Initiatives in Art and Culture celebrates Moyo Gems (@moyogems). Building on a gemology education initiative developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in collaboration with NGO Pact, Moyo Gems provides the world’s first sustainable market for colored gemstones from artisanal sources. Meaning ‘heart’ in Swahili (the dominant language in Tanzania) and in some other languages on the African continent, Moyo Gemstones is an ethical gemstone collaboration with Tanzanian Women Miners Association (TAWOMA) to assure that artisanal women miners and their allies receive fair market value for the gems. ANZA Gems and Nineteen48 work with Moyo Gems providing wholesale gems to leading designers and jewelers.

The initiative’s goal is to empower women miners to work safely, mine better, improve financial security, and create stable, equitable markets for fair trade.