-After our latest work about Messika jewellery, our team engaged in further research about the French high jewellery Maison, and we most certainly found a “gem” that we would like to share with you-
“Disability does not denote inability” the motto of the Andre Messika diamond-cutting center in Windhoek, Namibia.
Andre Messika, a diamond supplying, polishing, and trading company is the largest employer of disabled people in Namibia. One may ask, how does the diamond world, luxury, and glamour coincide with such a deep and meaningful attempt in benefiting and providing an equal chance to the less fortunate? It is no doubt that society can get carried away very fast into the more material and shallow aspects of our daily lives. After all, this page celebrates the most material goods of all – clothes, bling bling, vrum vrum, and more. However, a more in-depth look in the luxury industry reveals that, fortunately, this material world can and does cross paths with the larger meanings of life – purpose, emotion, and depth. That craftmanship is inextricably connected to humanity, business strategy with life purpose, and effective implementation with ethicality.
Hence, it is not surprising that our team was struck when reading about this Namibian diamond factory. Images of disabled people given an equal opportunity to achieve fulfillment in a world where disabled are rarely “seen” and given such chances, stirs a cell or two of emotion in our brains. Indeed, Namibia is a country rich in wildlife, minerals, and diamonds. But over 100,000 people live with disabilities, and the majority of them is unemployed. Naturally so, clips from that factory portraying the immense gratification the employees get from working hard and being acknowledged as equals is nothing less than inspiring and deeply moving. Deafness, muteness, and more, are all disabilities found in the factory, but they go unnoticed at first sight. As for the people with the disabilities, they do not “denote” their “inabilities”.
One of the factory’s employees says: “A diamond symbolizes to me hope. The reason I say that is..when you look at a diamond, it goes through so much crushing and heat and it’s been pressed..and at the end of the day it comes out really beautiful, and that’s the same as life!
As consumer conscience increases, especially within the luxury sector, jewellery brands that will successfully source their diamonds from impactful suppliers will dominate the arena, and rightfully! Andre Messika, the esteemed diamond trader, has been supplying diamonds to the world’s biggest jewellery companies for the past 50+ years. His name has made its mark further on the industry by founding together with his daughter Valerie Messika the fastest growing jewellery Maison today, Messika Paris. Mr. Messika himself has a disabled son, which considering this factory, might have been a powerful inspiration in his life and goals.
Although we love seeing new business ventures, success stories, and new collections, as a society we must regard more highly the positive impacts the business world can have on others’ lives. The Andre Messika diamond center in Namibia is a living, breathing, and rare example that positive change and true value can be created through not only nonprofits and NGO’s, but also conscious, impactful, and responsible business.
To read more visit: https://www.naturaldiamonds.com/inside-diamond-world/disability-does-not-denote-inability/