Everyone has seen the calls for financial aid on television, "Help: the starving in Darfur, the Tsunami Victims, War Child and countless other worthy causes. And yes, there are many worthy causes. Many of us give to these humanitarian calls for help.

Why? We want to alleviate the suffering of our fellow man. Because we realise our priveleged position; a position which others do not share and because everyone has certain basic human rights: safety, education, healthcare. We enjoy our rights because we were born with them, but there are many people who are born without the opportunity to enjoy these rights.

Many people ask where the money they give ends up? How much is swallowed up in administrative costs, etc? I've often asked myself what good I can do in my lifetime to change the world in a positive way. But in such a way that I can see it changing. There are so many needy people .... where does one even begin?

I've thought up a way to change someone's life in a positive way and to be able to see exactly where the money goes. Starfish Foundation was born out of this and was inspired by the following story:

Childeren as starfish...

"There was a young man walking down a deserted beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw a frail old man. As he approached the old man, he saw him picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea. The young man gazed in wonder as the old man again and again threw the small starfish from the sand to the water. He asked, 'Old man, why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?'' The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. 'But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish!', exclaimed the young man. 'How can you make any difference?' The old man looked down at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to the safety of the sea, he said, 'I made a difference to this one'."

Such is it for the children in the township whom we want to help. There are uncountable children who live in poverty. You could just be the one.
I have chosen one: ONE FAMILY, comprising three children, and I believe that if this dream is fulfilled, the lives of one family will be changed and at least ONE STEP will have been made to turn the tide of poverty.