ALMASIKA VISITS DEBEERS IN BOTSWANA

"Every piece of jewelry tells a story, from the gemstones and metals used to create it to the hands that brought it to life." -Catherine Sarr

In April of this year, ALMASIKA founder Catherine Sarr had the privilege of traveling to Botswana, one of the world's largest diamond producers, alongside an incredible group of fellow jewelry designers. Together, they visited the Orapa diamond mine, owned by Debswana, a partnership between the De Beers company and the government of Botswana. 

While on the ground, Sarr learned how every diamond from this incredible country results from a 50/50 joint venture throughout a five-decade partnership and how reciprocally, Botswana owns 15% of DeBeers.  

Botswana is a gem in every sense of the word. The sense of pride and ownership is evident in everything this country does. It was fascinating for Sarr to learn firsthand how Batswana men and women, from mine directors and sorters to truck drivers and engineers, manage their diamond mines. With free education and healthcare, Botswana is a model for sustainable development.

During the visit, Sarr also had the chance to witness their world-class conservation efforts. Botswana is now home to the world's largest population of elephants, a true testament to their commitment to conservation and preserving their natural resources.