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The Diamond Trust, a non-profit making entity through which Debswana and De Beers fund large community based projects, will on Wednesday 6th May receive African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) award. This accolade will be presented during a breakfast function at the Development Bank of Southern Africa premises in Midrand, South Africa. This award is given to companies which have contributed significantly to the protection of natural and cultural heritage on the African continent.

According to the Director of African World Heritage Fund, Webber Nodoro, the event is aimed at raising support and promoting the preservation and management of Africa’s cultural and natural heritage.

The Diamond Trust is recognised for its dedication and exemplary contribution to the conservation and management of the Tsodilo World Heritage site. The rock paintings at Tsodilo Hills have high-value tourism and they are significantly contributing to the economy of the country.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Boyce Sebetela, who will receive the award on behalf of the Trust said; “we are proud to have turned a passive resource and tourism attractions into robust economic activities managed by the people of Tsodilo”. The guides and the people who run the curio site are all natives of Tsodilo village. Sebetela continued on to say that “this is an example of how diamonds enrich the lives of Batswana with full community participation.”

Among those who will grace the event are the patron of the Africa World Heritage Fund Mr. Phuthuma Nthleko, the Chairperson of the African Union Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, several South African government ministers and captains of industries in Africa. In 2010, Debswana and De Beers through the Diamond Trust, donated P10 million for the development of Tsodilo Hill Eco Tourism project.