sided sword in multiple ways. First off, as already mentioned, you can locate almost anyone on this site. In some cases this may result in instances like the Velasquez’s uniting after over 30 years. However, there are many cases which we hear about people getting sexually profiled, stalked, bullied, etc. It really bothers me when people hate on Facebook. I strongly believe like most other controversies we come across in life, it is up to the people behind the machine. We can choose to use social media sites in an appropriate manner or in an abusive one. We can choose to troll Facebook or we can go on it once or twice a day and use it to keep up with current and old friends. People are what make Facebook and other social media sites popular and keep them striving. In this case Facebook demonstrated why it can be used for the utmost good, but I’m sure something will happen in months to come that will bring bad publicity to The Book and will cause us to completely forget about the Velasquez’.
This is truly are heartwarming story. I have to say, though remarkable, this doesn’t come as a huge surprise to me. Never before in the history of the world have so many people been connected with such little effort. With the popularity of Facebook and other social media sites, you can find and connect with pretty much anyone which could be both positive and negative. The way I look at it is, Facebook is like a double-sided sword in multiple ways. First off, as already mentioned, you can locate almost anyone on this site. In some cases this may result in instances like the Velasquez’s uniting after over 30 years. However, there are many cases which we hear about people getting sexually profiled, stalked, bullied, etc. It really bothers me when people hate on Facebook. I strongly believe like most other controversies we come across in life, it is up to the people behind the machine. We can choose to use social media sites in an appropriate manner or in an abusive one. We can choose to troll Facebook or we can go on it once or twice a day and use it to keep up with current and old friends. People are what make Facebook and other social media sites popular and keep them striving. In this case Facebook demonstrated why it can be used for the utmost good, but I’m sure something will happen in months to come that will bring bad publicity to The Book and will cause us to completely forget about the Velasquez’.
After reading this article, I was amazed and touched by the story. With my experience on Facebook and other social media sites over the years, I never considered how powerful and influential these sites could be in peoples’ lives. Prior to reading this post, Facebook, in my opinion, was a way to chat with friends and share opinions about events and stories; this story altered my outlook on social media altogether. I cannot imagine how frightening and lost the siblings felt for the last 31 years without the comfort of knowing their brothers and sisters were alive and well. Family is highly valued in Guatemala and I’m sure it was painful enough losing their parents when they were young, let alone getting separated from the rest of their immediate family as young as four years old! The Mutual Support Group’s presence on Facebook is a great idea and I’m sure it has benefitted hundreds of families we are not even aware of. I believe stories like these will boost people’s opinions of social media sites and show them that these sites are not solely filled with gossip, but can provide true benefits for society. Guatemala is extremely poor, with the lowest literacy rate in Central Europe, so they do not have the technology or money to afford an investigative team to find their family members. Facebook is a free method that allows them ultimately to find peace and connect with the world, outside of their poverty-stricken society. Futhermore, maybe stories like this will also encourage countries like Russia and North Korea to untighten their control on the Internet and see the good in it.
This story is truly amazing! I feel like I always read the bad stories that Facebook has on a particular person, or Society in the media. I am pro-facebook, so it is refreshing to read a story that has made a positive impact on a family, and makes me wonder what other kind of amazing stories are out there with families being reunited, but we just don’t hear about. Social media plays a big factor in how a society now functions, receives certain information, and how it has the power to unite or help destroy people. Hopefully one day we can have a website, like Facebook, in every country, that allows families who have been separated from war or other situations, come together, just like in this story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this blog post, and keep up the good work!
Facebook and social media continues to amaze me every day! Being a Telecommunications major specializing in Social Media, I am always impressed with what this part of society can do. From little things like congratulating someone on landing a job or wishing someone a happy birthday to joining long lost brothers and sisters together is a wonderful attribute of Facebook. Other social media sites are known to do similar things, like finding out a friend is at the same concert as you or helping to donate to an organization by retweeting a post. Personally, I have been able to reconnect with friends from previous places I have lived and keep in contact with those I had to leave in Europe. Social Media in general is changing the way that we live our lives. It is allowing us to have more tabs on each others every moves. When used the right way, this can make every day life much easier! I think the benefits of social media are just hitting the surface. We are beginning to create tools to push the boundaries and connect the world on multiple outlets. This story is one of millions!
