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Founded by Russell Simmons along with other individuals in the diamond and jewelry industries and others who are committed to the empowerment of Africa, the non-profit Diamond Empowerment Fund’s mission is to raise money to support education initiatives that develop and empower economically disadvantaged people in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource. Based in the United States since its establishment in 2007, D.E.F. has two named beneficiary organizations, CIDA City Campus and African Leadership Academy, both models for access to higher education in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Sixty percent of world’s diamonds come from Sub-Saharan Africa. In a land rich in diamonds, D.E.F.’s goal is to help African’s most precious diamonds- its youth- have greater educational opportunities that lead to personal and economic empowerment. For further information visit www.diamondempowerment.org.