The next generation of East African youth are dreaming of a future where gemstones are faceted in their own country, causing three positive results: more jobs, the value of the gems increases at export, and an entirely East African brand of gemstones.

Meet Beatrice and Esther, two widowed Kenyan women mining for Tsavorite Garnet.

In February we attended the launch of Gem Legacy, an organization that supports education, vocational training, and local economies in East African mining communities. In our new series, in partnership with this amazing organization, we will focus on these stories of impact.