The Girard-Perregaux watchmaker became a partner of Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who dialogued with author Robert V. Taylor during the conference 'How to be happy, change the world, embrace a new way to be human', held at the Bing Auditorium of LACMA in Los Angeles. More than 500 guests attended the dialogue, which was followed by a private cocktail reception. For this special event, the Maison donated an engraved Girard-Perregaux 1966 collection watch to the Archbishop, in honour of his philanthropic achievements around the world. "The world we have is a gift to be preserved," says Desmond Tutu. "We must not only protect its elements, but also the people who live in it. We must all strive to live in a place where people not only respect each other, but also love the differences between them. I am very grateful for the support of Girard-Perregaux in achieving these goals," he said. "The example of leadership that Archbishop Desmond Tutu has set through his efforts with the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation is worthy of great recognition," says Sowind CEO Michele Sofisti. The Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation (DTPF) helps people and societies create cultures of peace, and one of the main ways it carries out this mission is by developing programmes that focus on young people. The programmes involve the use of new media and effective methods to 'live the peace' by implementing reconciliation practices. "It is in our young people that we can find the hope needed to live in a peaceful world," Sofisti continues. "Through the Foundation's activities, Archbishop Tutu instils a feeling of love and unity in each child, which is then passed on to those who come into contact with them." The Girard-Perregaux 1966 watch features a rose gold case with a diameter of 38 millimetres and a black alligator strap; it is equipped with a self-winding, in-house mechanical movement.
