Kickstart helps subsistence farmers out of poverty
Kickstart.org is my chosen charity. Kickstart manufacture and supply small, low cost water pumps that draw water out from under the ground to irrigate farmers fields. This is targeted aid that makes a real difference to people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
KickStart's micro-irrigation pumps are available for distribution throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America I pledge to donate to buy one water pump for every portrait cameo jewel that is delivered. I also ask my clients to consider making a voluntary matching donation.
Kickstart makes a range of water pumps, ranging from the Hip Pump a small foot operated one that costs only $33 for the farmer. To larger units that can supply a whole families water needs. Many thousands of entrepreneurial farmers are now irrigating with KickStart's manual MoneyMaker irrigation pumps and changing their small subsistence farms into vibrant new commercial enterprises.
With irrigation they can grow and sell as many as three to four high value vegetable crops every year, and ensure that the crop is ready for market when the price is high. These "farmerpreneurs" are increasing their incomes by as much as ten-fold and making as much as 400,000 shillings ($5400) profit per year.
KickStart's low cost micro-irrigation pumps are transforming subsistence farms into highly profitable enterprises. Please take the time to visit Kickstart.org to find out more about this wonderful organisation.
The Super MoneyMaker Pressure Pump
The Super MoneyMaker Pressure Pump was launched in October 1998, in response to a demand by farmers for a pump that can push water uphill as well as simply pulling it up from the source. This means it is suitable for use on steeply sloping land where the water source may be at the bottom.Thousands use it to pump water from hand-dug wells, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. It is ideal for sprinkler irrigation, filling overhead water tanks, or for use with nozzles and sprays attached to the end of the delivery hose.
This powerful pump can draw water up from 23 feet (7m) and has a total pumping head of 46 feet (14m). It can be used to irrigate up to 2 acres of land.
Oil Processing Technologies
In 1992 the Kenyan government removed price controls on essential commodities and the price of cooking oil almost tripled in a few weeks. KickStart realized that the small-scale production and sale of cooking oil could be a very profitable small business opportunity if only the right technology was available to local entrepreneurs.Starting in 1993 KickStart engineers designed a manually operated oilseed press that is ideally suited for small-scale sunflower cooking oil businesses in East Africa. Called the "Mafuta Mali" (meaning "oil wealth" in Kiswahili), it was based on an original "ram press" design by Carl Bielenberg but was designed to be more efficient, durable and profitable to use.
KickStart also developed and designed the first Gravity Bucket Filter to go with the press and developed a complete set of tooling for local mass production of both the press and filter. In 1994, KickStart trained four local engineering firms to manufacture the new presses.
The press extracts oil from sunflower, sesame, and other oil seeds. The filter produces clear, cold-pressed, nutritious cooking oil ready for sale or consumption. The seedcake by-product is valued as a high protein animal feed supplement.
Jumali Cooking Oil
Example of a family helped by Kickstart
Jane Mathendu is a single mother who lives near Mt Kenya. In1998 she bought an KickStart oilseed press to start a new business. She now contracts 20 local farmers to grow sunflowers, employs 2 full time workers and sells the cooking oil in the local market.The new business has changed Jane's life. She has become a local opinion leader and paid for her daughter's University education - an impossible dream before buying her new press.
Building Technologies
The Action Pack Block Press
In Africa the demand for decent housing at prices ordinary people can afford is a problem that many hundreds of entrepreneurs are helping to solve using technologies developed by KickStart engineersFour workers using this heavy duty manual press can produce 500 rock hard building blocks a day, compacting a soil/cement mixture under high mechanical pressure. The press is adjustable for use with almost any soil type and just 1 bag of cement makes over 100 bricks. Blocks can be sold profitably to build walls at half the cost of the concrete block or stone walls.
What Kickstart has acheived
- 50,000 new businesses started
- 800 new businesses per month
- $52 million a year in new profits and wages generated by the new businesses
- New revenues equivalent to more than 0.6% of Kenya's GDP and 0.25% of Tanzania's GDP
How to get involved
Donate money or get involved
- Donate Money
Every $200 donated to KickStart will permanently lift one more family in Africa out of their poverty! Make a tax-deductible donation today. - Volunteer your time
Let us know how you can contribute to KickStart's success in moving people from poverty to prosperity -forever. Email Kickstart. - Be an Intern
From time to time, KickStart has a very limited number of internships at its offices in Nairobi, Kenya. These non-paying positions are for experienced business, economics, and engineering design graduate students or professionals. - Join Kickstarts Staff
KickStart occasionally has openings for full-time staff in its Nairobi, Kenya; Arusha, Tanzania; Bumako, Mali; and San Francisco, California, USA offices.
Reader Feedback
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- Joe98 Joe98 Sep 8, 2008 @ 10:48 am
- Great! I think this could help many many people.
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- Silver_Lotus Silver_Lotus Sep 2, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
- Having lived in one of Asia's poorest countries, I know what a difference simple technologies can make. And even more so when people are given the tools and training to improve their lives themselves - it's so much better and more dignified than handouts. Great lens - 5*****
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- Cajean Cajean Aug 4, 2008 @ 6:50 pm
- What a practical and helpful invention! It can give people hope in having enough water for their own food, and even crops to sell. I wish my friend in Africa could see this site, but I'll tell her about it asap. Please visit my lens about helping orphans in Malawi. 5* & my faves.
Blessings!
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- poutine poutine Dec 5, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
- Interesting link. Very good organisation.
poutine
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- gods_grace_notes gods_grace_notes May 9, 2007 @ 11:06 am
- Hello, Cameo...I'm back again! To share an update; I've been appointed Squid Angel; a high honor; but also evidence of the change that takes place when people connect to make a difference in the world...Thanks for all you do to bring change to people in other lands! Godspeed, Connie
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