Rosie Charalambous
President
Founder and long-standing advocate for environmental and social causes.
Recycling cans to fund children's healthcare across Cyprus since 1990
About Us
A Cyprus-based volunteer charity recycling aluminium cans to support children's healthcare across the island.
Our Story
Three decades of turning cans into care
Cans For Kids is a Cyprus-based volunteer charity dedicated to recycling aluminium cans in order to support children's healthcare across the island.
Founded in 1990 by journalist Rosie Charalambous and a group of committed volunteers, the organisation has grown into a nationwide community initiative involving schools, businesses, municipalities, and individual citizens.
For more than three decades, volunteers have collected, sorted, stored, and sold aluminium cans — with all proceeds going toward essential medical equipment for public paediatric hospitals across Cyprus.
Because the organisation is entirely volunteer-driven, operating costs are kept to a minimum — ensuring the maximum possible amount is directed toward helping children who need specialised medical care.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote recycling and responsible waste management — while directly supporting paediatric healthcare services in Cyprus. Every can you donate turns waste into care.
What We Do
Behind this simple idea lies a well-organised, community-based system connecting people across Cyprus
Nationwide Collection
Cans collected through a wide network of can banks, schools, and businesses across the island.
Volunteer Operations
All activities — collecting, transport, and sorting — carried out by dedicated volunteers.
Sorting & Processing
Cans are brought to the Green Point in Nicosia, sorted, and prepared for sale.
Education & Outreach
School visits and presentations inspire the next generation of recyclers.
Children's Healthcare
Proceeds purchase essential medical equipment for paediatric hospitals.
Our Impact & Achievements
Turning waste into hope for 35 years
- Equipment Donated
- €350k+
- Years Active
- 30+
- Cans Recycled
- Millions
- School Visits
- 100s
- Donated over €350,000 worth of medical equipment to children's wards across Cyprus.
- Diverted millions of aluminium cans from landfills — reducing waste and conserving resources.
- Conducted hundreds of school visits and educational talks to inspire a new generation.
- Supported life-changing surgeries and specialist treatments for children across Cyprus.
- Built a nationwide volunteer network spanning schools, businesses, and municipalities.
"We turn something you were going to throw away into a valuable resource for our community."
Our Volunteers
The heart of Cans For Kids
An extraordinary network of people giving their time across Cyprus — collecting, sorting, promoting and teaching.
Collection Volunteers
Travel across the island to collect cans from can banks, schools, businesses, and homes.
Sorting Team
Meets regularly at the Nicosia Green Point to sort and prepare cans for recycling.
Community Supporters
Promote recycling locally, manage can banks and support events.
Educators & Ambassadors
Visit schools, give presentations and inspire younger generations to recycle.
Our Leadership
Guided by the Board of Directors
Our Board is elected annually at the AGM — guided by decades of dedication and a shared mission.
Maria Myles
Vice President
Journalist focusing on environmental issues and youth engagement.
Valerie Mavratsas
Secretary
Background in education and communications.
George Englezos
Treasurer
Retired IT professional and active volunteer.
Jenny Brown
Board Member
Teacher and long-time supporter of community initiatives.
Bouli Hadjioannou
Board Member
Retired journalist with strong interest in environmental and social issues.
Antje Papageorgiou
Board Member
Tourism expert and active contributor to sustainability and civil society.