Royal Asscher Launched a Sierra Leone Education Project

Royal Asscher launched last week a Sierra Leone focused charity project, called Star of Africa. The project aims to improve infrastructure in Sierra Leone by creating funding for education and self sufficiency programs.

The project is named after the largest diamond ever found in Africa - the 3,105 carat Star of Africa (Cullinan) diamond, which was cut by the Asscher family in 1908.

The project focused on providing people with the cornerstones of society: health, education, economic stability and societal relationships, the company said. Through efforts on the ground, the outcome will be tangible, affecting the people who need the most help.

Initially the Star of Africa project is looking to help end child labor in mines and begin attending school or vocational training. Often diamond mines are the only choice between starvation and survival, according to Lita Asscher, sixth generation diamantaire, but children deserve to be nurtured, hence the project will endorse child sponsorship, so a child can eat well, attend school and receive healthcare.

“Although Sierra Leone is now experiencing a period of peace time, the civilian population bears physical and emotional scars because of the atrocities committed during the war - which was partly funded by the illegal trade of diamonds for weapons,” Asscher said. “Devastation still exists and the civilian population needs support in order to heal and break the poverty cycle.”

“We invite other ethical companies and consumers to stand beside us and offer support, be it financial or skill based, to these projects.”

Another project aim is to provide micro grants to vulnerable families who now depend on their children’s income from the mines, so that they can establish an economic base. For example, a family will receive a micro-grant to buy livestock to breed, which also offers them milk.

The project will also seek to support discussion between community leaders and stakeholders to better communicate on important social issues by working with experienced NGO’s.