De Beers Group Employees Have a Good Hair Day
Employee volunteers at De Beers’ Venetia mine in South Africa have raised cash for the fight against cancer by having their hair sprayed or shaved.
De Beers Group employees have a good hair day
Around 1,000 people from De Beers and contracting firms stepped forward to face the scissors or the spray for the mine’s annual CANSA Shavathon.
The mine’s volunteer ‘diamond ambassadors’ did the shaving and spraying for fellow employees who each paid R30 (US$2.32) for the privilege. Some had their hair sprayed in stripes or shapes, using stencils.
They collected R13,914 (US$1,076) for CANSA (the Cancer Association of South Africa) in Polokwane, capital of Limpopo Province, which is the nearest branch to the Venetia mine. De Beers matched the amount, taking the total to R27,828 (US$2,152).
This year’s cheque will boost the amount raised since 2014, when the mine started supporting CANSA, to more than R112,000 (US$8,663).
The money will be put towards mobile cancer testing units for rural areas of Limpopo, as well as towards cancer education and awareness in Musina and Blouberg.
Corporate Affairs Manager Josephine Pieters said: “At De Beers, we encourage employee volunteerism and take pride in our diamond ambassadors advocating issues of health and community development. As a company, we therefore saw it as fitting to match funds raised during this campaign in the knowledge that these funds will be utilised to better the lives of those suffering from cancer.”
De Beers’ encouragement for its employees to work with local charities is part of its commitment to investing in the communities in which it operates.
About De Beers
De Beers is a member of the Anglo American plc group. Established in 1888, De Beers is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining and marketing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. As part of the company’s operating philosophy, the people of De Beers are committed to ‘Building Forever’ by making a lasting contribution to the communities in which they live and work, and transforming natural resources into shared national wealth. For further information about De Beers, visit www.debeersgroup.com.
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