Neftaly Charity
August 1990
Partnership Report: Neftaly – State Diamond Trader
By: Chief Development Officer, Neftaly
Executive Summary
August 1990 marked a pivotal milestone in Neftaly Charity’s journey to strengthen its economic empowerment initiatives. Our strategic partnership with the State Diamond Trader (SDT) was formalized to leverage South Africa’s diamond industry as a driver for social development, skills transfer, and sustainable community investment.
This partnership aligns our mission of creating pathways out of poverty with SDT’s mandate to ensure equitable beneficiation from the country’s mineral wealth. Together, we are working to direct resources, expertise, and opportunities into historically disadvantaged communities.
Partnership Objectives
The Neftaly–SDT collaboration was established to:
- Promote Skills Development – Facilitate training programs in diamond cutting, polishing, grading, and jewellery design for unemployed youth.
- Support Small Businesses – Provide micro-financing, mentorship, and market access for emerging jewellers and traders.
- Invest in Community Infrastructure – Channel a portion of proceeds from selected diamond sales into health, education, and women’s empowerment initiatives.
- Champion Ethical Trade – Uphold transparent, fair, and conflict-free sourcing principles in line with international best practice.
Key Activities – August 1990
- Inaugural Training Cohort: 25 young apprentices from rural provinces commenced diamond grading and polishing courses at the SDT Training Centre in Johannesburg.
- Seed Funding Allocation: R500,000 committed to support five community-based jewellery cooperatives.
- Women in Trade Program: Launch of a pilot mentorship scheme for 12 women entrepreneurs entering the diamond and jewellery value chain.
- Public Engagement Campaign: Joint awareness drives on ethical diamond trade at provincial trade fairs.
Impact to Date
While still in its early stages, the partnership has already begun to yield tangible results:
- Job Creation: 14 apprentices offered placement in polishing houses upon course completion.
- Economic Participation: Cooperative members generated first sales totalling R120,000.
- Social Return: Early proceeds funded the refurbishment of two rural school science laboratories.
Looking Ahead
The remainder of 1990 will focus on:
- Expanding training intake to 50 participants.
- Scaling cooperative support to an additional three provinces.
- Establishing an export channel for community-produced jewellery to reach European markets.
- Publishing a transparent impact assessment for public accountability.
Closing Statement
The partnership between Neftaly Charity and the State Diamond Trader represents more than a business alignment—it is a shared commitment to rewrite the economic narrative for marginalized communities. By bridging the worlds of commerce and social responsibility, we are creating a legacy of opportunity, dignity, and sustainable growth.
Signed,
[Name]
Chief Development Officer
Neftaly Charity
August 1990

