GK General Insurance Company Limited (GK Insurance) is 40 years old and, to celebrate this major milestone, it is equipping 10 early childhood institutions with much-needed sanitation equipment to facilitate compliance at the start of the 2021-22 academic year. 

Under the guidance of the Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation, GKI, one of two general insurance companies with the GraceKennedy Financial Group (GKFG), reached out to the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) for its needs list to determine the most impactful donation it could make to the sector. 

With COVID-19 being the most pervasive issue affecting all institutions – the decision was taken to provide foot pedal operated handwashing stations to assist 10 institutions across the island to move closer to compliance with the Commission’s standards.

Chaluk Richards, GK Insurance’s general manager, in his brief address to the gathering stated that, “with the current pandemic conditions I am conscious that engagement is a necessity for early childhood learning, and so donations that will create an environment where the children can safely return to face-to-face instruction is worth every charitable dollar”.

Richards added: “We’re indeed happy to support ECC as we celebrate another anniversary of serving Jamaica and Jamaicans.” 

On hand at GK Insurance’s head office to receive the donation were David Salmon, Early Childhood Commissioner with responsibility for Certification and Regulations, and Michelle Campbell, director of Cross Sectoral Coordination. 

After receiving the symbolic cheque for $480,000 – representing the cost to purchase the handwashing stations, Campbell explained that, “GKI’s donation will put us much closer toward preparing for when we return to face-to-face modality”. 

Tanketa Chance-Wilson, CEO of Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation, revealed that, “GraceKennedy has pledged $2 million towards ‘Raising the Standards’ – an initiative of the ECC to bring ECIs closer to certification. This initiative aligns with a 2021-22 strategic objective of the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation to embark on an Early Childhood support thrust and a meaningful CSR activity in celebration of GraceKennedy’s 100^th anniversary in 2022.