GIA sponsors two Mandela Day libraries

GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has sponsored two Mandela Day libraries, which now gives around 1,100 students at the Moime and Refentse primary schools in rural Limpopo, South Africa the opportunity to access 2,500 educational books. The opening ceremonies of the two libraries took place on February 19 and 20, attended by local government representatives, teachers and tribal authorities. As part of the events, GIA also hosted 20 students ages 13 to 15 for its Junior Gemologist™ programme.

Bev Hori, GIA’s chief learning officer and vice president of education said, “On behalf of everyone at GIA, our sincere thanks to the Mandela Day libraries project and Breadline Africa for such a wonderful program. We look forward to sponsoring two more libraries over the next few years.”

The Mandela libraries project is dedicated to bridging the gap in literacy and reading proficiency in schools throughout South Africa by recycling and retrofitting large shipping containers with new flooring, insulation, electricity and book shelves to create libraries. Breadline Africa, a nongovernmental organization and internationally registered South African-based charity, is the main partner of the program. GIA’s sponsorship of the Mandela Day libraries project is funded by the GIA endowment. GIA and its employees also donated approximately 1,500 books for the libraries.

GIA’s Junior Gemologist Program™ was introduced in Africa in 2012. The Institute also introduced more than 1,000 African students to gem and jewelry education opportunities at the Career Indaba trade show in Johannesburg in June 2013 as part of the seventh annual Africa Education Week.