(PRESS RELEASE) Grandview Klein Diamonds (South Africa) announces that on our company has made a donation of shoes, feminine hygiene products, and school supplies to the students of Dipetlelwane Primary School, a public school located approximately 2.5 hours outside of Johannesburg, South Africa. The donation was made through Africa Arise, an organization that has developed a platform for donations for small schools with little funding in rural areas throughout the region.
“This donation reflects our commitment to supporting communities in need and improving access to basic necessities such as footwear, hygiene products, and educational materials. We believe that access to these resources can make a significant difference in the lives of those who receive them, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to these efforts. We will continue to seek out ways to support and uplift communities both locally and globally,” said Moshe Klein, president.
Dipetlelwane Primary School is a ‘Section 21 school’, meaning it is allocated finances by the South African government. The government assists with books, textbooks and stationery once a year, however, should students lose their school supplies, they are not replaced. Students therefore either rely on donations, or simply do not have these materials at all. For young women, this can be especially troublesome as they cannot attend school for (approximately) one week during their menstrual cycle as a result of not having sanitary pads accessible to them.
School Principal, Pricilla Moepeng, commented, “I am very grateful to have had the privilege of having our learners sponsored by Grandview Klein, who donated school shoes, stationery and sanitary pads. We really have our hands full because most of our learners come from disadvantaged homes, it’s very unfortunate that most don’t have school shoes and uniforms especially winter uniforms. But our kids were fortunate enough to have received shoes and pads which the Government only gives us twice a year. Thank you very much for lending a hand and reaching out to those in need. We are truly grateful and humbled that you chose to assist us out of many other disadvantaged schools. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Grandview Klein has the prestigious ‘triple Sightholder’ designation in the global diamond industry, which means it receives rough diamonds directly from De Beers in the three locations in which it has manufacturing operations – South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. In total, the group employees approximately 150 local people throughout Africa but, according to Moshe Klein. “We feel very strongly that employment should only be one piece of the good work we do in southern Africa, hence why we are committed to beneficiation projects and programs that truly add value to the community and the less fortunate.
Klein added, “As we celebrate our 75th anniversary and consider what legacy we hope to carry into the next 75, we would like it not to be about diamonds alone but rather the work we do to promote positive social development and health, and equitable educational opportunities for all, especially related to Africa’s youth.”
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Furthering its commitment to the region, GKD also has an association with the Bera Diamond Academy (BDA), a vocational college specifically aimed at the needs of the deaf and the disabled (Bera literally means deaf in the Urdu Language). When BDA became a specialized technical and vocational college for the deaf and disabled in the diamond and mining industry, GKD worked with the students to assist in repairing polishing wheels, supplied used equipment and assisted by doing laser sawing for them, as well as providing other support that will lead to a world-class diamond processing and polishing academy.
“Our greatest strength happens to be our manufacturing. We have had cutters with us for 25, 30, 40 years even, who are considered the best in the world. It gives us the greatest pleasure to pass some of that experience and expertise on to people who otherwise wouldn’t ever have a chance to experience the magical transformation of a rough to polished stone,” added Klein.
