Kickstart Kids International has today released its Annual Reports for the financial year ending 30 June 2012. In September 2011, we incorporated a not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee called Kickstart Kids International Limited which is regulated by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. Up until this point we had been operating under a NSW Incorporated Association called Kickstart Kids International Inc. The decision to incorporated the new entity was voluntarily made in order to ensure we are held to the highest level of accountability and transparency. Given this transition is ongoing, we have prepared Annual Reports for both entities and are making them available to the public at the links below.

We warmly invite you to browse these reports where you will find information on our overseas aid activities, our performance and corporate governance structures. If you have any questions or require further information about Kickstart Kids International’s corporate governance, please contact our Company Secretary, Daniel Cramsie at daniel.cramsie@kickstartkidsinternational.com

Annual Reports:
Kickstart INC FY12 Annual Report
Kickstart LTD FY12 Annual Report

On 1 June 2012, Kickstart celebrated a great milestone – the first harvest from the new farm at Olturoto Children’s Village.

Over the last 18 months Kickstart has focussed on developing a commercial farm at Olturoto Children’s Village. Establishing a local income stream was considered a vital aspect of the project, taking initial priority over the construction of homes for the children.

“Kickstart has defined a long-term exit plan for our involvement with Olturoto Children’s Village. We are determined to provide the local community with a children’s village that they can be proud of and one that they can feel confident to run without any further assistance from Kickstart. The farm is crucial to achieving this goal of empowerment through providing food security and a sustainable local income source” says James Woodward, founder of Kickstart Kids International.

The first two days of harvesting produced 300kg of chillies and beans that has been sold to a Kenyan exporter under an exclusive supply contract. The produce from the Olturoto Children’s Village farm is exported fresh via air freight to a major supermarket chain in the UK. There are currently five full time local staff working on the farm who live in on-site accommodation constructed by Kickstart.

“We have a reliable water source from our borehole, great climate, virgin soil and a vibrant overseas market that are keen for our produce. This is great combination for us. With the farm starting to fund itself we are now in a position to move onto the construction of homes for the children” says Solomon Choge, one of Kickstart’s in-country Kenyan directors.

Construction of the first home for the children will commence in July 2012.

To raise money for Kickstart Kids International’s latest project Katy Anderson will complete her first ironman triathlon on 6 May 2012.

An Ironman triathlon consists of a 3.8km swim, a 180km cycle and a 42.2km run.  That’s a total of 226 kilometres.  So it’s no mean feat.

Over the last four years, Katy has run 8 marathons but has never competed in swimming or cycling. In fact, she bought her first wetsuit in September last year and her bike only a few months earlier! Her training regime is about to step up from 15 to 20 hours per week.

Katy is dedicating her efforts by donating every dollar raised to Kickstart Kids International with a fundraising goal of $5000. Katy volunteered with Kickstart in Kenya in 2010 and since then has been helping the team where she can.   At the end of last year, she accepted a role on the board.

Kickstart founder James Woodward is thrilled with Katy’s latest contribution to Kickstart. ‘This is great opportunity for Kickstart and we are grateful for Katy’s ongoing support. We are behind her 100%’ he said.

About the cause

Kickstart Kids International has purchased a 10 acre block of land in Olturoto around 50km from Nairobi. A section of the block will be devoted to the children’s home, initially featuring two buildings for the children to live in with a matron in each and an administration building.  Construction of the first house is set to begin in mid-April and to be opened by the end of the year.

The front acre will also feature a library which will not only serve our children but also the wider community and 7 acres have been devoted to a farm which is currently producing chilies and beans to be sold locally and nationally.

Kickstart will provide the initial funding and support to get the project started with the long term vision of empowering the local community to run this new facility without needing to permanently rely on the support of international donors.

How you can help

You can sponsor Katy by visiting her fundraising page and forwarding this to others http://makingadifference.gofundraise.com.au/page/KAnderson

Track Katy’s progress and leave a message of support and motivation for her on Kickstart Kids International’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/kickstartkidsinternational

View Katy’s fundraising video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYRayD4KIbY