Our mission is to empower I-Kiribati women by fostering financial self-reliance and nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets that will lead to sustainable success and a lasting transformation. Through our small business development courses, local women are equipped with the skills they need to take their ideas into the world, and create something truly unique.Empowered women make for a powerful future.
We keep it simple
Attend 10 entrepreneurship classes to qualify for a loan
Receive a loan averaging around $350 AUD to start or expand a business
Full refund of interest if all payments are made on time
A unique learning opportunity
Our borrowers are organized into groups that meet weekly to aid one another and provide loan repayment. These meetings allow collaboration on issues facing members’ businesses.
Kiribati Microfinance fund
95,000
AUD in total assets
12
grants received since 2019
100
fundraised from charitable donations
92
repayment rate since 2019
Communities built on trust
Unlike traditional banks, we don’t require income or credit history to qualify for a loan. Kindling Kiribati loans are built on trust.
Our borrowers are organized into groups that meet weekly for loan repayment and aid another borrower with payments if required. These meetings are where we collaborate on issues facing members’ businesses.
Join Kindling Kiribati in empowering communities
From the beginning, a pillar of our program has been to provide the next generation opportunities to expand their horizons by working in Kiribati and with the I-Kiribati people
Calling all seeking a unique and challenging experience
From the beginning, a pillar of our program is to provide the next generation opportunities to expand their horizons by working in Kiribati and with the I-Kiribati people.
Remote Internships
Opportunities
We always seek social media creators, grantwriters, administrative assistants, data wranglers, and fundraisers!
Requirements
Remote interns will work closely with the board of directors and complete projects that directly contribute to operations. There is no hourly requirement.
Support
Interns will meet weekly with the board of directors to provide updates, receive feedback, meet our in-country team, and contribute to any discussions.
Meet a former intern, Patrick!
Patrick started out in the fall of 2019, helping us with marketing materials. His role eventually transformed over time to involve operations in Kiribati, grant writing, social media, and more. He is now a board member.
Apply now!
We are always accepting applications for remote interns. Please email your resume to info@kindlingkiribati.org with a cover letter outlining why you’d like to join and what skills you anticipate bringing to the team!
Kiribati Internships
Opportunities
Interns work alongside our in-country team to operate the microfinance program, they are also expected to share their expertise in other domains. Previous interns have taught English and participated in beach clean-ups.
Requirements
Interns must pay for their plane ticket to Kiribati and in-country expenses minus housing. This is expected to be $350-$400 per month in the country.
Support
Kindling Kiribati organizes housing, provides access to a car, in-country support with our employees and in-country board member.
Frequently asked questions
When are applications?
We accept intern resumes year-round for remote and in-country internships. Please email us a resume and cover letter outlining your desire to volunteer with Kindling Kiribati.
Is there a location requirement for remote interns?
No, there is no location requirement. Our interns work remotely from all over the world. The full team meets once a week over Zoom. Interns may also choose to be in-person in Kiribati, typically during a college semester but can be longer or shorter.
Is there an hourly requirement?
Kindling Kiribati interns work on a project basis, we are flexible with week-to-week workload. Interns succeed most when consistently providing updates on their projects. In-country interns should expect to work 35+ hours per week.
Work with us
We always seek opportunities to collaborate and support local non-profits, initiatives, and organizations to increase our impact. We also support other non-Kiribati-based charities looking to work in Kiribati.
Past Projects
United Nations
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) engaged the Kindling Kiribati team to support the facilitation of an in-person field mission to perform a Cost-Benefit Analysis for Australia’s Kiribati Climate Initiative (AKSCI). The project’s primary objective was to implement high-quality, inclusive, and resilient coastal protection solutions across two sites in Tarawa and to improve the resilience of Kiribati and its people to the impacts of climate change.
In 2025, we partnered with the Office of Te Beretitenti in Kiribati and the Climate Change and Disaster Management Division of UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP CCC) to perform a Technology Needs Assessment (TNA). The goal was to identify technologies to adopt to support critical sectors like coastal erosion management.
Kiribati Women & Children Support Center
Supporting the KWCSC in constructing a toilet facility has been our largest project beyond conducting business courses, marking a huge milestone in furthering our positive presence in Kiribati.
Our relationship with the KWCSC started in early 2022 with the intention of bringing our courses to victims of domestic violence. Since then, we have been supporting the center wherever possible, resulting in the bathroom construction project.
The project broke ground in late July and was completed on November 20, 2023.
Days for Girls Madagascar
For Giving Tuesday 2023, we paid it forward to our friends at Days for Girls Madagascar. After hearing of their sudden loss of funding, Kindling Kiribati pledged $2,000 to help the organization finalize their steps moving forward. We were able to meet our fundraising goal through our many generous donors across all platforms.