| Social Investment Initiatives |
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De Beers has a well-established social investment record in Canada. Considering the company is only at an exploration and development stage, and has yet to generate a profit in Canada, the CDN $1 million donated in 2003 is believed to be unequalled for companies at the same stage.
During 2004, an amount of CDN $300,000 was invested in Canada. Much of De Beers' corporate social investment is dedicated to the improvement of education and training within the communities in which we operate.
De Beers Canada 2004 Social Investment Initiatives:
Kindergarten children at the Wha Ti Mezi Community school were given Education is Forever (Pdf 111kb) backpacks filled with winter clothing, music and healthy snacks courtesy of the Snap Lake team.
De Beers along with other industry producers and government are providing $40 million for Aboriginal Skills Training (Pdf 70kb). The Northwest Territory Industrial Mining Skills Strategy project will include three major components: an education program focused on staying in school, trades skills training and the establishment of a mine training facility.
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De Beers Canada, other industry producers and government partners sponsored the production of a children's book on Canadian Diamonds in the north. Canada's Northern Diamonds...from rocks to riches written by Gayla Meredith, a Yellowknife school teacher, is her first children's book about diamonds. Funding assistance for the publication of this book has meant that the book is available to the public at a reduced rate. Monies raised from the sale of Canada's Northern Diamonds go to support the Northwest Territories Literacy Council who assist in the publication of stories written by children in the north.
In the spring, De Beers sponsored a Pow Wow at Northern College in Timmins, Ontario. Celebrating aboriginal culture the Pow Wow featured traditional dancing, drumming and food.
During the summer, Yellowknife rocked with the sounds of Folk On The Rock (Pdf 303kb). De Beers provided CDN $15,000 towards the production of this festival and have signed on for a three year sponsorship. The event featured music by Allakomi, which hails from western Africa. A hit at the festival Allakomi later traveled to the Snap Lake site treating staff to a special concert.
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Children in Northwest Territory Aboriginal communities were provided with a number of reading materials through the Books in the Home program (Pdf 192kb) developed by De Beers Snap Lake Community Liaison Coordinators. The program brought educators together with De Beers' staff to assist in selecting reading materials for the children.
In August, De Beers Canada sponsored the first ever 2004 Canadian National Exhibition Pow Wow, in Toronto. First Nations artists from across Canada were in attendance showcasing their traditional and contemporary music, dance, storytelling as well as arts and crafts. De Beers promotes cultural diversity and this event was a unique opportunity for us to
celebrate Native Canadian Culture.
To learn more about De Beers global social commitment and initiatives click here to read Living up to Diamonds (pdf 1,118kb).
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