Established in 2010, Starfysh is a grassroots movement of folks with the crazy notion that we could turn desperate poverty on its ear for a small island in Haiti that 100,000 of the poorest people on Earth call home—and restore dignity and hope to those who’ve lost both.

Nothing less than a grand experiment in human compassion, Starfysh asks, “What if a few people and organizations, in gutsy Christian response, came together in synergistic partnerships and collaboration to focus on this small island of precious people? To demonstrate to them the love of Christ by feeding them and healing their sick and injured? To restore in them the dignity that God originally created them to have? To make sure their water doesn’t make them sick? To make sure each family has a weather-tight home, a garden, and a dignified way to provide for themselves? To restore in them the ability to hope again?” We choose to rise to the occasion.

We are Starfysh. And we invite you to join us. Thank you.

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, so he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man reached down to the shore, picking up small objects and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?” The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean.” “I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man. To this the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!” As if he hadn’t heard, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it into the ocean.

As it met the water, he turned, smiled, and said, “Yes, but I just made a big difference to that one!”

They call her La Gonave. Home to 100,000 of the poorest, most beaten down people with whom we share our planet—yet most of the world does not know that she and her people exist. While the island is considered part of Haiti, La Gonave is, for the most part, disregarded by her motherland. She is “The Forgotten Haiti,” where three of every four children under five years of age are malnourished and where most people have no access to safe, clean water. Where meaningful work is nearly non-existent and the ability to hope for a better future has evaporated. Where only a slim minority of children can attend school and where, even for those fortunate enough to attend and complete school, there are no next steps.

They are a people who love their country, for all its flaws. They are smart people, beautiful people, creative people, and industrious people, whose children love to play and sing. They are a resilient people who desire, more than anything, to make a go of it, and who are willing to work hard to pull themselves and their land out of their rotten situation…if only there were a way to do it.

Sadly, these people have lost the hope and dignity they were created to have. They feel they have nothing to be proud of and they are sure the world doesn’t see them. Their lives are quietly desperate…hidden, for the most part, from the rest of Haiti…and certainly from the rest of the world.

Friends in need, we see you and choose this day to join you in your struggle.

• 1 of every 13 children dies before their 5th birthday.
• 3 of every 4 children under 5 are malnourished and underweight.
• 2 of every 3 children are anemic.
• 3 of every 4 children are iodine deficient.
• 1 of every 3 children are infected with intestinal parasites.
• 80% of people have no access to basic health care.
• Fewer than half of people can read.
• Diarrheal illness causes more deaths than any other illness.

These realities are why Starfysh exists—to restore dignity, hope, and opportunity in La Gonave… because a new day is rising on the island.