Women'sNet is running a Twitter drive, called Fone4Women, encouraging the public to donate their old cellphones, which will then be given to abused women and girls.
Today, people will be bringing in their old cellphones to Vodashop stores in the Eastgate, Southgate, Rosebank and Clearwater malls, from 9am until 2pm. There will also be a screening of 16 stories highlighting violence against women, to be presented at Civicus House, 24 Gwigwi Mrwebi Street, Newtown.
This campaign, under the banner 'Take Back the Tech', with the support of Vodacom, aims to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism campaign of no violence against women and children.
Women'sNet explains that victims of domestic abuse are often robbed of their cellphones, which is usually their only means to call for help. This campaign aims to give abused women cellphones so that they can communicate with the outside world.
Fanisa Masia, Women'sNet project officer, explains: “Women'sNet is an organisation that empowers women's communications rights. While we've done the Take Back the Tech drive before, this is the first time we are collecting cellphones for the campaign.
“We've so far collected 240 cellphones, donated by Nokia, Vodacom and members of the public. We will be working directly with People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme (TVEP) and Nisaa.”
Masia says Women'sNet has signed a memorandum of agreement with the organisations on how the cellphones will be distributed.
Share