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 Cans For Kids
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.
Find a can bank near you
Recycling at any of our 82 collection points across Cyprus is the fastest way to support children's healthcare.
Find a Can BankFrequently asked questions
Is Cans For Kids a registered charity?
Yes — Cans For Kids is a registered Cyprus charity (No 187), fully volunteer-run and accountable.
Where are you based?
Our recycling centre is in Nicosia, with 82 can-bank points across all five districts of Cyprus.
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.
Fully volunteer-run and committed to accountability since 1990
Transparency
Our governance is open, our accounts are audited, and our work is carried out entirely by volunteers.
Our Commitment
Open, audited, volunteer-run
We are fully volunteer-run and committed to transparency and accountability. Every can you donate goes toward one purpose: improving children's healthcare across Cyprus.
Our governance is open, our accounts are audited, and our work is carried out entirely by volunteers.
How Funds Are Used
Every euro goes toward one purpose
All proceeds from recycling and fundraising go towards:
- Purchasing paediatric medical equipment for public hospitals
- Maintaining the collection and recycling infrastructure
- Supporting educational and outreach activities
Governance Structure
Accountable at every level
- Managed by a 7-member Board of Directors
- Board elected annually at the AGM
- Annual accounts audited and scrutinised at the AGM
- All operational work carried out by volunteers
- No paid staff — maximum value from every donation
Donation Reports
See exactly where the money goes
We believe transparency builds trust. Here are examples of equipment funded through your donations:
Neonatal breathing equipment for Makarios Hospital
Diagnostic equipment for hospitals across Cyprus
Rehabilitation systems for Larnaca General Hospital
Ongoing support for specialised schools and institutions
Detailed reports and records are available upon request and through our published materials — broken down by year, hospital, equipment, and amount.
Equipment Funded
€350k+ of medical equipment for children's wards
Since 1990, donations and can recycling have funded over €350,000 of medical equipment for children's healthcare in Cyprus. Recent examples include:
| How Funds Are Used | Total equipment funded |
|---|---|
| Neonatal breathing equipment for Makarios Hospital | ✓ |
| Diagnostic equipment for hospitals across Cyprus | ✓ |
| Rehabilitation systems for Larnaca General Hospital | ✓ |
| Ongoing support for specialised schools and institutions | ✓ |
| Total equipment funded | €350,000+ |
Transparency FAQ
Do you have paid staff?
No — Cans For Kids is entirely volunteer-run. Everyone who collects, sorts and sells the cans gives their time for free, so the maximum possible value from every donation reaches children's healthcare.
Are your accounts audited?
Yes — our accounts are audited and scrutinised annually at the AGM by the board.
What equipment have you funded?
Over €350,000 of medical equipment — including neonatal breathing equipment for Makarios Hospital, diagnostic equipment for hospitals across Cyprus, and rehabilitation systems for Larnaca General Hospital.
Have a Question?
We are always happy to answer questions about our finances, governance, or operations. Get in touch — we're an open book.
Contact us