HER EXCELLENCY GRAÇA MACHEL TO BE HONORED
AT “DIAMONDS DO GOOD” AWARDS IN LAS VEGAS
Former First Lady of both Mozambique and South Africa to Receive the Global Humanitarian Award
New York, NY; March 13, 2017 – The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F) will honor Mrs Graça Machel with the first-ever “Diamonds Do Good” Global Humanitarian Award at D.E.F’s Diamonds Do Good Awards gala, set for June 4 at the Four Seasons Ballroom in Las Vegas.
Graça Machel is a renowned international advocate for women’s and children’s rights and has been a social and political activist over many decades. She served as First Lady of Mozambique when married to Samora Machel from 1975 until his death in 1986; and later was First Lady of South Africa from 1988 to 1999, when married to Nelson Mandela. Today, as the Founder of the Graça Machel Trust, her work focuses on women’s economic and financial empowerment, education, food security and nutrition, promoting democracy and good governance.
Born in Mozambique, Graça was appointed Minister for Education and Culture when she was 29 years old. Upon her retirement from the ministry, she was appointed an expert of the UN Secretary General and was responsible for producing the groundbreaking report on the protection of children in armed conflict. She has continued being a strong advocate for women’s and children’s rights and was made a British dame for her humanitarian work in 1997. Following her role as a member of the UN High-Level Panel on the post-2015 agenda, she has recently been appointed as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocate.
It was in Graça’s living room in Maputo, Mozambique, in 2006 that the inspiration for the Diamond Empowerment Fund was born. A discussion between H.E. Nelson Mandela, Graça, philanthropist and music mogul Russell Simmons, and civil rights leader Dr. Benjamin Chavis, sparked the idea of establishing a global nonprofit to focus on the good that the diamond industry does throughout the world, particularly in Africa. The Diamond
Empowerment Fund grew out of that discussion, and this year celebrates its 10th anniversary.
The Graça Machel Trust continues her important work to multiply the faces and amplify the voices of Africa’s women and children. The Trust catalyses action, supports local initiatives, lends solidarity and offers support where it is needed and engages both publicly and behind the scenes with power brokers. The Trust has recently launched two Pan-African Initiatives: the Women Advancing Africa Forum and the Women in Media Network.
Joining Ms. Machel in receiving Diamonds Do Good awards at the gala will be acclaimed actor and social justice advocate David Oyelowo – star of the recent film A UNITED KINGDOM- who will receive the International Vanguard Award and iconic retailer Helzberg Diamonds who will receive the Corporate Legacy of Pilanthropy Award.
For more information and to purchase tickets/sponsorships, please visit diamondsdogoodawards.org
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