Devoxx4Kids Foundation: Bridging the Digital Divide for Tomorrow’s Innovators

The world of technology is constantly evolving, driving demand for skilled professionals. However, financial barriers often prevent talented students from pursuing higher education in IT fields.

The Devoxx4Kids Foundation was established to address this critical challenge.

Devoxx4Kids Foundation?

Building upon the legacy of the established Devoxx4Kids community, which has been inspiring children to code, build robots, and engage with engineering since 2012, the Devoxx4Kids Foundation extends this mission to support promising students in higher education.

As you already know, Devoxx4Kids is an international non-profit organisation with chapters in over 15 countries, having reached more than 40,000 children worldwide through workshops and events.

Guided by principles like making technology accessible to all, fostering creativity, promoting diversity, and inspiring creation rather than just consumption, the Devoxx4Kids Foundation carries these values forward.

Constituted on April 2, 2025, the Devoxx4Kids Foundation is an officially registered, Belgium-based non-profit foundation committed to educational equity and technological innovation. It is specifically constituted as a ‘fondation d’utilité publique’ (foundation of public utility).

Its primary purpose is to provide necessary aid to students pursuing higher studies in the field of computer sciences across Europe, following the study and approval of their application dossier. This aid aims to ensure talented students can complete their education regardless of their financial circumstances.

The Challenge We Address: The IT Skills Gap

Europe, including Belgium, faces a significant and persistent shortage of IT professionals. There is a high job vacancy rate in the IT sector, and companies across Europe experience difficulties in filling vacant ICT positions. In 2021, over 60% of EU enterprises trying to recruit ICT specialists faced difficulties, with a lack of applications being the most reported issue.

This skills gap continues to be a bottleneck for the digital economy, hindering innovation and growth. While some fluctuations in the tech job market have occurred, the demand for skilled IT professionals remains structurally high, particularly for roles requiring higher education qualifications.

Compounding this, talented students from underprivileged backgrounds often abandon their IT education due to financial constraints. This represents not only lost individual potential but also directly contributes to the skills gap facing European businesses. The Foundation seeks to bridge this gap.

Our Structured Support Model

The Devoxx4Kids Foundation utilizes a structured, transparent approach to student support:

Targeted Financial Assistance: We provide progressive grants that increase as students advance through their studies, acknowledging their growing commitment and course-specific needs.

Technology Access: We facilitate the distribution of professional-grade refurbished computers suitable for development work. Equipment allocation can be handled separately from financial support.

Academic Accountability: We implement structured performance monitoring balanced with an understanding of the unique challenges students may face. We set minimum academic performance expectations, but the focus is on passing rather than just excellence, acknowledging difficulties. Progress over time is considered, and students have the opportunity to explain extenuating circumstances.

Partnership with Educational Institutions: We collaborate closely with Educational Institutions’ social departments to identify students who have both financial need and academic potential.

Working with Partner Institutions

Collaboration with universities and schools is fundamental to our process. We rely on their social services departments to identify potential beneficiaries, respecting the confidentiality of financial information. Our standardized application process ensures a confidential and streamlined assessment that respects student privacy while ensuring fair resource distribution.

Monitoring Student Progress

We maintain oversight of student performance through an Academic Progress Form submitted each semester. This form captures:

• Course results (credits, grade, pass/fail)
• Current GPA and credits earned
• Academic standing and progress on previous goals
• New academic goals
• Challenges faced and support resources utilized (including Devoxx4Kids mentorship)
• Additional support needed
• Feedback on technology support provided

For students whose academic performance falls below standards, we utilize a structured review process, including a Borderline Case Review Committee Report. This report comprehensively assesses the student’s current status, support history, and primary areas of concern.

Critically, it takes contextual factors into account, such as:

• Health issues
• Family responsibilities
• Economic hardship
• Technology access problems
• Course-specific difficulties
• Transition challenges

Input from university social departments and the student’s own statement are considered.

The review includes an evaluation of positive developments, areas showing improvement, and academic strengths. A holistic evaluation balances challenges with performance, assessing the student’s demonstrated commitment and potential for academic recovery.

An improvement timeline with specific targets and milestone checks may be established. The Committee’s decision is justified with a clear explanation that emphasizes compassionate factors. An individualized support plan can recommend resources like tutoring, study skills support, mentorship, or technical assistance.

This process underscores our commitment to balancing academic standards with compassionate understanding of individual circumstances.

Partnerships with Corporate Sponsors

The Devoxx4Kids Foundation invites companies to partner with us as corporate sponsors to support underprivileged IT students. We believe that companies committed to technological innovation and corporate social responsibility are ideal partners. Partnership helps address the technology skills gap and diversifies/strengthens Europe’s technology workforce.

Companies can engage in several ways:

Financial Sponsorship Tiers: Ranging from Bronze Partner to Platinum Partner.

Equipment Donations: Providing refurbished computers, technology equipment, or software licenses.

Expertise Contributions: Offering mentorship programs, technical workshops, or internship opportunities for supported students.

Benefits of Partnership

Partnering with us offers benefits including:

• Demonstrating Corporate Social Responsibility
• Developing a talent pipeline of motivated students
• Increasing brand visibility across our network
• Offering employee engagement opportunities
• Potential tax benefits (subject to local regulations)

Transparency and Accountability

We are committed to transparency and accountability to our sponsors. Partners receive:

• Detailed annual impact reports
• Regular updates on student progress
• Complete financial transparency
• Opportunities to meet supported students (while respecting privacy protections)

Empowering Students

By providing targeted financial assistance, technology access, and academic support, in partnership with educational institutions and corporate sponsors, the Devoxx4Kids Foundation empowers talented, underprivileged students to overcome financial obstacles and complete their IT education.

This work is vital for building a more diverse and inclusive technology sector and making a meaningful difference in the lives of future tech innovators.

Contact Information

Academic institutions and Corporate Sponsors can contact the Devoxx4Kids Foundation at the following email address: foundation@devoxx4kids.org

The Devoxx4Kids Foundation builds upon more than a decade of inspiring young minds in technology, now extending our mission to support the next generation of IT professionals through higher education.