Neftaly Charity – May 1990
Neftaly & State Diamond Trader Partnership Report
Report by: Chief Development Officer, Neftaly
1. Executive Summary
In May 1990, Neftaly Charity entered into a landmark partnership with State Diamond Trader (SDT) to address urgent socio-economic needs in diamond-producing communities. This collaboration aimed to leverage both organisations’ strengths—Neftaly’s expertise in community development and SDT’s leadership in ethical trade—to create sustainable, measurable change.
2. Partnership Objectives
The Neftaly–SDT partnership was built on four core objectives:
- Empowerment of Mining Communities – Providing access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure in rural mining areas.
- Ethical Trade Advancement – Promoting fair pricing, transparent trade practices, and compliance with international ethical standards.
- Skills Development – Training programs for miners, artisans, and youth to create alternative sources of income.
- Sustainable Economic Growth – Reinvesting diamond revenues into community-driven projects for long-term impact.
3. Activities & Achievements (May 1990)
3.1. Education Initiatives
- Funded construction of two new primary schools in Northern Cape and Limpopo mining towns.
- Distributed over 5,000 textbooks and learning materials.
- Launched the “Diamonds for Knowledge” scholarship program supporting 120 high school learners.
3.2. Healthcare Access
- Deployed mobile clinics to four remote mining communities.
- Partnered with local health departments to provide free eye and dental screenings for 2,300 individuals.
3.3. Skills & Enterprise Development
- Established artisan training centers focusing on jewellery making, gem cutting, and small business management.
- Provided micro-loans to 37 local entrepreneurs to expand small-scale businesses.
3.4. Ethical Trade Compliance
- Collaborated on the development of an ethical sourcing certification framework.
- Conducted 14 workshops for mine owners and traders on transparency and fair labor practices.
4. Financial Summary
Total Partnership Investment: R4.8 million (equivalent to approx. USD 2.4 million in 1990)
- Education: 40%
- Healthcare: 25%
- Skills Development: 20%
- Ethical Trade & Compliance: 15%
Funding was jointly contributed by Neftaly Charity and State Diamond Trader, with SDT committing a percentage of diamond trade revenues directly to the projects.
5. Challenges & Lessons Learned
- Infrastructure Delays: School construction faced delays due to late delivery of building materials.
- Community Engagement: Initial reluctance from some mine operators required extended dialogue to build trust.
- Sustainability Planning: Need for greater emphasis on local leadership to maintain projects beyond the partnership period.
6. Future Outlook
The May 1990 partnership has laid a strong foundation for long-term collaboration between Neftaly and State Diamond Trader. The next phase will focus on:
- Expanding the scholarship program to university-level education.
- Establishing permanent healthcare facilities in mining towns.
- Scaling up ethical certification to all diamond trade partners in Southern Africa.
Prepared by:
[Name]
Chief Development Officer, Neftaly
May 1990

