Phones Without Borders: Repairing Devices, Restoring Lives, and Rethinking Waste

Athens, Greece – In an age where electronic waste is rapidly increasing and digital access is essential, Phones Without Borders, an initiative led by Julia Minder and the organization selfm. aid, is addressing both environmental and social challenges with one powerful solution. This project empowers asylum seekers and refugees in Greece by equipping them with valuable green skills, while simultaneously reducing e-waste through smartphone repair and reuse.

The heart of the initiative lies in a circular economy model: collecting broken and discarded smartphones from across Europe, refurbishing them in a central workshop run by trained refugees, and redistributing them to individuals in need of digital access. But the project goes far beyond hardware. It provides participants with hands-on technical training in phone diagnostics, data security, and sustainable electronics management-skills that are increasingly in demand in the circular economy and electronics repair sector. For many, this training has opened the door to further job opportunities, empowering them to become self-reliant and economically independent.

Since its launch, the project has restored hundreds of phones and returned connectivity to people who need it most-helping them stay in touch with family, access critical services, and better integrate into local communities. The workshop, inspired by the successful SKILLS FACTORY model on the island of Samos, repairs up to 100 phones per month, salvaging spare parts and reducing the volume of electronics sent to landfills. Participants not only gain valuable experience, but also contribute directly to a more sustainable and inclusive society.

By promoting the principles of reuse over disposal and engaging communities through donation drives and awareness campaigns, Phones Without Borders is building a culture of repair and responsibility. It represents a new way of thinking-where environmental sustainability is tightly woven with human dignity and opportunity.

“We’re not just fixing phones-we’re opening doors,” says Julia Minder. “This is about more than technology. It’s about giving people a fresh start through skills, sustainability, and solidarity.”

As the initiative continues to grow, its scalable model offers a powerful template for integrating social empowerment with climate action-one phone at a time.

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