As natural diamond ambassadors, our family felt it necessary to visit Namibia and South Africa, speak with its peoples, and learn first-hand how our industry affects their lives. We partnered with our direct diamond supplier to provide practical aid, including dialysis machines for clinics, funds for scholarships, and sanitary napkins so that young girls can go to school. As one child stated to us, many parents simply cannot afford the "luxury" of female hygiene products. Without these necessities, their girls cannot attend the classes they need to learn, and how will they achieve their ambitions without that instruction?
This visit reminded us that the children are the true diamonds of these nations, and it is in them we must invest. In the Soweto township in South Africa, the unemployment rate is 70% among certain age groups. Local mentors are stepping in to bridge the gap from poverty to education, ensuring youngsters are not lost to hopelessness. At the Kliptown Youth Program (KYP), for example, students from kindergarten through high school receive what may be the only hot meal of their day. Counselors give them guidance toward higher education. All proceeds received by this center go to the children of KYP, who greeted our family with beautiful smiles and open arms as soon as we entered. We left feeling incredibly moved and more determined than ever to support this shining oasis of hope.