Policies & IssuesOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
IndependentsAug 18, 2014
About Retail: How a trip to Africa inspired
After teaching women in Zambia how to make jewelry, Georgia jewelry store owner Doug Meadows is moving on to a second project in Africa: establishing a business school in Kenya.
During one of his trips to Zambia in 2011, Doug Meadows taught a small group of women a new set of jewelry-making skills and how to use the new tools that he had brought with him.
Marietta, Ga.--A trip to a number of African countries spurred one jeweler to share his knowledge with the people there, teaching women in Zambia to make their own jewelry and, now, working to establish a business school in Kenya.
A few years ago, Doug Meadows of David Douglas Diamonds in Marietta was invited to go with Business Mission Trips on a four-country tour that included Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya to visit local businesses and attend a number of conferences.
During the trip, he connected with a missionary named Dawn Bridget Close from the Foundation for the Realization of Economic Empowerment (FREE), who invited him to give a seminar to female miners in Zambia.
He partnered with Stuller Inc. and tool company Foredom to obtain new jewelry-making tools and used the opportunity not only to educate them about jewelry making, but on all the processes that take the gemstones from mine to market and how to add value to the gems they want to sell.
About a year later, he got a call from Close saying that the women wanted more information about jewelry making to continue growing their businesses, so she visited David Douglas Jewelers in Georgia to get another lesson that she could pass on to the women in Zambia.
These women now are successful jewelry entrepreneurs, turning recycled copper and semi-precious stone into finished jewelry. FREE has even since launched a new e-commerce website.
While they may have gotten their jewelry-making businesses off the ground, Meadows noticed during similar projects along the way in various countries that there was a general lack of business education in the nations he visited, a factor that he hopes to soon change as focuses on Kenya.
“I have a passion for teaching entrepreneurism,” he told National Jeweler. “I want to teach them not just a trade or a craft, but teach them about business. If we can teach them life or business skills, they’ll be light-years ahead when it comes to getting a job. My direction now is to working with orphans in Kenya.”
Meadows’ latest project is to set up a business school to teach entrepreneurial skills. It is set to open early next year at an orphanage in Nakuru, Kenya.
“The big vision is to change a generation, and to create not job seekers, but job creators.”
Most of the schooling will be done over the
Internet, via Skype or web video, Meadows said, with an Internet connection and computers provided for the children.
Meadows’ hope for this school also is to include more people from the jewelry industry in the future.
“I would love to see jewelers get involved,” he said, adding that he thinks taking a trip to help with the school would be a win-win for any that decide to, as they can both use the time to purchase gems they might need as well as invest time into these children’s lives.
More on Independents
The Latest
ColumnistsOct 06, 2026
Sherry Smith: Is the Consumer Really Trading Up?Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
MajorsOct 06, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names COO, CMOFGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.
Weekly QuizOct 01, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsOct 06, 2026
JIS Fall Returns to MiamiThe 2026 edition will feature presentations on alternative materials and design trends, as well as pop-up activations on the show floor.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
AuctionsOct 05, 2026
The Star Cats of the Sandy Lerner AuctionThese jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.
CollectionsOct 05, 2026
Sorellina Writes Another Love Letter for ‘Postscript’ CollectionThe fine jewelry brand has expanded the collection that debuted at Couture with four new designs based on its most popular styles.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
Bruce Bridges Joins CIBJO BoardThe AGTA president was elected for a two-year term on the board of directors.
SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
CrimeOct 01, 2026
Police Looking for 4 Suspects in $600K Smash-and-Grab RobberyDubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.
SurveysOct 01, 2026
Rolex Ranks Among Most Recommended Brands in US, Survey Says YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.
SourcingOct 01, 2026
Columbia Gem House Opens ‘Cutting Toward Change’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes’ Championship Ring Reveals Hidden Hockey Puck PendantThe rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Color Range This roundup of birthstone jewelry for October features vibrant tourmalines and opals with personality.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Botswana’s President, De Beers CEO Say Diamond Demand Is RecoveringPresident Duma Boko spoke at back-to-back events in the city last week, touting Botswana’s stability and the diamond “bounceback.”
CollectionsSep 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman’s Holiday Book Is ‘A Living Archive’ The catalog showcases 112 new, one-of-a-kind pieces amid highlights from the jeweler’s historic archive.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Gemfields Posts $98.5M Loss, Writes Down Value of Ruby MineIts Montepuez Ruby Mining operation in Mozambique, which is not yielding enough high-quality rubies, has taken a $125 million hit.
SurveysSep 30, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls to 12-Year Low in SeptemberThose surveyed were worried about the present and the future, with write-in responses mentioning high oil and gas prices.
Events & AwardsSep 30, 2026
Jewelers of America, JA New York to Host Networking EventThe event will take place on the evening of Oct. 26 in New York City.
AuctionsSep 29, 2026
Dionne Warwick’s Jewelry Goes Up for AuctionOnline bidding is open now for Julien’s sale of items owned by the “Walk On By” singer, whose final album comes out this fall.
Events & AwardsSep 29, 2026
Matt Stuller to Receive 2027 Gem Award for Lifetime AchievementThe founder and executive chairman of Stuller Inc. is being honored for his impact on the jewelry industry at the 25th annual Gem Awards.
ColumnistsSep 29, 2026
Your Holiday Marketing Has a Bridal Blind SpotDecember is the most popular month to propose, and jewelers need to keep that in mind when planning their holiday marketing.
