(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — The Girls’s Jewellery Affiliation Basis (WJA Basis) pronounces a beneficiant pledge from GIA (Gemological Institute of America) to fund new range scholarships for college kids wishing to take on-campus or eLearning programs by GIA Schooling. In 2022, WJA Basis will award $25,000 in scholar scholarships to help underrepresented communities, together with BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.
“We all know that entry to schooling and capital are two essential elements stopping well-deserving college students and rising designers from succeeding within the trade. WJA Basis is thrilled to obtain this beneficiant funding from GIA to allow our group to help extra college students who want to enter the trade and professionals who’re searching for to complete their research with out taking up a heavy monetary burden.” – Brandee Dallow, WJA Basis president.
Candidates are capable of choose from quite a lot of choices, together with GIA’s on-line Utilized Jewellery Skilled (AJP ) diploma program and Diamond Necessities and Diamonds and Diamond Grading programs, or its on campus Graduate Coloured Stones diploma program and Jewellery Design certificates course. To make the chance much more versatile, WJA Basis is extending the awards to incorporate scholarship candidates who’re already pursuing their credential by GIA’s Distance Schooling Program and are searching for funds to register for his or her subsequent course or lab class. To study extra about GIA schooling, go to right here.
The announcement coincides with the launch of WJA Basis’s third charitable pillar targeted on Range, Fairness & Inclusion schooling initiatives. Via its multi-dimensional funding framework, the WJA Basis focuses its charitable giving on normal jewellery schooling and enterprise improvement, and accountable sourcing and sustainability schooling. Now, with GIA’s pledge, WJA Basis is ready to positively affect extra expertise and enhance the skilled outcomes of scholars and designers from underserved communities.
“WJA Basis is devoted to offering academic and enterprise alternatives that enable people to achieve their full potential. We acknowledge that we function in an trade that has many obstacles to entry, particularly for these from underserved communities. WJA Basis is dedicated to being a extra inclusive group and can proceed evaluating its funding mannequin to allow extra rising expertise to begin and elevate their careers in jewellery, gems or timepieces. We intention to proceed rising and studying as a company, and presenting extra alternatives like these sooner or later.” – WJA Government Director, Jennifer Markas.