LOS ANGELES (XOL Africa) — Los Angeles-based lab-grown diamond company PASCAL has launched a new program with Rising Academies and KOSSA to support education, sports and youth development initiatives in Sierra Leone.
The PASCAL IMPACT Program is designed to support locally led projects aimed at helping young people develop skills, confidence and opportunities to reach their potential.
PASCAL Chief Executive Adam Hua said the initiative was intended to broaden the company’s focus beyond diamonds and support communities through education and sport.
“Colored diamonds have always been a way to express individuality,” Hua said. “With PASCAL IMPACT, we want to extend that idea of brilliance beyond the stone and recognize the potential already present in Sierra Leone.”
Sierra Leone has a long and complicated association with the diamond industry, but PASCAL said the partnership was intended to highlight the country’s people and future rather than its history with diamonds.
Rising Academies works with schools and public education systems to improve teaching and learning, while KOSSA focuses on sport and youth development as tools for building skills, confidence and stronger communities.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to fulfil their potential,” said Job Matseshe, regional director of Rising Academies. “Through this partnership with KOSSA and PASCAL, we can help more young people in Sierra Leone build the foundational skills, confidence and opportunities they need to shape their own futures.”
KOSSA partner Antoine Likound said the program would provide training equipment for after-school activities involving boys and girls.
“Sport brings joy as well as developing healthier minds and bodies,” Likound said. “KOSSA is grateful to work with PASCAL to bring much needed training equipment for after-school activity to the coaches, and boys and girls, we work with.”
The program allows PASCAL customers to make optional contributions through a dedicated PASCAL IMPACT page or during checkout. Customers can choose whether to direct their contributions toward education or sports initiatives.
As contributions reach agreed milestones, PASCAL said it will work with Rising Academies and KOSSA to publish partner-approved stories showing how the funds are being used.
The company said the initiative is intended to provide customers with a transparent way to participate in locally led programs while supporting education, sport and youth development in Sierra Leone.
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