Sponsor A Youth

At Friends of the Children - He Sapa, Wakaneja Ta Wolakota, we guide our youth by grounding our work in the Lakota way of life. We are now serving 16 children and families in Rapid City and 16 youth and families on the Oglala Lakota Nation, for a total of 32 youth and caregivers formally enrolled in our 2Gen approach. The chapter is enhancing our proven model by incorporating Lakota language, cultural practices, creativity, and lifeways in recognition of the important role culture plays as a protective factor for Native youth and families. Families can request to receive specific cultural intervention services; to programmatic activities like language instruction; to more intensive supports such as Healing Ceremonies, facilitated under the guidance of cultural advisor, Rick “Hmuya Mani” Two Dogs, a spiritual leader and interpreter of the sacred for the Oglala Lakota Sioux, for youth and families that have experienced significant trauma.

Donate today to help youth and their families receive cultural intervention services that will strengthen their inherent resiliency.