STARFYSH
3725 OAK CREEK COURT SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49546 www.starfysh.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: STARFYSH HAS DETERMINED TO FOCUS ON ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST DESPERATE GEOGRAPHIC LOCALES AND PEOPLE GROUPS: THAT OF THE ISLAND OF LA GONAVE, HAITI. IT IS BOTH OUR PURPOSE AND OUR EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO REVERSE THE CYCLE OF POVERTY THERE THROUGH THE ADDRESSING OF ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURAL NEEDS (WATER, AGRICULTURE, HEALTH) WHILE DEVELOPING A MODEL FOR SUSTAINING THOSE IMPROVEMENTS (EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT). WHILE WORKING TOWARD THESE GOALS, WE WILL NOT IGNORE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEMONSTRATING CHRISTIAN COMPASSION IN TIMES OF URGENT, IMMEDIATE, AND DESPERATE NEED.

AGRICULTURE LIFE GARDEN, STARFYSH'S AGRICULTURE AND DEMONSTRATION FARM, WHERE FARMERS FROM ACROSS THE ISLAND COME TO STUDY METHODS AND SOLUTIONS TO THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS, WHERE THEY CAN GET IDEAS FOR NEW THINGS TO GROW, AND WHERE THEY CAN OBTAIN SEEDS, SEEDLINGS, AND FARMING SUPPLIES. A PLACE WHERE THEY WILL LEARN ABOUT COMPOSTING, PEST CONTROL, RAINWATER HARVESTING, IRRIGATION, AND SEED SALVAGE AND STORAGE. WHERE PEOPLE LIVING ON TINY PLOTS OF LAND CAN LEARN HOW THEY MIGHT GROW THINGS IN THEIR TINY SPACE. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VARIOUS FRUIT, VEGETABLE, AND TREE SEEDLINGS ARE CONTINUALLY BEING NURTURED AT LIFE GARDEN, WHICH ARE DAILY FINDING THEIR WAY ACROSS GARDENS ACROSS LA GONAVE. STARFYSH CURRENTLY HAS 2 UNIQUE LIFE GARDEN CAMPUSES - ONE AT SEA LEVEL AND ONE IN THE MOUNTAINS. IN ADDITION, STARFYSH HAS BEEN BRINGING LESSONS TO VILLAGERS WHO GATHER TO LEARN IDEAS TO GROW THEIR GARDEN. OUR VISION IS TO SEE FAMILIES MAKING A LIVING FROM THE THINGS THEY GROW, SO IN THAT VEIN, WE HAVE BEEN MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD EXPORTING LA GONAVE-GROWN COFFEE AND MORINGA TO THE WORLD MARKET.

EDUCATION AT THE END OF 2018, STARFYSH SUPPORTS AND OVERSEES FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, EACH OF WHICH, IN ADDITION TO CLASSROOM EDUCATION, RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT: DAILY NUTRITIOUS MEALS, PERIODIC CHILD HEALTH ASSESSMENTS AND ANTI-PARASITIC MEDICATIONS, BOOKS AND CLASSROOM RESOURCES, AND YEARLY TEACHER TRAINING. WE REQUIRE THAT EACH FAMILY PAY A PERCENTAGE OF THE TUITION FOR THEIR CHILD TO ATTEND, EVEN IF THAT AMOUNT IS EXTREMELY MEAGER. WE BELIEVE THIS PRESERVES DIGNITY AND ELEVATES THE VALUE OF THE EDUCATION THEIR CHILD RECEIVES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADD SCHOOLS AS FUNDING ALLOWS. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF WORKING ON A SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP, WE ARE NOW ABLE TO OFFER A WAY FOR INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS TO SPONSOR AN ENTIRE SCHOOL IN A VILLAGE THAT DOES NOT HAVE ONE, MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR ONE OR TWO HUNDRED KIDS TO ATTEND SCHOOL WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD THAT CHANCE. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF KIDS GRADUATING FROM SCHOOL IN HAITI WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ADVANCE TO COLLEGE-LEVEL EDUCATION, NOR WILL THEY HAVE A JOB WAITING FOR THEM WHEN THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE EQUIP THEM WITH PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEM THRIVE WHEN THEIR EDUCATION ENDS. SUCH LIFE SKILLS INCLUDE AGRICULTURE, TRADE, AND BASIC BUSINESS ECONOMICS. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A MODEL TO INTEGRATE AGRICULTURE INTO THE CLASSROOM AND OUTDOOR GARDENS OF OUR SCHOOLS.

SERVICE TEAMS ONE OF THE GREAT DELIGHTS IN OUR WORK IS RECEIVING AND HOSTING THE MANY GUESTS THAT COME DOWN TO VISIT AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR WORK THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. FULLY AWARE OF THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON A PERSON'S LIFE THAT WORKING AMONG THE POOR CAN HAVE, WE WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR GUESTS' EXPERIENCES HERE ARE DEEPLY MEANINGFUL. FOR TEAMS WISHING TO WORK, WE TRY TO BE SHOVEL-READY. FOR FOLKS WANTING TO SIMPLY EXPLORE WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO, WE'LL GIVE THE GRAND TOUR. REGARDLESS WHAT BRINGS THEM HERE AND WHAT THEY DO WHILE THEY'RE WITH US, OUR SIMPLE DESIRE IS THAT THEY WILL RETURN HOME WITH FRESH EYES FOR WHAT GOD IS DOING ON AN OBSCURE, PRECIOUS LITTLE ISLAND AND FOR HOW HE MIGHT BE SPEAKING TO THEIR OWN HEARTS.

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