About the Organization
KickStart International is a non-profit social enterprise with a mission to lift millions of people in Africa out of poverty, quickly, cost-effectively and sustainably. KickStart designs and manufactures very low-cost irrigation pumps, and mass markets them to very poor, but entrepreneurial small-scale farmers, who buy them and use them to grow more food all year round and start a profitable business selling their crops. For the first time, parents can feed their children all year, afford to send them to school, pay for proper healthcare, invest in new businesses, and give their family stability and a bright future.
To date, over 170,000 families in Africa have created profitable farming businesses, lifting more than 860,000 people out of poverty, and generating more than $140 million in new profits and wages for farmers each year.
Awards and Accolades
KickStart has been recognized and has won many international prizes/accolades. Some of these include:
· Awarded the 1st ever U.S. State Department’s Secretary’s Innovation Award for the Empowerment of Women & Girls, 2012
· Forbes “30 Top Social Entrepreneurs”, 2011
· The Lemelson-MIT Prize for Sustainability, 2008
· The Peter F. Drucker Award for NonProfit Innovation, 2008
· Skoll Social Entrepreneur, 2005
· Fast Company Magazine’s ‘Social Capitalist’ Award 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
· Schwab Outstanding Social Entrepreneurs, 2003
Young Professionals Board
Join a dynamic group of passionate professionals on KickStart’s Young Professionals Board. The Board will bring together individuals in the Greater New York City area who are committed to expanding KickStart’s communications and fundraising efforts, and putting on events including a spring gala, ensuring that our programs on the ground thrive and families lift themselves out of poverty.
Benefits of Membership:
· A truly entrepreneurial opportunity to raise critical funds that will create a thriving middle class across Africa
· Meet, mingle, and work alongside a dynamic group of like-minded peers in New York City
· Gain skills and understanding of the non-profit space for potential future Board Membership
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