Local Village

The locals that we employed had been with our work for years and were grateful to see us arrive. Even though we had purchased the mining rights to the land, upon arrival we had to meet with the chief of the land and ask for his permission to mine on his territory. After a meeting and giving the chiefs gifts such as goats and flour and a great deal of appreciation he granted us permission.

We begun to build our home just as the villager build theirs. In these pictures you will see the beginning of our accommodation for the next several months. The villagers took us in as if we were one of them, and before we knew it we became one of them. We learned to eat their food sleep in their accommodations and wash our clothes with them and we eventually received our tribal names.

Local Children

The locals learned how to mine with our equipment and we learned how to mine diamonds their way. It truly has been a learning experience for both parties. The local to this day have created a win-win with us and we both have grown from the experience.