The recently launched Stargems Diamond Training Center has received positive feedback from locals, who believe that the center will bolster the country’s diamond industry.
The first batch of trainees has successfully completed the course and are now industry-ready, with the second batch of 72 trainees undergoing training and set to graduate soon. The training center’s establishment is part of Stargems Group’s commitment to community empowerment, one of its key Corporate Social Responsibility principles.
Sandeep Kolambekar, the StarGems Global Head of Manufacturing, emphasized their belief that businesses can only thrive when their communities are well taken care of. As such, the company contributed 10% of its revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate education, donate to hospitals, and support NGOs helping women and children living with HIV. In Botswana, Stargems Group is targeting youth unemployment and hopes to collaborate with relevant authorities to address this issue.
The Stargems Diamond Training Center provides trainees with knowledge and skills in various areas of diamond manufacturing, including rough diamond sorting, quality grading, and polishing. With all the necessary resources available at the center, trainees can easily understand and master the industry’s complexities while gaining exposure to the diamond industry’s history, trends, and opportunities.
Trainees who have completed the course shared their experiences, including Keorapetse Legajang, who emphasized how the training center changed her life and made her industry-ready. Gorata Molatlhegi also shared how the institution provided opportunities to explore new career paths. The training center provides an opportunity for young people to gain valuable skills and contribute to the diamond industry’s growth and development without paying any tuition fees.
Stargems Group’s investment in community empowerment through the establishment of the Stargems Diamond Training Center is a great stride towards promoting the development of the diamond industry in Botswana and empowering communities.
