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New York, NY--The Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) has awarded the WJA-Gabriel Love Foundation Student Scholarship to Zulaikha Aziz, a human rights attorney and founder of MAZAHRI, a purpose-driven fine jewelry company. The scholarship is a $5,000 award given annually to a deserving female student enrolled in design or non-design courses through a jewelry or metalsmithing program at an accredited college, university, or training school. 

As a human rights attorney, Aziz is focused on women's rights and access to justice globally. Her jewelry company, MAZAHRI, was founded on the principle that business should be an important force for good in the world, and that jewelry can empower and celebrate the women and men involved in each step of its creation.  

Aziz’s love of jewelry and colored gemstones is grounded in her personal story and her Afghan heritage. Her family fled war-torn Afghanistan in 1982 and emigrated to the United States. In the process, her grandmother was able to smuggle out the family’s ancestral jewelry, some of which was passed on to Aziz. 

“I deeply felt the power and meaning of these precious jewels, not only in connecting us to the past, but in showing us the potential for future growth. My grandmother taught me never to forget where I came from and my inherent human dignity.”

Though new to the jewelry industry, Aziz has over a decade of experience working with multilateral organizations, governmental bodies, academia, and civil society organizations to further the goals and aspirations of the world’s most vulnerable communities. She is currently completing a Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) diploma at the Gemological Institute of America. She also holds a B.A. from McGill University in Montreal, an M.Sc. from the London School of Economics, and a J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law. 

The Gabriel Love Foundation was established by Gabriel & Co., the New York-based fine jewelry brand. It intends its WJA scholarship to provide funding for students who want to achieve professional growth within the jewelry industry. The foundation also seeks applicants who plan to use their future careers in jewelry to improve communities and participate in charitable efforts. 

Industry members who want to support WJA grants and scholarships can designate the WJA Foundation as their charity supporter via the AmazonSmile program or make a direct donation here.