Have you just changed your mobile for a new model and have no idea what to do with your old one? Your old or broken phone can now help a needy person in Africa.

The Maltese Jesuits have teamed up with the Italian Jesuits to collect old mobiles, whether in working condition or not. These will be sold and the funds donated in aid of projects run by the Jesuit missionaries in Africa.

The funds are being concentrated on two specific projects.

In one of the poorest African countries, women have to face the daily hardship of walking great distances to fetch firewood for their cooking. This is a real problem when they need to leave behind several small children unattended at home. The project we are supporting aims at distributing solar powered stoves to families. This will go a long way to help women take proper care of their children, spare them miles of walking daily and save the precious few trees that still remain, saving energy and protecting the environment, which is deteriorating so fast.

In Kenya Jesuits are running an orphanage for children who lost their parents to the AIDS pandemic. Nyumbani is a home hosting about 100 children. They provide them with care and education, as well as a protective environment. Children who are themselves infected by HIV virus are medically treated. With proper care, these children can survive their infection.

Old mobiles may be deposited in aid of these projects at any Jesuit House or community in Valletta, Floriana, Tal-Qroqq, Birkirakara, Naxxar, Mosta, Zejtun and Victoria or at any parish church or parish office.

For more information contact us at 78 Marquis Scicluna Street, Naxxar NXR 2067 (tel: 2141 2606, mornings only Monday to Friday), SMS (only): 7982 6899 or e-mail: rmlh@jesuit.org.mt.

This campaign, launched some months ago, has already generated much interest and a generous, popular response.

We publicly thank all those who have already donated mobiles, as well as parish priests who have kindly offered their assistance in this campaign.