On December 14^th, 2013, Harriton High School’s very own Gems Not Genocide conducted a fundraiser at Aroma Nail Salon in order to raise money and awareness regarding the genocide in Darfur. Various club members sold jewelry to customers at the nail salon, while also providing each one with a complementary pamphlet about Gems Not Genocide and its cause. Not only were customers able to relax with a soothing manicure or pedicure, but they were also able to receive informative news concerning the ongoing crisis in Darfur. Gems Not Genocide continues to procure success through their various fundraisers, events, jewelry sales, and auctions. Be on the lookout for their next upcoming event, in which the club is sure to amaze in its ability to provide donations to such a worthy cause.

Gems’s prolific nail salon fundraiser was only the beginning of a school year filled with events and fundraisers guaranteed to promote awareness in an enjoyable way. “There’s an upcoming Zumbathon on February 2^nd at Harriton High School in the main gym. Please be on the look out for signs all across town with further details, and get ready to dance!” said Jenny Langer, a senior at Harriton High School and a leader of Gems Not Genocide, noting a major upcoming event. Gems Not Genocide will continue to provide aid towards the disaster in Darfur and amaze the township with its success for many more years to come.

Gems Not Genocide was founded by multiple members of the Harriton student body, and has thrived as a non-profit organization for years. Overtime, the club has sponsored various events in order to raise money and awareness involving the genocide in Darfur. In particular, some of these events include Zumbathons, nail salon fundraisers, jewelry sales, auctions, and bake sales that have netted around $10,000 in total. This past year, Gems attained the momentous achievement of donating $8,000 to Megan Higginbothan of the Darfur Dream Team (DDT), which will be used to purchase school necessities for children within the Goz Amer refugee camps in Chad. Although many of the leaders will be graduating Harriton this year, the club members have provided much reassurance that it will continue to prosper for many years to come. The club’s sponsor, physics teacher Mr. Imaizumi, noted, “Gems Not Genocide strives each year to provide both awareness and aid in a meaningful, proactive way. I am so grateful to be apart of such a worthy cause.”