It’s the last weekend of the year, so that means that today is our second to last non-profit job of the year. What that means, we’re not really sure. We do know that KickStart is doing some pretty cool things that you should know about. They are a non-profit organization that is aiming to help millions of people out of poverty. There are a lot of organizations that are fighting poverty, but KickStart is doing it with some pretty cool tactics.

They believe “that self-motivated private entrepreneurs managing small-scale enterprises can play a dynamic role in the economies of developing countries.” After these entrepreneurs raise a small amount of capital to fund their initiative, KickStart helps them access technology that will help them make the most of available business opportunities. For example, Seth Godin mentions how KickStart has designed a stairmaster-like device that is actually an irrigation pump. With this new technology, subsistence farmers can start selling their produce because of increased efficiency. Improving individual economic output, whether it be growing more vegetables or producing more cooking oil, is what defeats poverty and creates thriving economies.

Right now, KickStart only has one job opportunity available. It’s as a Mechanical Engineering Designer at their Nairobi, Kenya location. From what we can gather, you’d be helping design new technologies like the stairmaster irrigation pump. The application requires an aptitude test that looks like a page from the AP Physics Exam. We should note that the Aptitude Test says the deadline was June 2007, but this position is still listed on there site. It’s possible that they already filled the position and forgot to take it down, but it’s also possible that this is a new job and they forgot to change the dates in the document. If you’ve got great engineering skills, are creative, and aren’t afraid to move to Africa, give KickStart a look.

Note: On April 26th we revisited entry-level jobs at KickStart International.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

• KickStart’s Home Page
• Get Involved at Kick Start
• About KickStart
• KickStart’s Approach
• Technology by KickStart
• Who KickStart Impacts
• Where KickStart Operates

What’s the coolest thing that you’ve ever built yourself? Tell us in the comments.

We've identified KickStart International as having career opportunities in the following categories:

• all employers
• engineering
• international
• non-profit

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