Money from the collection of old handsets will be used toward the ecology in Pardubice

Three hundred thousand crowns from the collection of old mobile phones will be distributed to nonprofit organizations and civil initiatives by the Vodafone Czech Republic Foundation in an open grant round in the Pardubice region. The Vodafone Czech Republic’s Green Grant program supports projects focused on the protection and improvement of the environment as well as awareness about its effective protection.

Vodafone guarantees the ecological recycling of every mobile, accessory and battery that people turn in to its stores, without regard to where it was purchased. For each of these recycled handsets, Vodafone donates 3 euros to its foundation. The Foundation is now distributing the CZK 300 000 that came from this activity within the framework of the Green Grant Program to nonprofit organizations in Pardubice for ecological and environmental protection projects.

“The Green program aims to support civil societies, community projects and individual initiatives from young people that help environmental protection. We’re mostly looking for projects from young people under 30, then to other projects that connect and widen the community and those that solve local problems,” says Robert Basch, Director of the Vodafone Czech Republic Foundation.

All nongovernmental nonprofit organizations as well as informal groups of young people up to the age of 26 with ecological projects that can be accomplished in the Pardubice region (where more than 600 Vodafone employees work) are eligible.

The maximum amount of each grant is CZK 50 000 and the grant may be used to co-finance activities.

Grant applications may be sent until February 12, 2009. Detailed grant conditions are available at: http://www.nadacevodafone.cz.