GDC Sacco has taken its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) role to a higher level to make a difference in the community through service with the launch of a Community Foundation, which was awarded a certificate of operation early in the year 2022.
The magnificent Githunguri Dairy and Community Foundation, a subsidiary of the Sacco, will accelerate the institution’s engagement in strengthening its contribution to the community to alleviate poverty and improve social welfare.
The foundation’s key goals and focus are centred on five strategic thematic areas, which include:
- Economic empowerment for the needy in the society
- Promoting education
- Achieving clean and sustainable energy in the community
- Boosting Dairy breeds
- Nurturing talents among the youth
Established in 2003, GDC Sacco remains a competitive financial institution that has demonstrated good governance and prudent management structures that have ensured the Society regularly participates in members’ and communities’ empowerment programmes.
It is among the fastest-growing co-operative societies that are making the world a better place by fostering financial inclusion and providing solutions to members.
To achieve all set goals in its CSR activities, the newly formed Foundation will facilitate the provision of improved and subsidized sexed semen for artificial insemination to enable dairy farmers to improve their breeds and production for increased income in the long run.
The Foundation will also play a significant role in uplifting the living standards of the needy by enabling education empowerment through the provision of school fees and scholarships for needy learners and donations to children’s homes and other venerable groups.
In addition, GDC Sacco will support and provide care to People Living with Disabilities (PLWD) within society ensuring that they maximize their potential and fulfil their dreams.
In collaboration with various stakeholders, the Foundation also aims to achieve a green sustainable environment with the availability of adequate clean water. This will supplement the government efforts to increase the forest cover and combat climate changes under the National Tree Planting Culture, a new initiative that will be coordinated at the locational level and cascaded downwards.
The Foundation was launched in a pomp and colour event graced by Co-operatives, Micro and Small Enterprise Cabinet Secretary (CS) Simon Chelugui, Co-operative Principal Secretary (PS) Patrick Kilemi, Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni wa Muchomba, and Limuru MP Kiragu Chege, various Members of County Assembly (MCAs), among other dignitaries.
During the event, ten dairy farmers were gifted with dairy cows worth Ksh150,000 each for free from the Foundation as part of its economic empowerment and enabling farmers to get high-pedigree breeds.
Farmers praised the programme noting that it will help more people to venture into dairy farming and grow their income while benefiting from quality financial solutions offered by the GDC Sacco, which has over the years maintained high payments of dividends and interest on members’ savings.
Speaking during the foundation launch GDC Sacco Chairman Mr Joseph Gitau Mburu said that the Board of Directors had harboured the idea of setting up the Foundation for a long and now it was a dream come true for over 50,000 Sacco members and customers.
“Due to government regulations we cannot take members’ money to help the community and that is the reason we saw it fit to have a Foundation to serve the community,” Mr Gitau said.
He noted that the establishment of the Foundation will enable the Sacco to transform the livelihoods of many for the better through partnerships. With an asset base of over Ksh4.2 billion, GDC Sacco serves thousands of farmers through Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society, the third largest dairy processor and producer of the popular milk brand Fresha.
“We launched the foundation to reach out to the government and other partners to help farmers who are our members better their lives through elaborate Corporate Social Responsibility,” Mr Gitau said.
The Sacco Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charles Kioko noted that the shareholders, the majority being dairy farmers, regularly patronize their products and services enabling the Sacco to provide steady long-term returns on their investments. “Despite the challenging year 2021 the Sacco paid out handsome returns to investors of up 12%,” he said.
CS Chelugui noted that the initiative to support dairy farmers will significantly uplift many households and free them from poverty, adding that government will partner with Saccos to improve livelihoods.
“The establishment of Githunguri Dairy and Community Foundation is a step in the right direction; it epitomizes what institutions must do to build a better and prosperous. We want to congratulate GDC leadership for making this bold and crucial move to empower farmers and all others,” he said.
Highlighting the dairy farmers’ challenges such as lack of access to quality Artificial Insemination (AI) services, limited access to credit, and inadequate extension services, Mr Chelugui lauded the GDC Foundation for helping farmers improve their breeds. “Boosting farmers’ breeds is a noble initiative that shows GDC Sacco’s commitment to serving people rather than prioritizing profits.”
GDC Sacco, a leading Deposit-Taking Society licensed and regulated by the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) has expanded its network countrywide ensuring members can access its wide range of products and services closer to their residences and places of work.
The Sacco’s Strategic Plan focuses on impacting members’ livelihoods positively while ensuring members enjoy world-class services all the time. It has developed member-centric products that enable them to increase the value of what they have. It was ranked the best in Savings Management and Best Managed Sacco among agricultural-based co-operative societies during the Ushirika Day fete.
The Githunguri Dairy and Community Foundation is an addition to its subsidiaries that are making a difference in community services. Other subsidiaries include the GDC Insurance Agency Ltd, which provides insurance services at favourable terms and Pambazuka Housing Co-operative Society Ltd, an investment company enabling members to acquire land and own homes at affordable cost.
were given away to farmers during the Foundation launch.
