Our Mission

The mission of 1 Starfish is to both equip all impoverished children in San Jorge, Nicaragua, with school uniforms and supplies so they can attend school and to create sewing jobs within the same community.

Nicaragua, the second poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, has free public schools, but families must provide basic supplies like uniforms, shoes, notebooks, and pens. It costs about $50 per year to outfit one child, which for many people is more than one month's salary and therefore an insurmountable obstacle. San Jorge is a community of approximately 5,000, half of whom are under 15 years old. Due to lack of industry, there are few jobs and widespread, extreme poverty. The main hopes for improving individual lives and increasing options for the community are education and job creation. Currently an education is an impossible dream for about half of the children in San Jorge. The purpose of this project is to ensure that all San Jorge children can be equipped with the basic supplies necessary to attend school and to stimulate the local economy by creating sewing jobs.

Our Goals

The goal of the project is to raise money and then purchase and distribute uniforms and supplies at the start of each school year in January. In 2001, the first goal of sponsoring 25 students was attained. Fundraising has grown and it has been possible to outfit more kids each year. We outfitted 126 kids for the 2008 school year. Future goals are to sponsor 300 students in 2009 and 400 in 2010.

So far, the 1 Starfish project has raised an average of $5,000 a year from family and friends. In 2005, it was possible to purchase sewing machines and construct a sewing shop with a special donation designated for job creation. We currently contract with two San Jorge women who make all of the uniforms. As the project expands, we hope to create more sewing jobs as we approach the goal of outfitting 1,000 kids for school. All purchases of materials are made as locally as possible with the idea of recirculating donated money within the community as long as possible.

Our History

My interest in conditions in Nicaragua developed when writing my University of Washington undergraduate thesis on the Nicaraguan Contra War. In 1999, it was possible to spend the year as an orphanage volunteer in San Jorge. It was appalling to learn that many children in the community did not attend the free public schools because they could not afford the required uniform and supplies. It’s heartbreaking to personally know six-year-old children who spend their days hustling chewing gum and bottled water in the street so that they can earn money for their next plate of rice. Without school, these little ones have no chance.

Upon returning home, I began developing a modest plan to help all the children of the orphanage employees. With assistance from 20 generous individuals, the plan became a reality and we outfitted 25 children for the 2001 school year.

The 1 Starfish project has grown to include more students, local uniform manufacturing, and local purchasing of supplies. There has been incredible support from the people of San Jorge who have shared their expertise, their homes, and their lives with many of those who have worked on this project. It has been a privilege and a lot of fun becoming involved, so much so that in 2006, I quit my job and sold my house to make it possible to devote enough time and resources to be the full-time volunteer for the project.

The Power of an Education

As the 1 Starfish project grows, literacy will increase and there will be more hope for a better future. For example, living standards have improved dramatically for the families of our seamstresses. All of their children have enough to eat and attend school. Two of the girls are now university students.

This project also has an important and growing impact on my own community in Washington State. Many friends, family members, and business owners are involved in advising, planning, fundraising, and implementation. Some of the San Jorge students are matched with particular donors and this has encouraged activism in a very personal and satisfying way.

The power of education is astonishing. You can make education a reality for one child at a time and, if we all work together, someday a global reality for everyone.