Reunite

Inspiration

Reunite was inspired by the recent flooding in Nepal, where families searching for loved ones had to navigate scattered and inconsistent information. Police reports, hospital logs, social media posts, and eyewitness sightings all existed separately with no central place to connect them. This fragmentation slowed reunions and increased fear. Seeing how people had to piece together hope from disconnected sources motivated us to create a platform that brings all missing person information together in one accessible and reliable space.

What it does

Reunite centralizes missing person reports, sightings, and photos into a single platform. Users can submit information, search for loved ones, and view updates in a clear and simple interface designed for people who may be stressed or overwhelmed. The platform also supports translation so users of different languages can navigate it easily. Reunite aims to reduce confusion and help families reconnect faster during disasters.

How we built it

We built Reunite as a full stack application. The frontend uses React and TypeScript to create a fast and responsive interface. The backend uses Python and Supabase for authentication, storage, and database management. We deployed the project through Vercel to ensure global accessibility. Throughout development, we focused on designing a simple and bold interface that delivers information quickly. We also integrated an external translation API to support multilingual users.

Challenges we ran into

One of our biggest challenges was implementing translation. We were not sure which tools to use or how to integrate them, but through experimentation and trial and error, we successfully connected an external API. Another challenge was ensuring smooth communication between the frontend and backend. We had to structure routes, validate data, and make sure user submissions flowed correctly. Debugging mismatched schemas and broken responses taught us how to build a stable and reliable pipeline.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud that Reunite became a platform built for real users in crisis. We created a clean and simple interface that prioritizes clarity and speed. We successfully integrated translation support, making the platform accessible to more people. We also built a reliable full stack system that handles user submissions, stores data securely, and delivers results quickly. Most importantly, we created a tool that can help families reconnect during disasters.

What we learned

We learned how essential communication is within a team. We had to refine ideas, listen to each other, and combine different perspectives into one product vision. We also learned how important it is to design for real users rather than ideal ones. Our initial idea was a large and feature heavy interface, but we realized that someone in panic needs simplicity, not complexity. We learned how to integrate translation, how to structure a full stack system, and how to build a product that is both functional and human centered.

What's next for Reunite

Next, we want to expand Reunite with more advanced search features, improved location clustering, and stronger verification tools. We plan to add support for additional languages and explore partnerships with local authorities and emergency organizations. We also want to integrate optional AI tools to help match faces or identify similar reports. Our goal is to make Reunite a dependable platform that can be used in future disasters to help families find each other faster.