COMMUNITY PROJECTS
“We would like to give something back to the country which gives us our remarkable diamonds” says Laurence Graff. “There is such appalling poverty and hunger in Southern Africa, yet with more help from donations the situation will begin to improve.” To this end, he has set up a charity called F.A.C.E.T. (For Africa’s Children Every Time). The charity functions as a ‘fund of funds’ to raise money for the education, health and wellbeing of the children of Africa from where Graff sources many of its beautiful stones.
Hunger and poverty have occurred partly because of the HIV/Aids pandemic which has wiped out almost a generation of parents and workers in Africa. This has left their children alone and vulnerable, without funds to buy food or be educated to pursue a normal life; in fact it is estimated that some 1000 children join the statistics each day – either because a parent has died or is unable to care for them due to illness.
However, 90% of these children have a chance of living to adulthood – enjoying healthy lives and having careers, if they are given the right support and aid to do so.
To launch F.A.C.E.T. Laurence Graff donated US $1m and continues to support with further donations. Fundraising events, such as art auctions featuring Delaire artists alongside globally recognised names, are planned in the countries where Graff International operates The first Graff Leadership Centre is up and running in Lesotho. The centre provides a wonderful, Afro-centred library, and training facilities for children, youth and adults in a multitude of programs, including pre-employment skills.. The second floor of the building is a hostel for fifty young girls in a leadership program to develop peer leaders in their villages. Thousands of youth will benefit from this outstanding community resource. Further centres are being developed elsewhere in Southern Africa. |
