Lazare Kaplan's The Lazare Ongoma Initiative to Benefit Five Rand School

RAPAPORT... Lazare Kaplan International Inc. announced The Lazare Ongoma Initiative (LOI), which will go hand in hand with The Lazare Diamond® Incentive Program in the U.S. Through the LOI, Lazare Kaplan hopes to improve resources available to the Five Rand Primary School in Okahandja, Namibia.

“The Lazare Ongama Initiative was formed to raise awareness of the educational struggles in Namibia and establish a cultural connection to this community,” said Christine Tobias, Lazare Kaplan's social media sales coordinator. ''This is a way for Lazare Kaplan to thank their retailers and sales associates across the country for their support and spread awareness that diamonds contribute to the wellbeing of the Namibian people.''

The Lazare Diamond Incentive Program rewards Lazare Diamond retailers and their sales associates who sell and register Lazare Diamonds. Lazare Kaplan  will make a matching donation to The Five Rand Primary School in the name of each sales associate for every registered Lazare Diamond. Through this initiative, Lazare Diamond retailers in the U.S.  and their associates will now play a part to support the Five Rand Primary School. Furthermore, LKI employees will also participate with direct donations as part of this initiative.

The definition for Ongoma is a drum that is used to make sound. The Five Rand Primary School  opened its doors in 2005 and is situated in the informal settlement of Five Rand, south of the Garden Town, and sheltering children from the lower income community. It opened with 120 learners and seven teachers but that has grown to  410 learners and 12 teachers taking youngsters through preschool up to grade seven.