tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58842475862866978872024-02-21T22:06:59.235-08:00Starfish Greathearts FoundationDr. Leana Wenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08879099283276712655noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884247586286697887.post-58315290646881468622014-07-25T23:20:00.001-07:002014-07-25T23:20:08.917-07:00A Visit to South Africa
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Starfish’s own Nicola Atherstone visited projects in
South Africa. This is what she shares with us:</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After a long ride on a dusty, dirt road crossed by cows and goats,
we arrived at Keiskamma, an isolated, rural community without running water or
electricity. Rainwater is collected in large, green JoJo tanks for daily use at
the preschool. <span> </span>The daycare center in
Keiskamma cares for 34 children, who were all very happy to see us and showed
off their knowledge of numbers, letters and days of the week with song and
dance. The children receive two hot meals a day, which are cooked in a tiny
kitchen over a gas stove, and a flourishing vegetable garden provides healthy,
fresh food for the children. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The afterschool center across from the high school, offers students
homework support, computer facilities, a library and driving instruction. We
also visited Keiskamma’s impressive Arts and Crafts Co-op, which creates jobs
for the talented women in the community (and where I collected the 200 beautifully
hand-made orange Starfish keyrings for our NYC Gala!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The following day we visited Loaves & Fishes Network, where a workshop
on childcare was underway for childcare workers and parents, while the
preschools we visited were training staff members on sanitation and nutrition
for the children. Their focus on training and development is a critical
part of helping their community help themselves.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was struck by how well cared for and happy the children are, and
what an impact the teachers are making in daycare centers that are little more
then a corrugated iron shack. These preschools receive teaching packages from
Starfish, with educational materials for the preschool curriculum, and funding
for the teacher’s stipends. Hot meals are served for breakfast and lunch, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Late that afternoon we stopped in at Nceduluntu, a community plagued
by hunger, unemployment, poverty, abuse and neglect. The need for the newly
hired Starfish social worker, Memory, was clear. The social worker makes
regular home visits to the almost 300 children who come to the day care center
and the 150 students who attend the aftercare center after school. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In Kwa-Zulu Natal we visited Ethembeni, (which means “Place of
Hope”) with their well-equipped Family Center, staffed by enthusiastic foreign
volunteers who were immersed in computer training programs for the community. Ethembeni
provides over 50 families with food parcels, counseling and general support to families.
Their Residential Care Centre cares for AIDS
and TB patients on four hospital beds in a modest clinic. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK1"><span>This year we’ve disbursed
almost $80,000 to our projects in South Africa, which has gone towards
providing educational materials and meals for day care centers, basic
healthcare services, child protection services through social workers and homecare
providers, and training programs for staff members. These services support over
16,000 children in 41 communities throughout South Africa. </span></a></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span>There are many more projects planned for the coming year. How will
you support the children of South Africa?</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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</span></span>Dr. Leana Wenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08879099283276712655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884247586286697887.post-50008487504321553452014-03-03T11:05:00.000-08:002014-03-06T10:35:06.589-08:00"For My Whole Life, This is What I Wanted to Do" Interview with Executive Director Nicola Atherstone<style>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Nicola Atherstone is
the Executive Director of <a href="https://www.starfishcharity.org/get-involved-usa" target="_blank">Starfish Greathearts USA</a>. We wanted to learn more
about her and how she got involved with Starfish. Here is our interview.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tell me about
yourself. What was your childhood like?</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I grew up in a small dairy farm in Kwazulu-Natal. After
graduating from Pietermaritzburg University, I backpacked around Europe, then
went to Jo-burg to work in investor relationships. Service is a big part of my
life, and while I was working, I also volunteered in a girls’ orphanage. I participated
in the equivalent of the big brother/big sister program, and mentored three
girls there for many years. Every Tuesday, and many weekends, I would spend
time with the girls. It gave me some idea what the girls go through in their
everyday life.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How did you first hear of
Starfish?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
was actually during this time when I was working and volunteering after
university that I heard about Starfish. Anthony Farr, the guy who started
Starfish, is a friend of a friend. He heard that I was interested in
volunteering, and asked me to help out with PR and website content. I went to
the first ever Starfish event, and then helped organize subsequent events in
South Africa. Altogether, I’d say that I volunteered for Starfish in South
Africa for over 10 years.<b> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wow, I had no idea
you were involved in Starfish for so long! What drew you to the organization?</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I remember hearing this banker colleague who went to rural
