Cyprus Mail 12 March 2025 - by Vasiliki Hadjigavriel
Old smartphones can now be donated to domestic violence victims as NGO Spavo on Tuesday encouraged people to take part in a campaign to help the women.
The Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Family (Spavo) launched the campaign on women’s day, under the slogan Your Old Phone Could Save Lives.
“The campaign began as we saw increased cases of women’s partners restricting their use of smartphones,” Spavo’s Andri Adronikou told the Cyprus Mail.
During 2024, a total of 500 domestic violence victims reported that someone was forcibly controlling their phone and their personal information.
Meanwhile, other victims reported that they weren’t allowed to use their phones or had them destroyed.
By donating an old smartphone, people can help domestic violence victims have easier access to the outside world.
The smartphones devices will be given to women assisted by the organisation, “women that are not able to get a smartphone or individuals that reported their situation to the police or the welfare services.”
Spavo will donate the smartphones to domestic violence victims all over Cyprus, while they will recycle the devices if they are not suitable for use.
“We will install applications on the smartphones that could especially help foreign domestic violence victims. For example, translation apps or app that help with navigation,” Adronikou said.
People wishing to donate smartphones must reset the device to factory settings, delete all their personal information and remove the SIM card while the battery should be in good condition and a charger also provided.
“So far people called us willing to also donate new smartphones to the organisation.”
Anyone interested in donating can visit Spavo in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos, or call 22 813121
