Diamonds are Botswana’s Best Friend

July 16, 2009 / 70 Comments

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The Diamond Empowerment Fund has brought us to Botswana to show us how
the diamond industry has changed the life of the Botswana people. I
used to assume after watching the movie Blood Diamonds that diamonds
were not acceptable to buy from Africa. However, it is the complete
opposite! When diamonds are purchased, the whole country can survive! In Botswana there used
to be 10 schools but the diamond industry has now funded 300 schools!

We went into the largest diamond mine! It was huge! The trucks they use
to carry the diamonds are 6 million dollars, and each tire is $70,000!
How crazy is that?! Look at how small we look in comparison to the tire!
We saw all the raw diamonds and the process they have to go through in
order to get them ready to be delivered to stores! Thank you DeBeers
for that amazing experience!

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Comments 70

  1. Lekgapho  |   Posted on Jul 20th, 2009

    Hey Kim
    You know what, i just registered now so i can comment here… I read a lot of negative comments here.. all i wanna say is some people are clueless about what they are talking.. Im a motswana, in an overseas university, my tuition fees is paid (cont

    Reply
  2. Lekgapho  |   Posted on Jul 20th, 2009

    by my government, im given personal allowance everymonth, book allowance every year, they pay for my medical aid…we really appreciate what our government is doing for us. there is no such thing as blood diamonds in Bots. No child slavery like some1 said.

    Reply
    • Miami Princess  |   Posted on Jul 20th, 2009

      WOW THAT’S GREAT! WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING?

      Reply
      • Lekgapho  |   Posted on Jul 20th, 2009

        BBA (hons) Banking and Finance
        It really saddens me to read sum of these comments.. I hve had a free education since i was 7yrs old.. ofcourse my parents pay taxes, but stil its free edcatn. Ther a so many batswana unda gvrnmnt scholarship all ova da world

        Reply
    • sarah_jane  |   Posted on Jul 20th, 2009

      I don’t think anyone is criticising your govt. Just some of us are wary about DeBeers and their interests and history. But that’s the reality of the world today and if the people are benefitting too then that’s a good thing! Good luck w/ your studies :)

      Reply
      • Lekgapho  |   Posted on Jul 21st, 2009

        I sometimes wish botswana diamonds were fully owned by my government, anyways nothing we can do about it…And thanks for wishing me well in my studies

        Reply
  3. Lo  |   Posted on Jul 21st, 2009

    What an economy! I had no idea about this. Thanks Kim

    Reply
  4. feddy80  |   Posted on Jul 22nd, 2009

    Most of pips frm ths western coutries dnt knw Bots so take time to read lil bit on Wikipedia it will gv u a gud pic of wht kind of country Botswana is… bots gov and Debeers r wrkng on relocating the diamond aggregation frm UK to Bots which will..conti

    Reply
  5. feddy80  |   Posted on Jul 22nd, 2009

    this will futher improve the benefication of diamonds to Botswana. after all there is sum gud the industry hv brought to this prt of the world. So we should nt paint it tht bad

    Reply
  6. Macel Santos  |   Posted on Jul 22nd, 2009

    YOU´RE TANNING KIM!

    Reply
  7. Gabby  |   Posted on Jul 23rd, 2009

    Hello there, did u actually take the time to do some research on Botswana and De beers? I am quite cynical when it comes to ‘celebrities’ going to AFRICA to “lend a helping hand”

    Reply

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