communities to see Starfish projects. He came back and said, this is what must
be done. We can’t just live in our ivory tower—we have to be hands-on and do
something to help. And that’s what Starfish does: the projects are really
tangible things like giving kids books, hot meals, and uniforms. These are
basic things to make life so much better. We make a real difference, directly,
and build from the ground up.<b> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>So then you came to
the US. How did you keep helping Starfish?</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I moved to the U.S. in 2002, but I continued to feel
strongly connected to South Africa and wanted to meet other South Africans and
give something back. I found out about Starfish in the U.S., and started out
organizing the first gala and helping out with fundraising and raising
awareness. That’s what I did until last year, when I became Executive Director.<b> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How did you feel when
you were offered the job?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Being Executive Director of Starfish is my dream job. I’ve
always said that when my kids are older, I want to give back to South Africa
and work with children. For my whole life, this is what I really wanted to do.
When the last ED, Kristy Gordon, said she was leaving, I really wanted the job.
Of course, part of me was hesitant because I have young children (Holden, who
is 9, and Jasper, who is 5), but this was too good of an opportunity to give it
up. I knew that I could make a big difference, and help bring continuity to the
organization.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What’s been the most
fulfilling part of the job?</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sending back more money back to South Africa than we’ve ever
had in just one month. We were able to fund six projects for the next six
months, all after one month of fundraising. And seeing the difference that this
money makes in the lives of children. It’s also great to work with our board
members, who are all volunteers with amazing professional experiences and incredible
passion and motivation.<b> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What would you say to
people who are thinking of becoming involved in Starfish?</b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We need your help! It’s a great way to give back to South
Africa. We are so privileged to be here in the U.S. This is our chance to give
back and really make a big difference to the life of a child in our home
country. Starfish is a small organization, so you can really get involved at
the grassroots level. You can have a lot of contact with the people you are
supporting. You know where your money is going and the impact you are having on
the kids.<b> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>And your kids? Do
they understand what you’re doing?</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes. They know that I’m working hard to help children in
South Africa, children like them.<i> </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>--Leana Wen & Sebastian Walker</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>Dr. Leana Wenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08879099283276712655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884247586286697887.post-58932981362203561872014-02-04T20:46:00.001-08:002014-02-10T19:06:59.460-08:00A Starfish in the Ocean<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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</style><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A young girl
was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up
during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up,
and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://eventsforchange.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/starfish11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://eventsforchange.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/starfish11.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a>She had been
doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why
are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You
can’t begin to make a difference!”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The girl seemed
crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up
another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then she looked
up at the man and replied, “Well, I made a difference to that one!”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The old man
looked at the girl and thought about what she had done and said. He joined the
little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all
the starfish were saved.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is the
story of Starfish. Some say that it’s a folk tale; others say it was adapted
from <i>The Star Thrower</i> by Loren Eiseley. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.starfishcharity.org/media/20316/about3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.starfishcharity.org/media/20316/about3.jpg" /></a>For us, it’s
the story of children in Africa who are orphaned by HIV/AIDS. In South Africa,
there are 2 million children who are orphaned by AIDS, and over 500,000 are
themselves are infected.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These
colossal numbers can be difficult to take in, but in the face of such
overwhelming statistics, our work is more vital than ever before. The people we
are helping are not numbers, but children, each with their own stories.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We
are starting this blog to help share these stories. These are stories from the
children, and from the volunteers and local partners who are making a
difference in their own communities. These are from all of you.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Will
you join us and save one starfish in the ocean?</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>--Leana Wen & Sebastian Walker </i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span>Dr. Leana Wenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08879099283276712655noreply@blogger.com1