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Diamond Fund Donates $130K to Botswana Program

Oct 23, 2017 8:18 AM   By Rapaport News
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RAPAPORT...
The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) has presented a $130,000 check to the Botswana Top Achievers program for outstanding scholars who can make a contribution to the country’s economic development.

The ceremony was held at Botswana’s mission to the United Nations earlier this month. The grant will be used to continue supporting Botswana youth through access to higher education to enable them to contribute to the nation’s economic development and diversification.

The reception in the DEF’s honor was hosted by the Botswana Ambassador to the United Nations, H.E. Charles Ntwaagae, and Botswana Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi.

“Everyone from Botswana attending this reception today [has] in some way benefited from diamonds,” Masisi said during the ceremony. “We thank the Diamond Empowerment Fund for investing in the future of our next generation of leaders.”

Founded in 2007 by entrepreneur Russell Simmons and leaders in the diamond and jewelry industries, the DEF is a global nonprofit organization that supports initiatives to help development in areas of the world with a significant diamond trade. The DEF has supported the Top Achievers program, which is run by Botswana’s Ministry of Education and Skills Development, with more than $740,000 in donations since 2011.

Botswana is one of the top producers of diamonds by carat weight and value in the world.
Tags: Botswana, Charles Ntwaagae, DEF, Diamond Empowerment Fund, donations, Ministry of Education and Skills Development, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Rapaport News, Russell Simmons
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