Dekeyser&Friends Foundation

Dekeyser&Friends Foundation
Formation 2009
Founders Robert Dekeyser, Florian Hoffmann
Type Educational foundation
Focus Education, Development Projects
Headquarters Avenue de Champel 64, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
Method Donations, Grants, Volunteering
Website www.dekeyserandfriends.org

The Dekeyser&Friends Foundation is a foundation founded by Robert "Bobby" Dekeyser in 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland, that finances and supports projects related to social change around the world.[1][2][3]

The Dekeyser&Friends Foundation supports existing social projects and new non-profit ideas with money, in-kind help, and knowledge. The foundation’s main focus is the Compostela Village Project in the Philippines. This project on the island of Cebu helps people, who until recently were living on a dumpsite, build sustainable lives.[4][5][6]

Mission

The stated mission of the Dekeyser & Friends Foundation is to encourage and inspire people around the world.[1][2][3][4][5][7] [8][8]

History

In 2009, the Dekeyser & Friends Foundation was registered in Geneva, Switzerland and officially launched at the Swiss Economic Forum. The foundation developed and set up the D&F Academy in 2009, which later emerged as an independent organization - The DO School in 2013. In 2009 the first D&F program started, the 'Museum Project' with former ski racer Markus Wasmeier in Germany, where they restored an old bavarian farmhouse [9][10][11] The next project was a dance project with the general art director at Fire of Anatolia and choreographer Mustafa Erdogan in Turkey.[3][12] Other individuals who have led projects for Dekeyser&Friends include primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, former soccer player Jens Lehmann, and conductor Christoph Poppen.[13]

In 2010, seventeen participants started to support the creation of a new village, Compostela, for families living on a dumpsite in Cebu, Philippines.[1][2] Working with social-worker Heinz Kulücke as part of this rehousing project, the foundation for the new village for scavenger families was created.[4][14] The aim of the Compostela project is to offer a fresh start to people who want to make a change. Working towards leading an independent life, the families and individuals living in the village learn skills, such as farming and animal husbandry. The children of Compostela attend a local public school. The foundation's staff supports the children and helps their families understand the importance of knowledge in building a future. Additional workshops on health, hygiene, and social skills are offered in the village.

In 2011, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) granted the necessary resources to proceed with the rehousing efforts in Cebu, Philippines. The rehousing project continues to be the cornerstone of the foundation’s ongoing engagement in the Philippines.

By spring 2013, fifty families, around 500 people, had helped build new houses and had started new lives away from the Umapad dumpsite.[12]

Activities

Philanthropy

The Foundation manages one major development project, namely the construction of a village on the Philippine island of Cebu that offers scavengers from a local dumpsite a fresh start and a chance to build sustainable livelihoods. The Compostela Village Project is being implemented in collaboration with JPIC-IDC (a local NGO), the German Karl-Kübel Foundation, DEDON Philippines and through the support of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the BMZ. The Compostela Village Project began in 2010 and continues to expand. In 2012, the first ten families moved into their new village.[15]

Founders

Robert Dekeyser

Robert Dekeyser is a Belgian-German founder of the outdoor furniture manufacturer DEDON, former football goalkeeper of FC Bayern Munich and founder of the Dekeyser&Friends Foundation.[3][14][16]

Partners

[17]

Advising Board

[3][18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Tönnesmann, Jens: 'Gefühl statt Kalkül' ('Sensation instead of Calculation'). In: Die Zeit, February 14, 2012
  2. 1 2 3 Tönnesmann, Jens: 'Gefühl statt Kalkül' ('Furniture-maker Bobby Dekeyser: Sensation instead of Calculation'). In: Die Zeit, February 14, 2012
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Brenner, Beatrice: 'Ich habe weder ein eigenes Büro, noch eine Sekretärin' ('I have neither a own office, nor a secretary') (Interview with Robert Dekeyser)". In: io new management, February 19, 2010
  4. 1 2 3 Emich, Robert: 'Der menschliche Faktor' ('The Human Factor'). In: VOGUE Deutschland, June 2012, p. 206-219
  5. 1 2 http://www.dekeyserandfriends.org/about/mission/
  6. http://www.dekeyserandfriends.org/what-we-do/philantropy/ Accessed on 28.10.13
  7. http://www.dekeyserandfriends.org/about/mission/ Accessed on 27.09.13
  8. 1 2 Rammin, Claudia: 'Seine beste Parade' ('His Best Parade'). In: Enorm. 2012.
  9. Krücken, Stefan: 'Kindheit im Dreck'. (Report) In: Sonntagsblick Magazin Deutschland, p. 28-36
  10. Sonnet, Carola: 'Die Angst des Tormanns vor der Langeweile'. In: Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt Deutschland.
  11. Lutz, Juliane: 'Zieh dein Ding durch' ('Do your thing'). (Interview with Robert Dekeyser) In: Süddeutsche Zeitung Deutschland, July 31, 2010, p. V2/11.
  12. 1 2 http://www.dekeyserandfriends.org/about/history/
  13. http://thedoschool.org/program/instructors/challengers/ Accessed on 12.09.13
  14. 1 2 Schmitt, Peter-Philipp: 'Er kann nur angreifen' ('He only can attack'). In: 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung', December 8, 2011.
  15. http://www.dekeyserandfriends.org/what-we-do/philanthropy/
  16. http://www.dekeyserandfriends.org/about/people/
  17. http://www.dekeyserandfriends.org/about/supporters/
  18. http://www.dekeyserandfriends.org/about/council/
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