Jan Debognies
Over the fifteen years we’ve been in existence we’ve collected a rather wonderful group of people who bring their skills and experience to our projects. Our freelance team is one of the aspects that make Digital Voice stand out from the crowd. This week we chatted to Jan Debognies, Operations Manager for Digital Voice, about how the company has grown.
Jan brings an international flavour to sunny Chopwell, hailing from Brussels and speaking five languages (six if you include Geordie!). His role with the organisation started off as an assistant, then developed into a lead facilitator and fundraiser before taking on a more managerial role. He’s had quite a journey and not just the geographical one; we asked where it started.
“I worked for a charity as a language teacher for a while before taking up a role at a Brussels public library where I was tasked with organising digital inclusion activities. I quickly became passionate about bridging the digital divide and started working at MAKS, where I spent 5 years managing a department specialised in digital inclusion work with vulnerable groups.”
It was this passion for digital inclusion that brought Jan and Digital Voice together, with a little help from his wife:
“Fairly soon after moving to Newcastle from Brussels, my wife saw an online job ad from Digital Voice who were recruiting delivery assistants. She thought the organisation sounded cool and wanted to apply herself before deciding it probably was unfair to me and sent it on to me. I met with Julie soon after and the rest is history.”
Jan still considers himself primarily a digital storyteller and continues to deliver some of our projects, recently devising and delivering a project with Anchor Housing:
“I never organised a course online and it was a real challenge logistically, but participants were so enthusiastic and the outcomes were just lovely. Some of them became friends and decided to meet up in real life. Another participant decided to start teaching others about Digital Storytelling and is making lots of new stories.”
The majority of Jan’s time is spent on the operational side of the business and he played a big role in securing three years of National Lottery funding for Digital Voice so it’s obviously going rather well!
“My younger self would be shocked if I said this, but in recent years I have really enjoyed learning to manage the financial side of the business. I really enjoy the front row seat it gives me to see an organisation I feel so enthusiastic about grow.”
And your favourite thing about working for Digital Voice Jan?
“I’m not sure I can answer this. It’s like asking me to choose my favourite food …our staff and associates just feel like one big family of incredibly talented, warm-hearted and hard-working people. It’s a privilege to be on this wonderful journey with them.”
The feeling is mutual: Merci!
To find out how we’re planning to use the Lottery Funding see our newspage.