(l to r) Chris Bradford, co-founder, African Leadership Academy; Phyllis Bergman, president Diamond Empowerment Fund board, CEO Mercury Ring; Graça Machel, founder, Graça Machel Trust; Dr. Benjamin Chavis, co-founder, Diamond Empowerment Fund; Nicola Breytenbach-Steiner, board member and Angel Ambassador for Diamond Empowerment Fund, actress and philanthropist; Nancy Orem Lyman, Executive Director, Diamond Empowerment Fund; Fred Swaniker, co-founder, African Leadership Academy (Photo credit: ‘Craig Williston/Qool Foto”)The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) presented a cheque worth $122,500 to support the next generation of leaders in Africa through access to higher education. The cheque was presented to ALA co-founders Fred Swaniker and Chris Bradford, on the eve of the African Leadership Academy’s Student Indaba held in New York City. Also on hand to receive D.E.F.’s donation was Graça Machel Mandela, former first lady of both Mozambique and South Africa.

Ms. Machel participated in a discussion with guests and African Leadership Academy (ALA) alumni, focusing on preserving the African identity, addressing pressing social issues, and motivating the next generation of Africans towards significant and lasting change on the continent. ALA, located in Johannesburg, South Africa, cultivates young students through a two-year program to prepare them for college. It stresses leadership, entrepreneurship, and African studies. Students return to their home countries after college graduation to apply what they’ve learned to building and improving their own communities.

The following day D.E.F. attended ALA’s regional indaba, a student-led day of sessions for ALA graduates, held at New York City’s Barnard College. D.E.F president Phyllis Bergman, CEO of Mercury Ring said, “These bright young students are a shining example of Africa’s future. D.E.F is proud to support these emerging leaders who represent our ‘Diamonds Do Good’ mission of supporting transformative initiatives in global diamond communities.”