Lily James in Botswana: “The Natural Beauty”
Lily James, the newly appointed Global Ambassador of the Natural Diamond Council, traveled to Botswana in October to witness firsthand the positive effects of the natural diamond industry and the incredible process of recovering the rare, billion-year-old precious gems.
Thousands of elephants and the famous Selinda lion pride call the picturesque Selinda Reserve in South Africa home, and she spent the first four days of her trip there on safari. The natural diamond industry’s conservation efforts were brought home to her when she traveled to the Orapa Game Park, located along the De Beers Diamond Route. De Beers and the government of Botswana jointly own the diamond mining company Debswana, and Ms. James also visited the Livingstone House Primary School, one of four schools in the area. After that, we went to the Karowe Diamond Mine, owned by Lucara Diamond Corp, and the De Beers Global Sightholder Sales office in Gaborone, Botswana’s capital. She finished up her trip to Botswana at the KGK Diamonds cutting and polishing facility in Gaborone, where she met some of the company’s remarkable employees. The vast majority of these workers are local Botswanans, whose families rely on the natural diamond industry.
“I’ve been awestruck by the natural beauty and the vibrant communities I’ve seen in Botswana,” says Lily James. “To know so much of this land—over 1,000 square miles globally is protected by the natural diamond industry makes me incredibly proud to be the NDC’s Global Ambassador.”
“It’s been incredible to experience Botswana for the first time with our Ambassador, Lily James. I’d heard so much about the positive impact of the Natural Diamond industry in this country, but nothing can prepare you for the real experience,” says David Kellie, CEO of the Natural Diamond Council. “The natural diamond industry is an example to others as to how collaborations between governments and business can transform the lives of so many people and the communities in which they live.”
Botswana is a country that has a population of 2.35 million people and is believed to have been the birthplace of humans between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago. Despite its location in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, the country has been inhabited and has maintained its status as an important place in the world. In 1967, geologists made the first discovery of natural diamonds there.
More than ten million people around the world depend on the sale of natural diamonds to make a living. However, the positive impact of natural diamonds is felt most strongly in Botswana, where they will contribute 33 percent of the country’s GDP in 2021. Botswana also has the highest percentage of businesses owned by women of any country in the world.
Because of the partnership between the diamond industry and the government of Botswana, the country is able to maintain a school system that educates an average of 522,000 children each year. 1966 was a year that saw the opening of only three secondary schools. There are now 300, and the government of Botswana provides free primary and secondary education to every child in the country.
Additional advantages brought about by the natural diamond industry include the provision of medical care for more than 4 million people all over the world and the financing of the development of essential infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals, and roadways.
Additional information regarding the natural diamond industry’s contributions to economies and communities can be found in the Natural Diamond Council’s Thank You, By The Way campaign. This initiative, which has recently gained support from industry retailers such as Jared and Ben Bridge Jewelers, is a great resource for those interested in the topic.