The Responsible Jewelry Transformative is committed to a jewelry industry where all people in the value chain come together as equals. Working with the common mission of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals with honesty, transparency and compassion for each other, our communities and our planet.
What is our responsibility?
Jewelry originates from some of the most vulnerable communities and environments in the world. RJT works with mining communities in Zimbabwe, Kenya and across Africa on projects identified by the communities themselves: safe housing for women miners, a help line for women and girls, livelihoods, land restoration and responsible mining standards.
Our Programs
Unity House
A home for women miners in Voi, Kenya, who leave their families to work at the mines for days or weeks at a time. Phase One, a converted shipping container with sleeping rooms for two women’s mining cooperatives, is complete. Phase Two will add a sanitation house with water retention, a kitchen, toilets and a shower.
WhatsApp Help Line
In the gold rush areas of Zimbabwe, many women and girls are trafficked or brought by family and are left without options for help. The Help Line, run with the Marange Womens Alliance, gives them confidential access to reporting, referral and response, including support with the police and the courts.
Marange Womens Alliance and Women’s Livelihoods
The Marange Womens Alliance is RJT’s program partner in the Marange diamond fields of Zimbabwe. Together we run livelihood projects identified by the women themselves, including five chicken coops that supply schools, mines and local markets. A sixth coop is planned for the Penhalonga gold mining area.
Mine Site Restoration
Glow College sits on the Marange diamond concession, on land where schools were once leveled to make way for mining. In stage one, dangerous abandoned mine holes at the school were filled in and a 60 tree fruit orchard was planted in their place.
How We Work
Sustainable Development
The RJT is a member of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network and the UN Women Generation Equality. We support projects that create sustainable development and align with the UN Women targets areas. We utilize the frameworks, guidance and impact methodology of the United Nations.
Amplifying Voices, Awareness & Advocacy
We raise awareness in the jewelry industry by identifying key issues, conducting research, and forming alliances with transformative entities and individuals. We share our findings through the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference and industry events, communicating important news and discussions. Our diverse stakeholder engagement indicates the success of our mission.
Market Access for Artisanal Miners
The RJT completed two successful grants with the World Bank EGPS Fund that assisted in the foundation building and growth of mine to market supply chains. The grants facilitated multidimensional business integrations and innovative partnerships with ASM communities. RJT advances the agenda of equality for ASM goods and value chain with government, private sector and civil society.
Mine Standards
The RJT has created a CRAFT Code for gemstones under the implementation of the World Bank EGPS fund, called VirtuCraft. Mine standards were taught throughout mines in Zambia, Malawi and Kenya and the formalized mine assessment continues to be used by the social entity Virtu Gem.
Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference
The 10th Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference (CRJC) takes place on South Wabash Avenue in Chicago. The Responsible Gem Boutique is on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at the Chicago Jewelers Mall, and the conference is on Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, 2026 at Film Row Cinema.
The CRJC is a project of RJT. All conference proceeds go to RJT initiatives, and 2026 proceeds will fund Phase Two of Unity House.
Make an impact today
Support our mission by contributing a donation.