Have an old cell phone that is still usable? There’s a place you can donate it! The charity Hope Phones is leading the way to making old cell phones a vital part of the healthcare system in underdeveloped countries. Imagine the miles of road that some people walk just to get basic health care – and that it can be drastically reduced with just one phone call or text to the nearest health center.
Started in 2009, the Hope Phones campaign aims to reduce pollution from cell phones while helping people get access to much needed health care. They’ve been able to help advance healthcare technology in 11 countries through mobile technology. Phones cause a lot of pollution – over half a million cell phones end up in U.S. landfills every single year, leaking harmful toxins like cadmium, nickel, lead, and more. Hope Phones says, “Cell phone recycling through Hope Phones reduces hazardous waste in our communities responsibly, while providing a real public health benefit abroad.”
The Hope Phones campaign is looking for phones from companies, organizations, and even individuals to give “their old phones a new life on the front lines of global health.” The phones are recycled and their SMS features are used for status updates, information about prescription drugs, treatment support, referrals, connection to groups about immunization or testing, and helping to alert health care workers to emergencies.
And your donation can help a lot of people: “If Hope Phones can recycle just 1% of disposed phones each year, we can outfit 1 million health workers, improving the lives of 50 million people.” Wow! To learn more, or to donate your phone, go to the Hope Phones website at http://hopephones.org/.
Do you have an old cell phone you can donate? Like us on Facebook and tell us if you’re donating it!
