Some of Botswana’s top students will be able to attend the university of their choice thanks to a $75,000 donation from the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF).
So far, the group has raised $225,000 for the Botswana Top Achiever Program. Upon graduation, the students return to Botswana to contribute to its future.
“Botswana is a shining example of the positive impact diamonds have on communities when good governance is coupled with wise management of natural resources,” said DEF board president, Phyllis Bergman.
“Not only does Botswana manage its 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.”
The funds were raised in June at the ‘Salute to Botswana, Diamonds Empower Africa’ event held in Washington, D.C., which was co-hosted by DEF and the Embassy of the Republic of Botswana.
Phandu Skelemani, Botswana’s minister of foreign affairs, accepted the cheque earlier this month, along with other high-level government officials.
Skelemani emphasized the importance of education and of “using this tool of education to empower Botswana’s youth to become the next leaders in our country, able to drive economic diversification and growth that will benefit all. We thank the Diamond Empowerment Fund for this most generous donation.”
