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In celebration of this year’s International Women's Day, De Beers Forevermark is pleased to release a new Responsible Sourcing ‘In Focus’ story featuring Zimele entrepreneur Sophia Mphuthi along with engine operator Alice Mandiwana.

De Beers Forevermark, as part of the De Beers Group of companies is proud to support local employment and career development for women. Women represent 23.8 per cent of the De Beers Group of Companies workforce, against 16 per cent in the mining industry as a whole. As a result of several programs designed to develop and retain female talent, De Beers Consolidated Mines was named South Africa’s Top Gender Empowered Resources Company at the Standard Bank Top Women Award last year.

De Beers Forevermark Chief Executive Stephen Lussier comments: “Women wearing De Beers Forevermark Diamonds can take pride in the advancement that our diamonds bring to women living in producing countries. Women play a strategic role in our diamond journey and we are pleased to highlight their important contribution not only in the diamond industry but also in local communities.”

The 2016 International Women’s Day campaign theme is “Pledge For Parity” and De Beers Forevermark’s Responsible sourcing in Focus story echoes to the theme, featuring two inspiring women that have made a career in an area traditionally owned by men: driving.

Sophia Mphuthi started her own business as a driving instructor. With the support of De Beers’ Zimele programme, an enterprise development initiative funding and supporting South Africans to build their own successful small to medium enterprise (SME), Sophia was able to extend her driving school based in Kimberley, South Africa from car to truck driving. She now offers free training to women, opening for them a new world of opportunities.

Alice Mandiwana’s story echoes Sophia’s. A trained firefighter, Alice couldn’t find employment – until she was offered training to become an engine operator at De Beers’ Venetia Mine in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Alice received full training to operate off-road haul trucks, impressive engines with a wheelbase of 23 ft 7 in (7,188 mm). She is now one of the mine’s top performing drivers.

Annie Griffith, an award winning photo journalist, documented De Beers Forevermark responsible sourcing practices, touring Southern Africa last summer. The founder and Executive Director of Ripple Effects Images, a non-profit organisation highlighting programmes helping to empower women. She was interested in how diamonds connected women across vast distances and cultural divides. “That diamond on your finger has been through an incredible journey, and some incredible women have helped to put it there,” she said.

Annie comments: “Following a De Beers Forevermark diamond journey was an outstanding experience. There is such a strong connection between diamonds and conservation. I could also witness how much diamonds benefit local communities, especially women.”

Please visit the De Beers Forevermark website to discover Sophia and Alice story along with Annie Griffiths’ journey and images.

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For further information about Forevermark please visit Forevermark.com.

Notes to Editors:

ABOUT DE BEERS FOREVERMARK

Every De Beers Forevermark diamond undergoes a journey of rigorous selection. Less than one percent of the world’s diamonds are worthy of the De Beers Forevermark inscription.

The unique inscription is an assurance that every De Beers Forevermark diamond meets exceptional standards of beauty, rarity and is responsibly sourced.

DE BEERS FOREVERMARK INSCRIPTION & GRADING

Invisible to the naked eye, the inscription is made using bespoke technology from The De Beers Group of Companies. Featured on the personalised De Beers Forevermark Diamond Grading Report which comes with every De Beers Forevermark diamond, the individual identification number inscribed on the Diamond is just 1/5000th the width of a human hair. It can only be seen using a special De Beers Forevermark viewer at Authorised De Beers Forevermark Jewellers. 

De Beers Forevermark is the diamond brand from The De Beers Group of Companies and benefits from over 127 years of diamond expertise. De Beers Forevermark diamonds are carefully selected and are beautifully crafted by a select group of diamantaires. They are exclusively available from select Authorised De Beers Forevermark Jewellers. 

For more information and to find your nearest Authorised De Beers Forevermark Jeweller offering De Beers Forevermark Grading Reports, go to www.forevermark.com