Twenty students in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Liberia will receive training in sorting and evaluating diamonds, thanks to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
As part of a grant in support of Property Rights and Artisanal Diamond Development (PRADD), five students from Liberia and 15 from the CAR will be chosen to participate.
The project is an initiative developed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Students will be chosen from among those already involved with PRADD. GIA will cover travel and accommodation costs for the students during the week-long course, which will be held in Bangui, CAR.
In addition, the institute will waive tuition fees and supply specialized training materials, including rough diamonds. It will also provide an instructor, assistant instructor, and translator.
“We look forward to serving this region through our educational offerings,” said Donna Baker, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of GIA.
“We are honoured to work alongside USAID on this important initiative to help achieve a greater quality of life for the residents of these African communities.”
PRADD works to bring greater quantities of alluvial diamonds into the legal chain of custody, while improving the livelihood of local mining communities. In 2011, 27.5 per cent of the national diamond production came from the areas of the Central African Republic where PRADD operates. In 2009, that number was only 4.1 per cent.
