Everybody loves soccer, and the community inhabiting the rich ruby mining area of Mozambique is no exception. Joining the fun last year, FURA GEMS donated soccer balls to the energetic and sports-loving youngsters of the community. Over 300 people attended the soccer games. As a return gift, the team witnessed boundless joy sparkle as vividly as the rubies coming out of the land!
In July 2021, the region of Napula got a priceless gift from FURA GEMS. Founder-CEO Dev Shetty led his team in association with district government officials to set the foundation of a primary school in Napula near Montepuez. Presenting the scope of education to countless children and employment opportunities for teachers and other staff, FURA GEMS signalled the dawn of a new era in Napula's socio-economic landscape.
Employment is fundamental for survival, and Mozambique's community, spread across various villages in the Cabo Delgado province, struggle to provide for their families. Sensing this pressing need, FURA GEMS trained and employed 43 local villagers as part of its occasional workforce in the last two years. This apart, the FURA management currently has 18% of its permanent workforce in Mozambique belonging to the locality. Efforts are on to bump up this figure for better indigenous representation in Mozambique's ruby mining.
Development is possible through establishing a firm bond with the indigenous community and paying heed to their needs. In Mozambique, lack of infrastructure is one such concern, for which FURA's CSR team has extended emergency transport service to villagers in Montepuez. FURA has also actively involved community leaders in the mining project and has allowed village leaders to establish a joint development goal for all stakeholders concerned.
Responsible, environmental mining has been one of FURA GEMS's most important core values. Through shallow pit mining, the topsoil excavated from one pit is carefully restored to other nearby pits. This approach of simultaneous mining and soil refilling helps safeguard the mineral-enriched topsoil, which takes tens of millions of years to form, and give rise to new vegetation within months of mining. Conserving the ecological balance, FURA GEMS mines in the most harmless way possible.