Credit union giant, General Employees Co-operative Credit Union Ltd (GECCU), has initiated a schools’ co-operative programme to instill discipline and thrift in students throughout the country. To this end a Teacher Guides Training Workshop was held on Wednesday, June 14, geared towards sharpening the skills of guides and equipping them with tools to become effective managers of their cooperatives.

The workshop staged at the St.Vincent and the Grenadines Cooperative Credit Union League office was held under the theme: ‘School Co-op – Turning Your Cents Into Dollars.'{{more}}

“GECCU is synonymous with success; therefore our sponsorship of school cooperatives is not by mere accident but a true reflection of our philosophy which emphasizes the total development of people,” said Cheryl Bacchus, GECCU’s Senior Marketing Officer.

At present the schools’ co-op base includes 29 schools namely: Dickson Government, Georgetown Government, Georgetown Secondary, Georgetown Multipurpose, Lauders Primary, Biabou Methodist, Argyle Primary, Stubbs Government, St. Clair Dacon Secondary, Brighton Methodist, Marriaqua Government, Calder Primary, Belmont Government, Belair Government, West St. George Secondary, Girls’ High School, CW Prescod Primary, Kingstown Government, Imani Pre-school, Lowmans Leeward Anglican, Campden Park Multipurpose, Questelles Government, Layou Government, Barrouallie Government, Spring Village Methodist, Troumaca Primary, Union Island Secondary, Mayreau Government and Paget Farm Government.

Bacchus disclosed that during the month of May, 13 new schools were added to the sponsorship programme, among them the Imani Preschool at New Montrose, being the first preschool to establish a school coop, thus creating history within the credit union movement.

“Our commitment enables us to cater for students in a holistic way, that is, socially, mentally, spiritually and financially. GECCU’s involvement broadens our scope beyond dollars and cents due to immeasurable efforts instilled by management to ensure that the schools’ cooperative programme matures, thereby producing youngsters who are motivated, disciplined, organized, focused and most importantly thrifty,” Bacchus emphasized.

She added: “GECCU stands firm in its belief of the three tier equation, that is, saving children=saving school=saving nation.”

Kenneth Douglas, Vice President of GECCU’s board of directors, delivering remarks, noted that teachers play an integral role in helping to train children hence they are in an important position in helping them to become thrifty.

He said credit unions are not only about saving and looking towards the future they are also about saving collectively which in the long run benefits all.

GECCU was implored by Cecil Jackson, of the Department of Cooperatives, to continue to provide support for the teacher guides programme and expand its scholarship programme in the schools.