Because cell phones can be a lifeline for battered victims of sexual assault and stalking.
From DoSomething.org’s Cell Phones for Survivors Campaign:
500 million unused “junk phones” sit in peoples’ homes across the US, and many of those sit in the drawers and closets of young people. At DoSomething.org, we’ve found that through recycling and refurbishing, those old phones can be turned into life-saving funding for domestic violence survivors. Most of us have an outdated or broken phone lying around, and through this campaign we’re able to turn that phone into a really easy way to make an impact on an incredibly important issue.
Cell phones can be a lifeline for battered victims of sexual assault and stalking, but they can also be dangerous to victims if they aren’t informed about what pitfalls to avoid. Through Cell Phones for Survivors, we’re helping fund the Safety Net Technology Project’s efforts to educate survivors on how to avoid continued stalking and abuse via technology. Survivors can learn about disabling location tracking and sharing, the basics of spyware, Bluetooth, etc.
MTV Act and DoSomething.org have been getting a lot of really powerful anecdotes about what this campaign means to our members:
“My mom was in an abusive relationship. Now that she has passed away, I find it very important to donate my free phones in her memory.” — Megan N.
“Even as a teenager I see friends in relationships that contain domestic abuse. It is everyone’s responsibility to help others in need, and collecting cell phones was a simple and rewarding way to do my part in helping the community.” — Samantha K.
“I know that violence does not solve problems — it creates them. I believe that education can play a vital role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence. We, as youth, live what we see unless we are shown a better way. It is my hope that these cell phones can be used to empower those in abusive relationships.” — Jordan E.
Domestic abuse is often looked at as an old person’s issue. The fact of the matter is, that 1 in 3 teens, both male and female, are victims of relationship violence, and women ages 20 to 24 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence. That’s part of what’s so great about this campaign. We’re asking young people to take action on what really is a young person’s issue. For more information and to take action, visit www.DoSomething.org/survivors. Join us in making a real impact in the domestic violence space today.