MISSION STATEMENT

The Rutger Hauer Starfish Association is dedicated to providing help, attention and care to children
and pregnant women with HIV/AIDS, as well as educating communities about this disease.

'Starfish' is inspired by an ancient Indian saying - "Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will feed himself for a lifetime".

The St*rfish Story
(from an ancient legend)



^ click here ^
Rutger's Audio

One early morning as I was walking along the beach
I discovered a figure at a distance moving like a dancer.
As I got closer I noticed that the figure was a young girl
Maybe 9-10 years old and she wasn't dancing.

She was reaching down to the shoreline
Picking up small objects and throwing them into the ocean…
As I came even closer, I said 'Good morning, what are you doing?'

She paused a little out of breath, looked up and said,
'Throwing starfish into the sea',
'Why are you throwing them back there?' I asked,

She said, 'The sun is getting hot and the tide is going out,
If I don't throw them in, they'll die'.
I couldn't help saying 'But there are miles of beach
And hundreds of starfish, d'you think it makes a difference?'

She gave me a very serious look and bent down picking up another starfish
And threw it into the sea,
As it splashed into the water she said
'It makes a difference to that one…'.