CSR: In Our DNA Since Day One

CSR has been part of Ciphix’s DNA since the company was founded. When Marc started the company twelve years ago, he made sure that every employee could spend 10% of their time on a social cause. Now, ten years and countless CSR projects later, we can proudly say that we have grown 100% as an organisation and as individuals by dedicating 10% of our time to doing good for others.

Companion to the Elderly

Let’s start with three examples of colleagues who have gone the extra mile for others in recent years. Take colleague Dennis Brouw, for example. He volunteers for the Aafje Foundation, an elderly care organisation in the Rotterdam area. He visits residents, plays games with them, cooks for them, and even takes walks with them.

Dennis on his volunteer work:
“I realised that many elderly people don’t receive many visitors and are sometimes cut off from social contact. This is why I love bringing residents out from behind that window and engaging them in social activities.”

Language Coach for a Spanish Lady

Or take Alexander Brinkhuis, who gives language lessons and social support to an elderly Spanish lady on behalf of the Dock Foundation, which helps people improve their own lives and the lives of others.

Alex on what makes volunteering so rewarding:
“I recently helped the Spanish lady I’m paired with overcome her fear of speaking Dutch. She was able to order and pay for a piece of cheese in Dutch. It’s so rewarding to see her grow.”

Volunteer with the Present Foundation

Coen Spinhoven is active for the Present Foundation, which deploys groups of volunteers for one-off practical jobs or social activities.

Coen on a job with elderly people at a garden centre:
“At one point, I had a lovely conversation with a wonderful elderly lady. You could see how much it revived her. Even when we parted, she kept mentioning it. It felt great to make someone who has so little so happy for a day.”

10% of Your Time is 100% Growing Together

Jort Langedijk is one of the pioneers of CSR at Ciphix. He explains why CSR has proven so valuable to Ciphix over the past twelve years:
“These examples illustrate how doing something for others gives you a good feeling and new energy. It also forces you to step outside your comfort zone. How far you want to go depends on the project you choose. As a result, you grow much faster as a person and, ultimately, as an organisation as a whole. In fact, a recent survey of job applicants showed that the majority now choose us because of our CSR programme, which has also supported our organisation in recruitment over the last twelve years.”

CSR in the Coming Years

CSR will continue to be a part of our work in the coming years. A ‘CSR guild’ has been established to offer employees additional support. This is a group of colleagues who motivate others and provide tips and advice on CSR within the organisation.
Jort: “CSR is ‘here to stay’, even in the next ten years. That’s why we want to professionalise CSR at Ciphix even further. Our goal is to inspire and better facilitate colleagues, and coordinate initiatives more effectively. Let’s be honest, when you can achieve so much for yourself, the organisation, and for others, you should do everything you can to make it a permanent part of your organisation’s DNA.”

Are You Inspired by These Great CSR Projects?

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