“The tide has gone out and has left a million starfish on a beach. They are slowly dying under the heat of the sun.   A little girl is walking along this beautiful sandy beach.  As she walks, she picks up a starfish and throws it into the sea.  Then she picks up another one and another one, throwing each into the sea.  A old man comes up to her and says; “What are you doing, little girl? There are millions of starfish out there, dying. You cannot make a difference.”   The girl kneels down, picks up a starfish, throws it in the water and says, “I made a difference to that one!”

 

As individuals we cannot necessarily change the world.  BUT we can make a difference.”

 

 

 

An Introduction to the ISF 

 

               

 

The Indochina Starfish Foundation is focused on making a difference to children in Cambodia specifically the street children of Phnom Penh and other cities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cambodia is a country of 14 million people, 2 million of which live in Phnom Penh.   50% of the population are aged under 20 and only 34% have access to safe water.

 

Although Cambodia has a well established education system, teaching is limited to 4 hours a day and only 3% of those who start in school currently leave with secondary education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries on earth.

 

Between 1975 and 1978 Cambodia was exposed to mass genocide by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.   75% of all doctors, teachers, lawyers and engineers died during those 4 years.

 

From 1999 to date relative stability has been maintained, however corruption is high and economic growth slow.   Tourism is on the increase largely due to the massive increase in visitors to the Angkor temples near Siem Reap.