According to the Diamond Development Initiative (DDI), the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) is supporting the second year of programming at the mobile school in the mining village of Kankala, of the Kasai Occidental province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a grant.

The Diamond Empowerment Mobile school was one of the first two in DDI’s “Sending Schools to Kids” remedial education program – giving children the opportunity to leave mines and go back to school, and of eventually re-integrating the regular education system and building a better future for themselves and their families.

The first year results indicated a very positive response that the 20 children attending the school rarely missed classes. DEF funding also provides meals, uniforms and school supplies for the children, as well as paying the salaries of teachers and caretakers.

Dorothée Gizenga, Executive Director of DDI said, “All children, from elementary and secondary levels, should be in school and we believe this will require a strengthened commitment from international and local partners and various levels of government. But today, thanks to the Diamond Empowerment Fund, there are 20 children in Kankala who are receiving a good education,” she said. “Twenty children with the chance to succeed are bringing hope to their village. And this is only the beginning.”

DEF Executive Director and CEO Nancy Lyman said, “DEF’s mission is to support sustainable approaches to development and education in diamond communities around the world.”