DavidSuddensFoundation

A personal story

My work over the last 10 years took me often to West and Central Africa where, in selling what are called African prints, I met many strong, entrepreneurial women, successful even when the odds were stacked against them.

None more so than in Bukavu, the Eastern Congo, and in the City of Joy, a peaceful place of recovery for women who have been raped as weapons of war. They are victims of unspeakable atrocities. But their resilience and their determination to go back to their communities not as victims but as leaders led a female colleague to ask, ‘are these the world’s strongest women’?

It is distressing that the Foundation’s origins began in Bukavu with conversations about rape; rape as a deliberate act of war, in daily life, as a constant of history. Whether it was in discussion with Christine Schuler Deschryver or Dr Denis Mukwege (founders of the City of Joy) or, later, Leslee Udwin (Think Equal), the deeply held view emerged that only through education can behaviour be changed. Leslee Udwin was convinced that it was not just about education per se but the type of education, specifically in the formative years. Dr Mukwege, too, believed boys had to be educated early and differently. He saw that young boys were growing up with sexual violence as the norm.

To visit the City of Joy in Bukavu is at once upsetting and uplifting. As well as the courage of the women and the love they find in sisterhood, it is clear that their entrepreneurial determination is formidable.

In a world apart, on the international campuses of leading business school, INSEAD, from where I graduated and where I teach on occasion, a different type of educational experience takes place. In Bukavu all education is undertaken in groups as the best therapy. In INSEAD group learning is also key, with students from 182 countries learning together how cross-cultural teamwork, common language and concepts can make global business a force for good.

As the world seems to fracture INSEAD brings the leaders of the future together in a common purpose.

Having left full-time work, I decided that I wanted to do something for women, for Africa and for education, as the basis for better societies and better outcomes for whole nations.

I also wanted to do something about rape.

From this the Foundation was conceived and was incorporated in 2024.

The mission of the David Suddens Foundation is to provide financial support for the Public Benefit in the following areas:

• Women’s rights and empowerment

We are committed to ending the rape of women, denial of education and all forms of discrimination.

• Formative education for the youngest children

We finance Early Childhood Development to teach children aged 3-6 years old the meanings of their emotions and values of mutual respect and empathy.

• Global business education

We support the development of business leaders who study and work with different cultures, champion mutual understanding and use their influence to be a force for good.

• African entrepreneurship

We advocate for African endeavours to benefit Africa, including the use of the continent’s natural resources for its own benefit.

The Board itself actively searches for projects and organisations that work towards the Foundation’s goals. The David Suddens Foundation will be committed to the selected beneficiaries, subject to the following conditions:

• The organisation/project fits within the objectives of the David Suddens Foundation.
• There is confidence in the organisation, programmes, approach and people.
• The David Suddens Foundation financial contributions are significant for the organisation.
• The organisation/projects have transparent and clear financial reporting.
• The organisation/projects are explicit in their objectives and actions.
• Projects are seen to make a real difference to people in need.

Funding relationships

The David Suddens Foundation preferably commits to an organisation for a long-term period. The partnership and results are evaluated annually.