Digital Inclusion’s smartphone re-use program

 About Digital Inclusion’ smartphone re-use program


Since 2016, Digital Inclusion collects (in addition to computers) used smartphones, refurbishes them and gives them to people who cannot afford one, within Luxembourg. In 2024, a total of 209 smartphones were given out to people in need, in Luxembourg.

About the Mobile Bag and Digital Inclusion’s role in it

The Mobile Bag is a solidarity campaign to collect both old mobile phones and recent smartphones, via an envelope that can be given to POST/mailman all over Luxembourg. The project was launched by Caritas in Luxembourg in 2018, in collaboration with Digital Inclusion and POST Luxembourg. Caritas dismantled the old phones in their workshop, while recent smartphones are refurbished by Digital Inclusion. In 2020, Caritas closed their recycling workshop, and Solina-Aarbechtshëllef asbl took over the dismantling of the old phones

In 2022, a second round with a new design was released (Check also its website www.mobile-bag.lu), together with Solina-Aarbechtshëllef and POST.

Where to find Mobile Bag’s?

You can find a ‘Mobile Bag’ in different places all over Luxembourg.
A list of places is on the Mobile Bag website: https://www.mobile-bag.lu/en/comment-faire-un-don

I want Mobile Bags and a stand to distribute myself

If you’d like to also install a stand with mobile bags, we can send you a stand with a pack of Mobile Bags. This could be for your organization, association, or company. Simply contact us at mobile-bag@digital-inclusion.lu

For any question related to donating smartphones via the Mobile Bag, you can contact us at

mobile-bag@digital-inclusion.lu. For any other questions about the Mobile Bag, please visit its contact page at: https://www.mobile-bag.lu/

How can I donate a smartphone?

Besides using the Mobile Bag, you can donate Smartphones (and Laptops) directly to us, on our premises or via a participating recycling center. Click here for details.

How to apply for one of Digital Inclusion’s refurbished smartphones?

Smartphones are given free of charge to people in Luxembourg facing urgent situations of digital exclusion.

Unlike our computer distribution program, individuals cannot directly request a smartphone from Digital Inclusion.

Our smartphone program operates through a voucher-based allocation system managed by partner social organisations.

  1. Social Assessment Required: People in need must contact one of Digital Inclusion’s partner organisations:
  • Croix-Rouge Luxembourg
  • Hëllef um Terrain (HUT)
  • Office National d’Accueil (ONA)
  • Offices sociaux de residence

2. Professional Evaluation

A social assistant evaluates each request against strict criteria focusing on vulnerability and urgency. Not all requests result in a voucher allocation. The social worker determines eligibility based on professional assessment of the situation’s urgent and necessary nature.

3. Voucher Allocation

Digital Inclusion distributes a limited number of vouchers to partner organisations based on available refurbished smartphones. Smartphone vouchers are extremely limited and reserved for emergency situations only. 

4. Invitation and Collection

If a voucher is allocated following the social assessment, the beneficiary will receive an invitation to visit our premises (1, Dernier Sol, 2543 Luxembourg-Bonnevoie) to collect their smartphone.

 
Please Note

Contacting a partner organisation does not guarantee eligibility or receipt of a smartphone. Each case is evaluated individually by a social assistant and based on urgency, necessity and available resources.

Need Help?

Project Leaders & Focal Points:
Email: smartphone.social.partners@digital-inclusion.lu

Social Assistants & Other Questions:
Email: smartphone.questions@digital-inclusion.lu

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