The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F)  announced a partnership with the Mine Training Society to establish the first Diamond Empowerment Fund scholarship to be located in Canada, in the presence of Minister Wally Schumann of Canada’s Northwest Territories (NWT).

“The Mine Training Society is a partnership between indigenous governments, public government, and the mining industry,” D.E.F. said while making the announcement. “Its mission is to help indigenous people living in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut region of northern Canada find long-term employment in the mining industry.”

The Diamond Empowerment Fund offers scholarships to young persons keen to advance in diamond mining fields of employment.

The partnership was announced at the Kimberlite Career & Technical Center, which was created by the GNWT and diamond industry partners.

Wally Schumann, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment for the Government of the Northwest Territories said,“The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to ensuring benefits from major diamond development projects flow to NWT residents – their businesses and their governments. I am pleased to have helped facilitate this diamond-inspired programme between the Diamond Empowerment Fund and the Mine Training Society that will help northern youth gain the skills they need to succeed at the mine site and beyond.”

Anna Martin, president of the Diamond Empowerment Fund and senior vice president of GIA remarked: “Creating education and employment opportunities for youth who live in areas where natural diamonds are found is at the heart of the Diamond Empowerment Fund’s mission. We are thrilled to be part of this partnership with the Mine Training Society and to recognize the importance of Canada to the natural diamond mining industry”.

Canada is the world’s third largest diamond-producing country.  The Government of the Northwest Territories was the recipient of  D.E.F.’s Diamonds Do Good Responsible Government Award in 2018.  Recipients of this year’s Diamonds Do Good Awards are diamond mining giant ALROSA and leading retailers who are part of the Luxury Jewelers Resource Group. The event to distribute the awards will be held n May 30, 2019, in Las Vegas.  

D.E.F noted that other beneficiaries of their activities are located in Botswana, Tanzania, India, and southern Africa.

Pic Cap: (frm lft to rt): Winter Bailey, Mine Training Society; Nancy Orem Lyman, D.E.F.; Hon. Wally Schumann