Our Initiatives

Colored gemstone mining already has a remarkable impact on the lives of those in the surrounding community, in addition to those directly involved with mining. With Gem Legacy’s involvement in the community, our goal is to expand and extend that impact in the areas of vocational training, entrepreneurship, and community development.

Gem Legacy does not partner with short-term projects. Instead, we make a long-term commitment to invest in initiatives we believe have the power to leave a lasting legacy.

100% of every donation goes direct to initiatives.

Kitarini Primary School

The Kitarini Primary School has blossomed from less than 100 students to more than 800 and counting. Over 90% of the students are the children of local Maasai Ruby miners. The growing population is thanks to Gem Legacy’s Breakfast and Lunch Program, which ensures the students arrive on time, have energy to focus in class, and are motivated to remain until the end of the school day. Today, final test result passing rates have increased from 9% to 93%.

Gem Faceting Training

The 5-month Gemological & Gem Faceting program located in Arusha, Tanzania equips young adults for a career in the growing gem faceting industry of East Africa. Gem Legacy scholarships allow underprivileged and uneducated young adults to graduate qualified for open positions that provide a dependable, lifelong career.

Mwatate Children's Home

The Mwatate Children’s Home currently houses over 25 children, age 5-18, and provides a safe haven for them to develop. The children are all orphans, do not have a home or family to live with for various reasons, or do not feel safe in their home. At the Mwatate Children’s Home, they have secure surroundings, 3 meals per day, school support, camaraderie with friends, and activities and sports. Gem Legacy sponsors school fee scholarships and ongoing needs, such as installing a Solar Panel for light and heated water for sanitation.

Sanawari Primary School

The 1,500 students of the Sanawari Primary School in Arusha, Tanzania are part of a large population of East African youth who are challenged to receive a proper education. While Primary School fees are government funded in Tanzania, these students have overcome immense financial burdens to attend school, which include uniforms, books and equipment, and the lack of assistance they can give their family during school hours. Gem Legacy provides $75 scholarships for a student to receive everything needed to attend.

Miner Toolkits

Obtaining tools and equipment is a major challenge for most colored gemstone miners in East Africa. 80-90% of all East African miners both farm and mine – farming miners or mining farmers! They use their farming tools to do hard-rock mining, leaving them ill-equipped for safety and success. We want to equip them with the essential tools for self-protection and quickly and effectively reaching their goal: gemstones! Miner Toolkits cost an average of $125 each, though each toolkit is customized to the needs of the miner.

Gemological Training

Gem Legacy’s gemological trainings were created in response to broad requests from those in gem mining regions to receive more education.  Gemological knowledge and practical techniques for identifying gem rough is sorely needed. Trainings include a geological overview of how gemstones form, what makes gem types different, gem identification, gem grading, and identifying synthetics and treatments.

Silicosis Prevention

Silicosis is a disease brought on through inhaling crystalline silica dust. It causes irreversible damage to the lungs and often leads to premature death. Tanzanite mining is prone to it because of the geology of the region and the largely underground, enclosed mining practices, which occur without sufficient ventilation. Providing miners with proper masks and filters can prevent inhalation of silica dust.