Walking the Road of Peace: The Next Chapter for PeaceGold Congo
One of the PeaceGold Cooperatives currently working towards exporting their gold through PeaceGold Congo.
Two years ago, we set out on an audacious journey to rewrite the narrative of gold sourcing in one of the most complex environments on earth. Today, I am writing with a heart full of immense gratitude. To the ethical jewellery community, our peers, our partners, and our supporters: thank you. Your unwavering belief and shared commitment have kept us moving forward during two years of relentless hard work to secure the funding required to finally launch PeaceGold Congo.
We have always maintained that change does not happen by standing still, nor does it happen by taking the easy path. To walk the road of peace and justice, we must step forward on two equally vital legs: commercial enterprise and social impact for peace and conflict resolution. One cannot move sustainably without the other. Commercial enterprise provides the economic engine, viability, and dignity of fair trade, while deep social impact ensures that the wealth generated heals communities rather than fracturing them. Together, they allow us to make steady, undeniable progress on a path that many deemed impossible.
For too long, gold has been weaponised as a driver of conflict and exploitation. But we know the truth: gold is a peace mineral. It is a precious element capable of anchoring stability, dignity, and prosperity when placed in the right hands. As an ethical jeweller, I am incredibly proud of what our community has pioneered. We refused to look away, and we refused to accept the status quo.
At the very heart of this breakthrough are the PeaceGold cooperatives and our vital partnership with the Centre for Resolution Conflits (CRC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The sheer resilience shown by these mining communities is nothing short of heroic. Together, we have painstakingly built a high-trust environment—an oasis of integrity where artisanal miners have made the courageous, dedicated choice to walk away from conflict, armed groups, and systemic exploitation. This is no longer just a supply chain; it is a movement. It is a living proof-of-concept with the genuine potential to bring generational change to a region that has given so much to the world yet received so little in return.
Our vision now is to connect you—the ethical jewellers—and our cooperative communities on the ground into a tight, collaborative cord of change and transformation. We are bridging the gap between the workbench and the mine site, creating a direct bond of mutual solidarity.
Through our strategic partnership with SigraFi, we are now fully equipped to deliver certified PeaceGold bullion directly to the jewellery trade. This ensures an unbroken chain of custody where the true value of the material is returned directly to the ground. Your future purchases and investment do not disappear into opaque financial markets; instead, they invest directly into community development, uphold fundamental human rights, and actively fund ongoing peace and conflict resolution.
PeaceGold Mercury Free Gold
Join Us: A Call to Action for Ethical Jewellers
The foundation is laid, the structures are secure, and the community is ready. Now, we need to cross the finish line to fully secure this launch. With the funds secured for the gold, all we need is to secure a final top up on the Friends of PeaceGold to take us to the target of £100k. As we speak we are £25k short.
If you are an ethical jeweller who believes that our trade can be a force for systemic good, I invite you to back the establishment of the PeaceGold Congo opportunity. We are seeking partners from our community to consider lending £5,000 over an 18-month term to get this historic initiative fully operational and secured.
This is more than a financial arrangement; it is a direct investment in a peaceful future and a clean, proud legacy for our industry.
Please contact me directly at gregvalerio@peacegold.org to discuss how you can stand with us.
Thank you for walking this road with me. Let’s finish what we started.
In solidarity and peace,
Greg Valerio
Founder & CEO, PeaceGold
