GJ Town India

Supports communities in artisanal colored gemstone   Gems Keep Giving, an International Colored Gemstone (ICA) industry initiative that supports communities in artisanal colored gemstone mining and cutting communities, has recently reorganized, appointing a new board and Chair. Securing its stature as an independent, not-for-profit (501-C3) charitable organization, Gems Keep Giving newly elected Board members are Hayley Henning (Chair), Damien Cody, Clement Sabbagh, Ruth Benjamin-Thomas, Brian Cook, Rocco Gay, Cecilia Gardner, Robert Weldon and Henry Ho.   “Our illustrious board members are seasoned professionals from all facets of our industry,” said Board Chair Hayley Henning. “Together, we intend to raise funds to support colored gemstone mining and cutting communities that need it most. Gems Keep Giving originated as an initiative of the International Colored Stone Association (ICA), and we intend to leverage our relationships within ICA to support the communities that serve them.

Founding ICA member, dedicated to the global natural colored gemstone   Andre Assaf was born in Fez, Morocco in August of 1942. While completing his graduate studies at Hebrew University in Israel, he met his future wife, Malka, where the two would embark on an epic journey through life.   After spending a few years living in France and Switzerland, they were offered French teaching positions in the Ivory Coast, and later in Nairobi Kenya, where all three of their children were born. It was during this time that Andre was introduced to the local gemstone market, and he began buying and cutting stones.   In the coming decades, his name would become synonymous with fine tsavorite and other rare and exotic gems. His adventurous spirit carried him throughout the globe, in the process making multiple countries his home such as Israel, Canada, the United States, and Thailand.   "André's passing is a great loss to our industry and to ICA," says Roland Naftule, one of the