Kids need a way to call home. Not a smartphone.
The Callback Project is a volunteer initiative that installs free phones in schools, libraries, recreation centers, and other buildings where kids gather—giving kids the communication access they need without the distraction, social pressure, and mental health risks of personal smartphones.
A generation ago, kids could call home from any public place. Payphones were everywhere. If you needed your parent, you found a phone. You didn't need to own one.
"Mom said she'd pick me up at 4:30, but it's 4:45 and she's not here. I'm worried something happened. I don't have a phone."
"Practice ended early because of rain. All the other kids have phones. I have to wait around hoping someone will let me borrow theirs."
"I forgot my inhaler at home. I need my mom to bring it before my activity starts. The office is closed. Everyone else is texting their parents."
"We're running late and I know my parents are expecting me home by now. They're probably worried. I need to let them know I'm okay."
"My lesson got canceled at the last minute. I'm sitting here with nothing to do until my scheduled pickup time 90 minutes from now."
"I need to tell my dad the meet is running late and pickup will be an hour later than planned. I don't want him waiting in the parking lot."
These aren't emergencies. They're normal childhood logistics. Parents cite safety and logistics as primary reasons for giving kids smartphones[7]—but smartphones bring constant distraction, mental health impacts, academic decline, and social pressure.[1,2,3]
What if we just brought the phones back?
Kids get exactly what they need: a way to reach home when plans change. Nothing more, nothing less.
We install and maintain phones in schools, libraries, recreation centers, houses of worship, community buildings, and sports facilities—any place where kids spend time without constant parent supervision.
The research is clear: students in phone-free schools score higher on tests,[3] phone-free environments improve social skills and peer relationships,[5] and teen depression and anxiety rates doubled from 2010-2019 as smartphones became ubiquitous.[2] Phone-free spaces aren't just better for kids—they're essential for childhood development.
The Callback Project isn't anti-technology. It's pro-childhood.
See citations →Shared phones create better outcomes for kids, parents, and your organization.
Parents drop the "but they need to reach me" objection when they know a phone is available
Kids concentrate on activities, learning, and face-to-face interaction without smartphone distractions
Every child can contact home regardless of family income or device ownership
Removes phone ownership as a status marker among kids
Calls happen in visible, supervised spaces instead of through unmonitored personal devices
Parents know their kids can reach them without the risks of a personal smartphone
Installation is free. Our volunteer team handles setup and ongoing maintenance at no cost to your facility. Phones go in already-supervised areas with no new staff burden.
There is no cost to your facility. The Callback Project is volunteer-run and donor-funded. We handle installation and ongoing maintenance at no charge. Our goal is to make phone-free spaces accessible to all communities, regardless of budget.
Many organizations are successfully implementing phone-free policies. The Callback Project removes the primary parent objection—"but they need to reach me"—making it much easier to create phone-free spaces where kids can focus on activities and social interaction.
We install phones in any physical facility where children spend time without constant parent supervision: schools, libraries, recreation centers, houses of worship, sports facilities, and community buildings. If kids gather there and parents need to coordinate pickups or schedule changes, we can help.
We install repurposed payphones that allow free local calls. Your facility provides wired internet access and power within 300 feet of the phone location. The phone should be placed in a public area where kids often congregate—ideally near security cameras to prevent abuse. Beyond providing power and internet, we handle everything else—installation, configuration, ongoing maintenance, and all phone service costs.
Organizations have emergency protocols and staff who contact parents directly in genuine emergencies. Kids having personal phones doesn't improve emergency response—it often complicates it with misinformation spreading through group chats and social media. Our phones provide accurate E911 location data to first responders.
This is a 100% volunteer-run initiative. We handle the full installation and maintenance of phones at no cost to your facility. Whether you want phones installed at your facility, want to volunteer, or support our work, we'd love to connect.
We're 100% volunteer-run and donor-funded. Your contribution helps us install phones, maintain equipment, and expand to more communities—especially underserved areas.
Every dollar directly supports creating phone-free spaces where kids can just be kids.
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