With the growth of technology and social media, our generation has been brought into an incredible era. I very enjoyed reading this warm article. Social media brought us convenience of life, but as a member of the high-tech, we often treat social media as a disease. A disease that pushes people further away where putting the fake face of intimacy and a disease that makes people being so addictive. Recently, I read an article about Facebook: the author points out the large number of facebook friends and comment portals a fake intimacy among people. And the facebook friends (seems so close to me) aren’t the true friends in reality. He suggest a change on our social media using behavior that we should be focus less on making connection, and focus more on making a few real friends. Another research study found the more time time people spending on Facebook the better they view others’s lives are.
We can find a lot of cons of social media, but this article gives us another side of Facebook making us to gain believe in social media. This cheerful story not only shows the positive perspectives of social media but also leads us to reconsider our social media user behavior: how to utilize Facebook in a positive way? Family reunion after serval decades in such a big city is not a easy thing, and it might seem impossibly to happen before high-tech era. This story vividly shows the powerful of social media. Even though the family in this story still has missing piece of their family picture, I wish they will all be together one day. (With media’s help, it seems possible!)
I really enjoyed reading this article. Finally a positive, heart-warming story from Facebook! I (like the writer of this article) also am not the biggest fan of Facebook. I often read of negative or useless stories involving Facebook. But after reading this blog I have realized there is a sliver of good in the social network site that has taken over many Americans’ free time. I never realized that Facebook could be used in other countries as a tool to reunite with lost loved was. I would love to read more stories dealing with this kind of issue as well. I think more positive stories like this should be published in the media rather than the typical negative ones. These types of faith/hope stories give a different perspective of social networks that are often seen as a wasteful or awful contributor to society. Also, I feel that after reading this particular story other readers may use Facebook as a tool to also reunite with family, friends, and loved-ones that have become distant or missing.
I hope the whole family one day can be reunited and maybe this can happen through Facebook as well. I would love to read about in it in the future!
I thought this story was incredible. Facebook is used for so many things but I had never heard of a story as intense of this one coming together over Facebook. Most people use Facebook and other social media sites to keep in contact with their friends and family or for advertising but it is so cool to hear that it is being used for something as big as a family getting back together. I also was interested to see that Facebook is just as widely used in other countries not as fortunate as the United States. It surprised me that these countries in Central America use Facebook enough to be able to find their family members. I hope the family is inspired to keep looking for their other family members after such luck with connecting with the other ones. I think this story will encourage other people all around the world to use Facebook to try to find family members.
I was really moved after reading this blog post! I want to thank the author for sharing it on their regional blog. I really enjoyed reading this story, because it shows that social media can be used in a positive way. Too often countries are focusing on the negative aspects of social media, and officials are banning the sites in many countries with an authoritarian media system. While Guatemala is “partly free”, it important to see that social media access is acceptable in the country.
After being separated for almost 30 years, siblings were connected through the help of the Mutual Support Group and Facebook. I cannot image being separated from my siblings for this long, but if I were I would definitely be relieved and overjoyed to reconnect. This story shows that many other Guatemalan families can also use Facebook to reconnect after the war. This story should be publicized so other people know to use the social media site for this purpose. As stated previously, too often countries assume that citizens will only speak out against the government on social media. This story disproves that theory. I believe that government officials of countries that have recently been at war, should team up with Facebook or other social media outlets to help citizens reconnect with family members like Guatemala has.
This post was very moving! It shows how integrated Facebook is in cultures around the world, including Central America. I believe there are many stories, similar to this that occur because of social media websites like Facebook. The connections you can make on these sites are truly extraordinary and have transformed the world. This story is particularly interesting because two of the siblings stayed together after the war, but Elsira became estranged. However, she eventually found happiness and a family but I’m sure was missing a piece of herself with not knowing if her siblings were alive and equally as happy. Luckily, Facebook and the Mutual Support Group made it possible for the distant family to reunite. The Mutual Support Group has an incredible and important initiative and really makes a difference. With stories like this, it saddens me that countries like North Korea that we previously learned about, are unable to have Facebook accounts and are missing out on so much. Hopefully, countries around the world will receive the technology and power to use the Internet to expand on their own happiness.