Read about the new Starfish replication program!
2011 Evening in Evergreen
Our first annual Evening in Evergreen at the beautiful home of Chuck Cannon was a great success! Lots of fun was had by all and fantastic prizes were auctioned off to raise money for our girls in Guatemala. There was photography by Wendy Schott, a special visit from Norma Bajan and Marilena Rosales from the Guatemalan staff (Program director and Mentor Coordinator) and a fun band playing lively music. Check out lots more photos from the event here!
The value of educating girls
We recently received this letter from a couple volunteering in Panajachel that sums up the importance of Starfish One by One:
“The other night we were having dinner at typical outdoor restaurant. One of the (many) women who stopped at our table to sell bracelets, woven cloth, etc. struck up a conversation with us in Spanish and even some English. She had a baby strapped to her back. We asked her how old was her baby (whom she had just started to nurse). She said he was 6 months and she said (we didn’t ask, she volunteered) that he was her 8th. She also said that her oldest was 21. We were surprised because she looked to be in maybe her mid-thirties. Here it was, 9PM and she and her 6 month old baby were walking the streets trying to sell tourists her goods.
In contrast, we spent the last two days with Starfish mentor groups, young girls who are staying in school because they want to get an education to better their futures and to better be able to help their families.
We got to thinking, what if our seller with eight kids would have had a Starfish mentor in her life as a young Mayan girl? Would the quality of her life and her family’s life be different, better?
We think so. That is why Starfish is here and that is why we are here.”
2011 Graduating Class
Starfish One by One will celebrate its first four graduates of high school this fall!
Congratulations to Rosa, Francisca, Jeronima and Gil.
Yolanda
When Yolanda was in 3rd grade she knew she wanted to do something really different with her life but she hadn’t been born into a family that promoted “out of the box” thinking. Challenged with many obstacles in her personal life, Yolanda gave up and hit rock bottom.
In the end her strength, almost extinguished, came through for her. She worked hard during the week and put herself through junior high on the weekends. It was hard to keep up her grades and make any friends but at least she was moving forward. After much hard work and effort on her part, she finished and again hit a wall. High school costs at $400 per year were way beyond what a poor girl could earn. By now Yolanda was the age most girls marry, but remembering her 3rd grade dream she didn’t.
When Starfish first met her it was on a routine house visit to a different student. Yolanda had heard of Starfish and found her way into the visit where she sat inconspicuously in the corner. Towards the end of the visit time she stood up, gave and impassioned, impressive and heart wrenching speech. She wanted to go on. She enrolled in the program the next day, one day before high school applications closed.
At first she didn’t get along with the other girls in her mentorship group. They were friendly and welcoming. She was unresponsive. After the meetings she stuck around, spoke with her mentor and cried buckets. Having a mentor in your life can be an enormous force for healing. Today Yolanda is well on her way to a fantastic future. Her leadership abilities are constantly on display when she heads discussions groups, models participation, always has something important and relevant to contribute. Grades are stellar. She is good friends with the other girls. A few hours a week she works in the Starfish office. In her words: “In the past I didn’t realize I needed to be responsible. I didn’t know I had anything to offer. I’ve changed a lot.”
Beneath her pretty smile with perfect teeth, her movie star look-alike beauty, there’s still that 3rd grade girl. Again in her words: “And one day I’m going to be the first woman mayor of my community. I’m going to make it better for the other women here. It’s my dream. I know I can do it.”
Starfish One by One book!
We are excited to announce that in September 2011, just in time for the holiday season, we will be selling copies of “A Mayan Star Born to Shine”.
This whimsical children’s book written by Amaris Espinosa and illustrated by Sabina Espinet, is inspired by the writings of 75 girls in the Starfish program and it follows the adventures of Christina, a young girl struggling to find a way to go to school. Together with her Mayan spirit guide she finds her inner light!
Proceeds benefit Starfish one by one so reserve your copy today!
Meet Lorena
Three years ago, Lorena was a typical 14 year-old girl in rural Guatemala. She hid her poor self-esteem by energetically begging tourists for handouts. Her posture betrayed her though. She walked slumped over almost like the men in her community who have to carry heavy loads of firewood.
In 2008, Lorena became a member of the first Starfish pilot group. Like most, her transformation started off slow. At first, she was frequently late to the meetings and had spotty attendance. However her mentor, a local indigenous woman, saw a light buried by misfortune and a poor self image.
Today, one is struck by the confidence and cheerfulness of this beautiful young woman. Her smile lights up the room as she happily welcomes visitors to her home or participates in her weekly peer-support group. She is proud of her good grades and that she is enrolled in high-school- a goal she previously could not have imagined for herself. She seems unstoppable as she chats about plans to attend the university, become a lawyer, and return to help women in her community. Knowing who she is, what she can do, and with the determination to make her dreams a reality, Lorena has become a shining star.
Lorena is generously sponsored by Carol and Al Lewandowski
Book Day
On April 16th, Starfish one by one students and mentors participated in an event to promote reading together with the local library in Chicacao.
