Starfish

Starfish Greathearts Foundation is an international development charity, aiming to bring life, hope and opportunity to orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa. They believe that everyone can make a very real difference to the lives of these children.

Starfish Greathearts Foundation is an international development charity, aiming to bring life, hope and opportunity to children in South Africa, who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.

'Starfish you make me feel better, you make me cry lesser, you make me dream bigger.  The best part of being a child is to have you as my mother.' - Thomas Chauke, Ikageng Itireleng

Starfish is the response of a global community of people on a passionate quest to change perspectives, beliefs and ultimately outcomes for the growing number of orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa. 

Starfish seeks to inspire individuals around the world to take positive action against the tragedy of children orphaned or made vulnerable by this crisis.  In the last five years, thousands of people across the globe have embraced the Starfish vision, contributing to the community-based care that they're now providing for over 34,000 children in South Africa.

The Starfish Parable

An old man had a habit of early morning walks along the beach.  One day as he looked down the shore he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.  As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking up starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean.

"Young lady, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die."

"But young lady, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it?  You cannot possibly make a difference."

The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it in the sea, past the breaking waves, saying: "It made a difference to that one!"  

You can help them make a difference.

For more information, contact Starfish on 011 256 4000 or visit www.starfishcharity.org.za