The Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation: A Commitment to Humanitarian Aid at Home and Abroad

The Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation remains committed as ever to international solidarity with new projects in Madagascar and Peru, following its local initiatives in Switzerland.

Concrete Actions that Make a Difference from Day One:

After donating a scanner to the Vallée de Joux Hospital, and more recently, an ultrasound machine for the gynecology department,

enabling the Lausanne Food Bank to continue serving 10,000 meals a week,

supporting the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI – Academy of Independent Creators in Watchmaking) in developing young independent watchmakers,

the Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation is now expanding its efforts globally, backing an education and housing center for children in Madagascar and a women's reintegration and skillsdevelopment
center in Peru.

Established last year by legendary watchmaker Philippe Dufour and his wife Elisabeth, the Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation continues its humanitarian mission. Initially focused on Switzerland, where they sought to help local persons and social organizations in need, the Foundation now extends its efforts globally.

As a philanthropic organization, the Foundation’s mission is to provide practical support to people in need, first in Switzerland, covering essential areas such as food, health, and education, while also focusing on preserving knowledge and re-establishing intergenerational skills transmission, but also abroad. This is now being implemented with a new program in Peru.

As a general rule, the Foundation’s assistance does not come in the form of financial aid, but rather through the purchase and provision of equipment, materials, and expertise, helping projects develop sustainably over time.

Local Projects for Lasting Impact

Starting in Switzerland—by first supporting several urgent local initiatives—was a deeply held wish of Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour, with their daughter Daniela actively involved in the Foundation's work.

One of the Foundation's first major initiatives was the donation of a scanner to the Vallée de Joux Hospital, providing the facility with cutting-edge technology vital for patient care. Since its installation in July, the scanner has facilitated over 700 diagnoses, allowing patients in the region to receive more accurate and reliable health assessments, while reducing the need for travel to distant Lausanne or Geneva, thereby easing the daily burden on patients and their families.

More recently, the Foundation continued its support of the Vallée de Joux Hospital by donating an ultrasound machine for the gynecology department, enabling women in the valley to receive reliable diagnoses without the need for long trips, saving both time and travel expenses.

Additionally, the Foundation ensured that the Lausanne Food Bank could continue its essential work by supporting necessary compliance and renovation projects, allowing the organization to keep serving over 10,000 meals a week to those in need. This crucial assistance has helped the Food Bank maintain its vital role, despite the challenges posed by aging infrastructure.

Supporting Young Watchmaking Talent

Remaining true to its horological roots, the Foundation has also supported the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI). By funding exhibition spaces for young creators at international watch fairs, the Foundation has provided emerging talents with an invaluable platform to showcase their work in a field where innovation and traditional craftsmanship converge.

International Engagement: Madagascar and Peru

On the international stage, the Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation has embarked on two major projects in Madagascar and Peru.

In Madagascar, the Foundation supports an education and housing center for children in extreme poverty. Through the purchase and full financing of a building, the center now provides 100 children, aged 3 to 16, with quality education and two meals a day, protecting them from the risks associated with dropping out of school, such as drug use and exploitation. Local partnerships with the Mizarazoa and Gazela Associations ensure daily management, making the project sustainable over the long term. In Peru, the Foundation is committed to preserving and revitalizing the ancestral craft of making traditional Peruvian straw hats, a skill threatened by the influx of mass-produced souvenirs and Chinese-made products flooding local markets.

Working with a group of 50 women identified by local professionals collaborating with the Foundation, a training program was established to help them continue this ancient tradition while securing financial independence. This project, based in the Piura region on the northwest coast of Peru, required significant efforts to implement the program and repair essential equipment, including an old machine crucial for hat production that was damaged by flooding caused by the El Niño phenomenon.

Daniela Dufour, returning from Peru, comments:

The international commitment of the Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation is reflected in our tangible actions. We began in Switzerland, close to home, just as my parents envisioned, and now our efforts extend to Madagascar and Peru, thanks to our Vice President Maricela Lancoud, who identifies and presents projects to our committee through her extensive network.

In Madagascar, we’ve provided 100 vulnerable children not only with a quality education but also the security of two daily meals, protecting them from the dangers of poverty.

In Peru, we are helping to preserve an ancestral skill—the art of traditional straw hat making—while ensuring financial independence for 50 women. Their training and the restoration of essential equipment will allow them to continue this beautiful tradition while building a sustainable future for themselves.”

Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour add: “As human beings, we can choose to act or not. But if we do act, we must see it through to the end. In this case, it’s creating the best possible conditions for these women to complete their training.”

A Foundation Driven by Human Values

Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour know that empathy and solidarity are at the heart of all philanthropic action. “We wouldn’t presume to solve all the world's problems, but we do want to do what we can to alleviate the suffering and despair of the most disadvantaged,” they assert. This commitment finds a particular echo in the many projects already supported by the Foundation, and in those to come.

With their foundation, Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour are demonstrating that it is possible to reconcile a passion for watchmaking with a commitment to humanitarianism, for a positive and lasting impact.

Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour state:

"Helping, giving, and supporting are important human actions that demonstrate our solidarity with those in need. These actions can have a significant impact and bring hope and comfort. It is important to remember that even small actions can positively impact others’ lives. We do not claim to solve all problems, but we sincerely wish to do what we can to provide solutions, equipment, and support by contributing our part. As the saying goes, ‘Small streams make big rivers.’”

For all queries relating to the Philippe & Elisabeth Dufour Foundation:

contact@dufourfondation.org

About Philippe Dufour SA

Born in Switzerland in 1948, Philippe Dufour graduated from the Vallée de Joux Watchmaking School in 1967 and began his career repairing and restoring antique pocket watches. In 1982, his excellence led Audemars Piguet to commission five Grande Sonnerie pocket watch movements, the last delivered in 1988.

In 1992, building on his mastery of the Grande Sonnerie complication, Philippe Dufour presented the world’s first wristwatch to feature a minute repeater movement comprising both a Grande and Petite Sonnerie – one of the most challenging horological complications to construct, especially in terms of fitting it into the confines of a wristwatch case. Following the success of this extraordinary world first, which marked a turning point in the recognition of his supreme watchmaking talent and the establishment of the Philippe Dufour brand, his next model, named ‘Duality,’ was launched in 1996 as the first wristwatch with a double escapement. In 2000, Philippe Dufour introduced ‘Simplicity,’ his most well-known model among collectors and the only current production model.

In July 2022, Philippe Dufour transformed his sole proprietorship into Philippe Dufour SA, with 100% of the capital still exclusively held by the Dufour family. The company has maintained total financial independence since its inception, with no external financing or partners.

Today, Philippe Dufour SA is the sole authorized legal entity for the sale of Philippe Dufour watches, marketed directly to collectors and end clients.

For inquiries, please contact: atelierphilippedufour@bluewin.ch