The Kering Foundation
One out of three women worldwide is a victim of violence during her lifetime. Since its creation in 2008, the Kering Foundation has made this critical issue the focus of its combat by supporting survivors, rolling out prevention initiatives and worldwide mobilization. To maximize its impact, the Foundation works hand-in-hand with long-term partners for a minimum period of three years in six countries: China, France, Italy, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Discover the Kering Foundation website
Supporting survivors
In 2019, the Foundation reinforced its partnerships with local organizations that provide tailored support for women impacted by violence. The Foundation implements a three-pronged approach: funding frontline, national organization specialized in combating domestic violence, backing pilot initiatives and partnering with the Women’s Funds who support grassroots initiatives. The Foundation is a long-standing partner of National Network to End Domestic Violence (United States), la Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes (France), Donne in Rete contro la violenza (Italy) and Women’s Aid (United Kingdom).
The Kering Foundation also advocates for new approaches, like the Maison des Femmes de Saint-Denis. With its fifty-strong team of professionals working across a range of sectors, this Maison is a one-stop safe place offering a wide range of services for survivors, ensuring they are listened to, cared for and offered comprehensive guidance. As a founding partner, the Foundation extended its support in 2019 to the creation of a new unit dedicated to the treatment of adults who have been victims of sexual abuse as children.
Lastly, guided by Women’s Funds, key agents of change, the Foundation partners with grassroots playersat the community level. In Hong Kong, for instance, through HER Fund, it supports local organizations run by marginalized women who are victims of violence.
Kering Foundation’s portraits
The Kering Foundation has produced a series of short videos focused on women survivors of violence, as well as the professionals who accompany them, through its partner organizations. “The Kering Foundation’s portraits” tell the stories of these women, sending a message of hope and highlighting the pivotal role played by the Foundation’s partners in helping them to rebuild their lives.
Episode 10: working with men to break the inter-generational cycle of violence and ultimately support survivors
Since 2018, the Kering Foundation is proud to partner with Gendes, a Mexican non-profit organization that organizes group sessions with men to help them question their role in a gender-based social system and explore alternative ways of solving conflict.
Episode 1: Hadassah and Diarryatou, La Maison des femmes
In this first video, Hadassah and Diarryatou give us a poignant testimony about their journey and their reconstruction thanks to the Maison des Femmes. A message of hope that highlights the work and the fundamental role of the Kering Foundation's partners.
Episode 2: Jacqui Kilburn, Women's Aid trainer
In the second episode, Jacqui, who has been working in the domestic abuse sector for 30 years, shares her experiences and highlights the importance of understanding the impact of domestic violence on the workplace and training teams on how to respond effectively and with compassion.
Episode 3: Jessica, a survivor supported by Les Corner
In the third episode, Jessica, a victim of domestic violence in a same-sex relationship, shares her journey to leave her abusive partner and rebuild her life.
Episode 4: Natalie, survivor supported by Women’s Aid
In the fourth episode, Natalie shares her experience in an abusive relationship and how, with the support of Women’s Aid, she escaped the coercive control of her perpetrator.
Episode 5: Solidarité Femmes helpline counselor
In the fifth episode, a trained counselor shares her experience responding to calls, to encourage survivors to reach out for support. Her job is to listen to their stories, help them define the abuse they are living through, and refer them to local organizations that can provide the assistance they need.
Episode 6: Sara, refugee and single mother supported by RUN
In the sixth episode, Sara tells her story as a refugee and single mother in Hong Kong. She shares her difficulties and how the organization RUN supported her. Now, she is able to take time to care for herself and to plan for her future and her daughter's.
Episode 7: Judy, HER Fund’s Executive Director
The seventh episode features HER Fund, a Women's Fund based in Hong Kong that provides extensive support to grassroots organizations led by and serving the most disadvantaged women and girls. Judy, HER Fund's Executive Director, tells us about her experience and her hope that more funders will come together to combat violence against women.
Episode 8: Virginie, co-founder and managing director of RUN
In the eighth video, Virginie, co-founder and managing director of RUN (Rebuild, Unite, Nurture), speaks about how the organization’s team helps refugees to create a life of safety and dignity, in Hong Kong and beyond.
Episode 9: Rocío, a survivor of violence
She shares her powerful story of strength and courage. She found support at Las Panas, through bakery workshops, group therapy, counseling and so much more.
Preventing violence by working with younger generations
Since 2018, the Kering Foundation has stepped up its involvement in prevention programs aimed at young people, and specifically, boys and young men. In New York, the Foundation is continuing its support of The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault and Project Dream, Own, Tell (DOT), which works with young people from underserved communities on initiatives targeting sexual violence. The Foundation also partners with Promundo, and its curriculum, Manhood 2.0, which encourages young men to think beyond the rigid divisions of gender and build healthier relationships based on respect and equality. Lastly, in Mexico, support continues for Gendes, which seeks to redefine the notion of masculinity for men.
Mobilizing across the globe
Through its internal and external campaigns, the Foundation aims to raise awareness of violence against women, changing mentalities and behaviors. In 2018, the Kering Foundation joined forces with Fondation Agir Contre l’Exclusion (FACE) to create OneInThreeWomen, the first European network to encourage companies to support their female employees who are victims of violence with concrete measures. In 2019, the network revealed the results of a study sent to more than 40,000 employees across six companies in six countries. Results: 16% of the women and 4% of the men surveyed reported experiences of domestic violence. 16% of women and 13% of men interviewed stated that they knew of a colleague who had been affected. Companies have a leading role to play in establishing concrete measures and a supportive workplace. With this in mind, since 2011, the Foundation has provided Kering’s employees with training to understand the impact of domestic violence on the workplace. To date, 1,500 employees have benefited from these training sessions co-created with local specialist organizations.
Last but not least, the Foundation uses the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women as a platform to raise public awareness. In 2019, in collaboration with Modern Films, the Kering Foundation launched 16 Days, 16 Films, a short film initiative addressing violence against women.
“ Wherever women’s integrity and dignity are attacked, I believe each of us has a particular responsibility. ”
François-Henri Pinault
Chairman and CEO of Kering, Chairman of The Kering Foundation
