Steward ownership, sustainability, and sharing: Voys’ impact in 2024

At Voys, we’re all about making a positive impact—not just in the way we work but also in the way we show up for the world. This year, we took that commitment to a whole new level by officially becoming a steward-owned company. But that’s just one chapter in our impact story.

In this blog, we’ll share how we’ve been working to make the world a little better in 2024 and maybe even drop a hint about what’s coming next year.

Becoming a steward-owned company

It’s official: Voys is now steward-owned! After a year of research, discussions, and decisions, we crossed the finish line on September 6th. Former owners Mark and Ben donated the company to a steward ownership structure, ensuring that Voys’ mission is always protected and future-proof.

Under this structure, the control of the company is separate from financial interests. This means decisions are made with the mission in mind—not profit maximization or shareholder returns.

Even better, this shift aligns perfectly with our self-managing structure and our focus on creating social impact. A portion of our profits will now go directly to initiatives that create system value—projects that make a real difference.

So what’s next? In 2025, we’ll focus on embedding steward ownership into every part of our company, making sure it’s not just a concept on paper but a living, breathing part of who we are.

Five years of 48percent

This year, our foundation 48percent.org celebrated its fifth anniversary, and what a milestone it was! Together with their growing partner network, 48percent has gone from an ambitious idea about equitable access to connectivity to delivering more than 50 projects, benefiting over 62,000 people across the globe.

And 2024 was a record-breaking year. Through 15 projects worldwide, they doubled their impact from last year, helping more than 20,000 people gain affordable internet access or learn essential digital skills.

Closer to home, 48percent also led the Digital Inclusion Pilot in northern Netherlands. This initiative tackled digital exclusion by creating low-barrier access for people struggling to get online due to high costs or limited digital literacy.

Here are just a few highlights:

• Colombia: Partnering with local organizations, 48percent connected 10 schools along the Amazon River to the internet. (Photo below)
• Uganda & Nigeria: They facilitated digital safety and skills training at community internet hubs.
• Kenya, South Africa, & India: 48percent supported the creation of community networks to bring people online.

From Colombia to Groningen, the work of 48percent reminds us of the power of connectivity to transform lives.

Inspiring the next generation: career days at Voys

We believe in sharing what we know, and what better way to do that than by inspiring the next generation? That’s why we love hosting career days for kids. These visits give children a glimpse into life at a tech company, and yes, they even get to program their very own robot!

We’ve teamed up with organizations like JINC, a Dutch nonprofit that helps level the playing field for children regardless of their background. Thanks to this partnership, we welcomed around 200 kids to our office this year.

During these career days, kids get to explore coding, learn about tech, and see how companies like Voys contribute to society. Our goal is to spark their creativity and inspire them to dream big about their future.

And the fun didn’t stop there. Also in partnership with JINC, we had the privilege of welcoming two “bosses for the day.” Through JINC’s Tomorrow’s Bosses initiative, two kids took charge and told us how to do our work. Their fresh perspective and creative ideas brought a lot of good energy to the office.

And who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll see some of these kids walking through our doors as colleagues.

Partnering for a sustainable and equal future

In 2024, we had the privilege of supporting several incredible initiatives that are helping create a greener and more inclusive world. From planting trees to celebrating diversity, these projects brought us closer to the future we want to build.

Green Friday: planting for the future

In partnership with the Food Forest in Glimmen (Voedselbos Glimmen), some of our colleagues spent Green Friday getting their hands dirty—literally! They helped plant trees and prepare the grounds for the spring season. The food forest is an inspiring project that operates on ecological principles, promoting biodiversity while growing delicious, sustainable produce. Voedselbos Glimmen encourages others to adopt natural principles in their own spaces, offering opportunities to volunteer and taste the results of their local, eco-friendly efforts.

Pink Saturday: embracing equality

Equality is at the heart of everything we do at Voys. We believe in fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their authentic selves. That is why we sponsored Pink Saturday, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and works toward a more connected and inclusive future for all.

Koploperbos: A festive finish

One of the highlights of the year was attending the celebratory conclusion of the redevelopment of the Hunze Zone in the Koploper Forest. Partners and supporters gathered for a scenic bike ride along the rejuvenated Hunze river, followed by a toast to mark the forest’s official transfer to Het Groninger Landschap. The transformation of this space was a labor of love, and seeing it come to life was a proud moment for everyone involved.

Advancing digital freedom

Our support didn’t stop there. We continued our contributions to local initiatives such as PyGrunn and AIGrunn, which align with our belief in an open-source culture and a global mindset. PyGrunn, Groningen’s very own developer conference, showcases cutting-edge innovation and fosters collaboration within the tech community. Similarly, we provided our annual contributions to OpenSIPS and Bits of Freedom, organizations dedicated to advancing open-source platforms and ensuring a safer internet for everyone. These efforts underscore our commitment to bridging technologies and people, both locally and globally.

Looking ahead to 2025

From steward ownership to making the internet accessible to more people and inspiring the next generation, 2024 has been an incredible year. But we’re just getting started. As we gear up for the new year, we’re excited to keep building on these initiatives and exploring new ways to create impact.

What about you? How are you planning to make a difference in 2025?