Diamond Empowerment Fund Awards $75,000 to Botswana Top Achievers
October 05, 12(IDEX Online News) - The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) on Monday presented a $75,000 check to the Botswana Delegation to the United Nations, as a donation to the Botswana Top Achiever Program, which affords top students an opportunity to attend the university of their choice worldwide. Upon graduation, they then return to Botswana to contribute to its future.
The funds were raised at the June ‘Salute to Botswana, Diamonds Empower Africa’ event held in Washington, D.C., co-hosted by DEF and the Embassy of the Republic of Botswana.
Phyllis Bergman, DEF board president, reaffirmed the importance of the event., "Botswana is a shining example of the positive impact diamonds have on communities when good governance is coupled with wise management of natural resources. Not only does Botswana manage is natural resources well, it also embraces its most important natural resource, its youth, through the Top Achiever Program. This mirrors the mission of DEF and we are thrilled to contribute to this amazing program.”
High-level members from the Botswana delegation receiving the check at Monday’s presentation included Botswana Minister of Foreign Affairs Phandu Skelemani and Botswana’s Ambassador to the United States Tebelelo Seretse.
Members of the DEF’s board of directors, as well as representatives from Tiffany & Co., the lead sponsor for the ‘Salute to Botswana’ event, presented the check to the delegation. Sponsors of the event included board members Leo Schachter Diamonds, Signet, Dalumi Group/Swana Diamonds and included Exelco and Julius Klein.
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