Page 26 - issue 21

26 In The News

funding from an angel Investor .In the ( The Shining Light Awards) of women in senior positions has
latest update (Jan. 2019) is that the first more than doubled, as part of our
round of funding of $ 2 million has been This is an initiative aimed at supporting commitment to gender parity.
secured. Jewellery designers from all De Beers
This development is an example of both producing countries; Botswana, DE BEERS Group Valedictorian Awards
foreign direct investment in and service Namibia, South Africa and Canada. It This was a Memorandum Of
export from Botswana.Lucient Group was remodelled in 2015 from being Understanding Signed with the
managed the complex setup of the a cash prized competition to a skills University of Botswana and recently
South African office using the lessons development competition. Botho University to adopt Valedictorians
learnt from the programme around Hence, in 2017 the re-modelled into the De Beers Group system.This
leadership and culture and as a result structure was reviewed and adopted is a 3months to 1 year coaching and
the Botswana company more than with the aim of developing all countries mentorship programme as a gateway
doubled its employee base during the in the jewellery design industry. The into their careers.
STP from 150 to 390 after opening the programme now has a winner, first
South African office. and second runners for each country. Thamaga Pottery Redevelopment
Currently the 2017/18 winners are Thamaga Pottery is one the few
Auto Boys has had 30-35 new hires in studying a Masters in Accessory Design places in Botswana that embrace the
the last 3 months is in the process of at Poli Design school in Milan, Italy for hand craft of pottery. The pottery is
opening up three (3) new branches and a year whilst 2nd runners-up are doing one of the products that are viewed
that is expected to be an additional 60 a three months training at Forevermark. as “Proudly Botswana”. It is a co-op
people under the company.Dynamic The Third prize winners are about that supports women and empowers
Road Services has had a revenue growth to start a one year Jewellery Design the wider community.This is a tourist
of 20% during the STP in 2018 and also training at Akapo Jewels in South Africa. attraction area. This Can increase
secured the assistance from a Seed economic diversification through skills
consultant experienced in supply chain UN WOMEN PARTNERSHIP development and tourism.
management. This is good progress by DeBeers on
its commitments to accelerate the
Healthy Delights, Maungo Craft and advancement of women across its
Nubean Seed made the finalist list in the organisation.The appointment rate
FEMBIO National competition, which
afforded them a place at the regional
competition in Cape Town, SA. Maungo
Craft emerged winners and as part of
the prize they went on to compete in
the Netherlands.

Just Ginger and Face on the Door
Creative competed in the Business
Cup and emerged in the top 6. Both
companies went on to participate in the
global final in Copenhagen, Denmark.
However due to visa issues Face on the
Door could not participate in the finals.

Varsity Buzz and Adcraft collaborated
alongside 5 GTM companies provided
services during the 2018 Diamond week.
Unitech Farming was nominated into
the inaugural Obama Foundation
Scholars Program in Chicago as an
accelerated program towards the social
enterprise leadership and she attested
that this was from the key aspects she Following the launch of Lightbox, DeBeers synthetic diamond range in 2018 the
learnt from GTM. consumer response to the products has been positive,.
img credit-DeBeers
DE BEERS Group designers initiative

Issue 21 Apr/May- 2019 www.engineermagazine.co.bw www.engineermagazine.co.bw Issue 21 Apr/May - 2019