DIAMOND EMPOWERMENT FUND LAUNCHES NEW ‘DO GOOD’ STORY 

Botswana’s Okavango Diamond Company Latest Company to Be Highlighted to Millennial Consumers

 New York, NY; April 4, 2018 – The Diamond Empowerment Fund, through its Diamonds Do Good nomenclature, launched a profile of Okavango Diamond Company’s Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (ODC-YEP) on DiamondsDoGood.com.

The Programme is designed to expose youth in Botswana to the diamond value chain and provide formal entrepreneurship training to assist them in exploring and developing their entrepreneurial ambitions.

“Entrepreneurship has been identified as part of a number of solutions to address unemployment in Botswana,” says ODC’s Managing Director Marcus Ter Haar, and a board member of the Diamond Empowerment Fund,  “It is important for us as stakeholders in the Industry to do all in our power to ensure the success of the country in which we do business and the people that live there.”

The story will be targeted to millennials through the social media based Diamonds Do Good Initiative.

Research shows 75% of consumers say they are more likely to purchase a diamond after reading positive stories about how the industry gives back. “Putting forward a positive narrative surrounding diamonds is essential,” says D.E.F president and GIA senior vice president Anna Martin. “Sharing these stories with our customers is not only good for business, it is a responsibility for the entire industry.”

More examples of how the industry gives back will be highlighted at this year’s Diamonds Do Good Gala in Las Vegas on May 31st with honorees Bruce Cleaver, CEO De Beers, and Canada’s Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). Cleaver is being recognized for De Beers work in accelerating  women’s professional advancement and GNWT is being recognized for their responsible diamond mining practices which ensures a sustainable future for the indigenous tribes and wildlife that surround the mining operations.

For more information and to purchase tickets/sponsorships for the Diamonds Do Good Awards gala, please visit diamondsdogoodawards.org

 

About the Diamond Empowerment Fund:

The Diamond Empowerment Fund is a global non-profit based in New York City inspired by Nelson Mandela and founded by leaders in the diamond industry in 2007 to empower diamond communities around the world.  Its beneficiaries include: the Botswana Top Achievers program that provides the top high school students countrywide the opportunity to study at a university of their choice worldwide. Graduates then return to Botswana to contribute to its economic, social and political development; The Graca Machel Mandela Foundation that supports bringing 20,000 Tanzanian out-of-school youth back to school. Veerayatan, a model for encouraging development of responsible citizens who are educated, have strong integrity and a motivation to give back to their community. D.E.F  supports students attending its colleges of Pharmacy, Business Administration and Engineering.

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