Starthrower Foundation is a registered Canadian charity founded by Sharon Gaskell, promoting social justice and education in Haiti - working primarily with young Haitian adults in Cap-Haitien and Sen Rafayel.
On January 24 2013, Starthrower lost a treasured friend and staunch supporter. The world lost a tireless worker for improving the lives of those living in absolute poverty. Her family lost a wife, mother and grandmother. Diane Plett was co-founder of the Jasmine Foundation, along with husband Benjamin. She was too young and too vital to be gone. She knew her true self and that’s what you got when you met her. She was fearless and had infinite worth.
Diane’s spirit is alive and well at Lakay Jasmine (see picture below), part of her legacy in Haiti.
She is remembered and celebrated – a true fanm vayan (valiant woman).
Some of our Starfish attending high school in Sen Rafayel. They all gathered at our centre for the picture. As you can see, our second floor is well under way.
Currently we are supporting 112 students, the largest concentration in secondary school divided between Cap-Haitien and Sen Rafayel. Those in post secondary are scattered: Dominican Republic, Port-au-Prince, Léogâne, Limbe, Cap-Haitien. We also have half a dozen who are apprenticing in trades (carpenters, mechanics, masons).
Some of our Startfish attending high school in Cap-Haitien.
We pay for our students out of all the donations we receive, but we also offer individual sponsorships. We are looking for people, or groups of people, willing to journey with one of our young students.
Please work with us to better serve them. Every dollar makes a difference.
Thank you,
Sharon Gaskell
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The Starthrower Foundation takes its inspiration from the Loren Eiseley story:
The Star Thrower
A man was walking on the beach one day and noticed a boy who was reaching down, picking up a starfish and throwing it in the ocean. As he approached, he called out, “Hello! What are you doing?” The boy looked up and said, “I’m throwing starfish into the ocean”. “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the man. “The tide stranded them. If I don’t throw them in the water before the sun comes up, they’ll die” came the answer. “Surely you realize that there are miles of beach, and thousands of starfish. You’ll never throw them all back, there are too many. You can’t possibly make a difference.” The boy listened politely, then picked up another starfish. As he threw it back into the sea, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”
