In order to attain the objectives GKT has been undertaking various programs with an integrated approach and gradually expanded its programs. The programs are:
Micro Finance:
With the view to improve the socio-economic condition and thereby reduce poverty among the resource poor of the society GKT initiated micro finance program. The Program is also aiming to create employment and income opportunities initially with the limited fund of GKT and support it’s Rural Micro Credit Program, Micro Enterprise (ME), Ultra Poor Program (UPP), Seasonal Loan (SL), Agricultural Sector Micro-credit (ASM) components for improving socio – economic condition of the target beneficiaries through undertaking different income generating activities and development of agriculture , livestock resources and to create more income and employment opportunities. The main activities under the micro finance program are broadly grouped into 3 major components-group formation and development; savings collection and mobilization; and credit operation for income and employment generation.
At present the program is being operated with the support of own fund and loan fund from PKSF and other schedule bank in 76 Union of 11Upazilas in 5 districts with 277 regular and muster roll staff, out of which40% are female. The program is under operation through 24 branches and a sub-branch within Manikgonj, Dhaka, Faridpur, Tangail and Dinajpur districts.
Training Center:
With the view to develop quality of human resource by providing marketable skill of the target population GKT has established its training center in the year 2002. GKT with its own 3 storied building training center located at the central place in Saturia Upazila head quarter, only 65 km west from Dhaka, offers a complete package including modest living for 35-40 persons with dining as well as training facilities. It has also guests and trainers accommodation. The center can accommodate the training events at a time (1 room for 45participants sitting capacity and other 2 for 20 participants sitting capacity) for hosting training courses, seminars, workshops, meetings and conferences. Besides in house class room facilities, the center also offers opportunities for practical demonstrations to various ongoing activities run by GKT around the vicinity of the training center. The center is equipped with OHP, Photo Copier, Computer, TV, Digital Camera and other multimedia communication services. Adjacent to the Training Center, there are facilities for guests in 2- bed A/C guest houses for 8 persons. Besides its in house training for the development of the programs need, GKT also undertake training for other organizations and offers its facilities to other organizations on rental basis.
Women in Development:
GKT initiated Women in Development Program since its inception. In order to get the socio-economic and cultural development of the community, GKT gives emphasis on exploring the potentialities of the women folk who always are undermined in the society. In working for women empowerment GKT has been working through two approaches: a) Right based activities and b) Economic empowerment activities. Under the right based activities GKT organizes and conducts training for awareness building on Gender Development, Women rights, Early marriage, Violence against Women, Divorce, Dowry, Sexual harassment etc. for the community people especially for the poor women members of the community. In empowering process GKT has always been giving priorities to women in several of its other initiatives.
GKT assisted these women to acquire knowledge and skill through providing various trainings on income-generating activities has greatly helped them at the practical level to fight against poverty and uplifted them to a higher level of socio economic development.GKT has been conducting training courses for women members of the union Parishad, union Committee for resistance violence against women in its working area.GKT also engaged in organizing different kinds of workshops and seminars on women rights, violence and trafficking of women in its working areas. GKT also published posters and leaflets on different issues like violation of women rights.
Agricultural and Ecological Development:
To ensure food security, GKT initiated agriculture program as one of its core programs for income earning activities of the community people. GKT has been undertaking various components of the program are: 1. Organic Farming. 2. Nursery and Seed Bank Development. 3. Soil Testing and Crop Diversification.4. Social Afforestation. 5. Paddy and No Tillage Potato Cultivation. 6. Food Processing etc. Women Group members are involved and received training on the above programs and undertaking the activities to on their own land, rented land and homestead for agricultural production and income generation.
Tissue Culture
In order to produce virus/disease free seeds and there by supply of quality seeds for getting better production in the working area for increasing income of the farmers In the year 2000 GKT has Established a Tissue Culture Laboratory ensuring quality seed production initially for potato and its chain development. Production of in- Vitro Plantlets of Seed Potato in the laboratory and HYV virus/disease free seeds potato in the field net house system is it ongoing activities. GKT involved in imparting training to the target farmers to produce and develop a supply chain in the country. In every year GKT Tissue Culture program produce Micro Plant, Breeder Seed, Pre-foundation Seed, Foundation Seed and Certified Seed. In the year 2016-17 altogether GKT produced 3, 78,967kg of quality potato seed for supplying to the farmers. Now the organization has a plan to build a cold storage in Manikgonj district for ensuring availability of viable good quality seed.
Poultry Development
Since 1997GKT initiated the program to supports its group members for rearing poultry for employment creation and income generation. The rearers of the poultry were provided with eggs, chicks, credit, training, market linkage and other technical supports to grow this rural industry aiming to generate income and improve the nutritional status of the community in the area.
Environmental Development and Climate-Change
In order to local capacity building and advancing community adaptation to climate change GKT has undertaken the program. Awareness raising on Climate change and its consequences to the live and Livelihood of the people lives in the climate risk areas in the community and the country as well. Disaster Mitigation, Adaptation in the changed environmentis the integral part of the program. Advocacy and raising voice against climate injustice are included the program. It is also aiming to formation a wider platform for solidarity to national and regional campaign against Climate Injustice.
Water and Sanitation
Since 1990 GKT has been undertaking water and sanitation program to improve health and hygiene of the community people specially target group family by improving water and sanitation situation of the working area. Water and Sanitation is one of the important core program of GKT. The organization has been implementing the following activities: a) Training on Health and Hygiene b) Tube-well Installation c) Screening of tube-well for identifying arsenic contamination d) Development of mason group for production of latrine. e) Installation of Village Sanitation Center (VSC) by the Trained Masson f) Distribution of Water Seal Latrine among the community people.
Primary Health Care
In order to reducing health hazard and to improve health situation in the community GKT initiated the primary health education package program believing that “prevention is better than cure” contained hygiene, oral dehydration solution, immunization, malnutrition, night blindness, family planning, care of pregnant mothers and babies, basic sanitation, safe drinking water, personal and environmental health, , HIV Aids and so on. This has generated knowledge in the community regarding their own health problems and their solutions by themselves. With a view to spreading out the health education, the program approached to group members in their weekly meeting within the working area.
Disaster Management
GKT has long experience working in response to disaster. In fact, GKT began its works through emergency relief and rehabilitation activities, providing health care services and food assistance to the people who were the victims of disaster like flood and cyclone. GKT responded through emergency relief activities in response to tornado in 1989 and floods in 1987, 1988, 2004 and 2007.
Having experiences of disaster responses in the past, in1989 GKT initiated its long term disaster management Program as one of its core Programs. The activities under the disaster management Programs are: a) Rescue activities for the disaster victims, b) Need Assessment of the disaster victims c) Preparation of list of the victims and identify their needs d) Distribution of foods for floods/cyclones victims e) Agricultural rehabilitation activities. f) Food/ Cash for work (Job creation) for disaster victims g) water and sanitation activities. h) Homestead rising was one of the important activity.
Quality Improvement for Education of the Secondary School
With the view to ensure quality education of the secondary schools within the working area GKT has been undertaking various programs to assist in a) Construction and repairing of school building b) Facilitating in establishing library for using by the students, teachers and for community people c) Assist in establishing multimedia class room with CC-TV in the school d) Organizing and establishing Science club, debates club e) Arranging intra school and inter school Art & cultural competition etc. In addition, GKT has a regular scholarship program (in form of both financial and material support) for the meritorious students of the children of target group members of secondary school level.