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ASTERIAS - STARFISH FOUNDATION
To help build a better tomorrow, through dignity and the coexistence of people.
Our Mission
Starfish works to better the lives of all people on Lesvos, this includes refugees and local population.
At the heart of Starfish lies the belief that everyone deserves to be shown compassion, dignity, and humanity. We focus on the need for integration and relationship building and the importance of implementing practical solutions that work for all.
Dear Starfish Foundation Supporters and Friends
I am writing to you with mixed emotions as we have approached a significant milestone in the life of Starfish Foundation. The year 2023 marked our official 8th birthday, a journey that began with the noble intent of helping those in need and has since evolved into an organization that has made a meaningful impact on the lives of many.
Our organization, as many of you know, draws its inspiration from a poignant Chinese tale about a little girl saving starfish along the beach. The essence of this story has guided our efforts over the years, inspiring us to make a difference, one life at a time.
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that Starfish Foundation suspended its operations at the end of 2023. The decision has not been an easy one as there is and continues to be an increase in refugees arriving on Lesvos, coupled with the ongoing needs of the local population but with the drying up of funding for Lesvos, we find ourselves compelled to reevaluate our approach.
At the end of December 2023, we handed over all our current projects to other active organizations. While Starfish Foundation may enter a period of hibernation, our commitment to making a difference remains unwavering. If a need arises and Starfish can help, rest assured, we will be there.
I want to take this moment to express my deepest gratitude to every volunteer, partner, donor and person who has been part of our journey. Your dedication and support have been the driving force behind our accomplishments. To my family, your unwavering support has been my rock, and I am endlessly thankful.
Together, we have demonstrated the power of collective action and kindness. We have made a significant difference in the lives of thousands, proving that every small act of compassion ripples out, creating waves of change.
Thank you for being a part of the Starfish Foundation family. Our journey may be taking a pause, but our collective impact will resonate far beyond these moments of change.
With heartfelt gratitude and warm regards,
Melinda McRostie
Our Work
What We Did
Our projects were implemented under the umbrella of cooperation and solidarity, with a view to connecting the people on the island.
Our team's expertise enabled us to provide a variety of opportunities, from bicycle repair to sewing classes and capacity-building seminars, for different communities on the island. They took place at OpenSpace, our building in the heart of Mytilene’s city centre and at the Camp (CCAC) of Lesvos.
Who We Are
The Starfish Foundation was started by locals on Lesvos who witnessed one of the world’s greatest humanitarian disasters unfolding on their shorelines.
Born out of the need for humanity, dignity, and care to all, Starfish has since expanded to become one of the long-standing NGOs on the island.
Some Of Our Projects
Jan 2019–2023
OpenSpace is Starfish Foundation’s locally run opportunity hub for education and co-working space based in the heart of Mytilene, enabling opportunities to occur and projects to flourish by making space for a range of activities for both the local and the refugee community.
May 2022–2023
Open Bike aims to introduce both refugees and locals to the benefits of cycling and through that help them gain deeper connections with the environment and between each other. We have created a bike workshop at OpenSpace and one inside the camp where people can repair their bikes themselves as well as recycle and upgrade them using the equipment and parts we provide for them.
Mar 2019–2023
The Starfish Multilingual Library is located within OpenSpace. Over 7,000 books line the shelves, books written in Greek, English, Farsi, French, Arabic, Somali and German. The library has been designed to be an accessible, educational and recreational tool for both local Greeks and refugees living inside and outside the camp. You can either browse the books in person at OpenSpace or online (browse here). For those living inside the camp, Starfish has set up a library station where people can borrow any books of their choice either by browsing the available selection there or by requesting specific genres or authors. In front of our library station in the camp, we also have a game station, where camp residents can play a variety of board games, such as chess, dame, UNO cards, puzzles, as well as cultural specific games such as carrom and others.
Apr 2021–2023
Folia, our safehouse, offers safe shelter to vulnerable single refugee women and their children. We seek to meet the individual needs of our beneficiaries by offering a holistic approach of psychosocial, bureaucratic and physical support services.
Dec 2019–2023
Bagforeveryone is a project aimed at skill-building opportunities for the refugee and local community on Lesvos. Our tailors are conducting weekly sewing lessons in collaboration with the #educationeveryone team in Switzerland.
Jan 2018–2023
This program aims to empower and connect individuals through effective self-defence techniques by learning to recognize and respond to boundary crossings, allowing us to create safer spaces for ourselves and others.
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