WICONI

Age: 10 years

Situation: Wiconi is the half sister of Atlanta and Richmond who we presented last time. The single mother of them takes care of 8 kids of her own and of 4 kids of her deceased sister.

Wiconi is in the 2nd grade of a school in Pine Ridge. Due to the difficult home situation she had to repeat school years twice.

Wiconi likes sports, especially wrestling.
At the school championship for the State South Dakota she won 3rd place for Pine Ridge. She also takes part in Powwows as a Jingle Dancer.

Needs she has: Wiconi needs clothes. It would also be great if she could find a sponsor who will support her on a monthly basis.

If you want to support this girl, please send an Email for further information.

ATLANTA

Situation: The single mother of Atlanta (14 years) takes care of 8 kids of her own and the 4 kids of her deceased sister.

Atlanta is in the 7th grade attending of a school in Pine Ridge.

She likes to hang out with friends, play basketball an listen to music.

Needs she had: Atlanta would have liked to have an I-Pod and/or school clothes.

Outcome: Atlanta received school clothes and also found a sponsor from Germany. A couple will support her as well as her brother Richmond on a monthly basis.

November 2007

RICHMOND

Situation: Richmond, 13 years, is Atlanta's brother, therefore the family background is the same.

He is also in the 7th grade of a school in Pine Ridge.

Richmond likes to play basketball, football and loves to ride his bicycle.

Needs he had: Richmond would have liked to have a PS 2 Playstation and/or school clothes.

Outcome: Richmond received school clothes and also found a sponsor from Germany. A couple will support him as well as his sister Atlanta on a monthly basis.

November 2007

DUGGAN

Situation: Duggan, 16 years, spent some time in a children’s home in Pine Ridge. There is little known about his parents. Some years ago he was adopted by a family which is also taking care of other homeless children.
Money is in short supply, and there is not a lot left for personal expenses of the adopted children.

Duggan is in the 10th grade of a school in Pine Ridge.

He loves to do sports, especially basketball, and likes to listen to music.

Needs he had: Duggan wished for new Basketball Shoes.

Outcome: Duggan received the basketball shoes he wished for. He has also found a sponsor from Germany who will support him on a monthly basis. And he has found a co-sponsor from the US who paid for his basketball shoes, and who will continue to help covering other needs he has.

July 2007

CIMMERON

Situation: The single mother of Cimmeron, 16 years, has a drinking problem and left her and her two sisters alone at home for days. The oldest sister took care of the two younger ones. Approximately 6 years ago a family took in all three girls. This family also takes care of other children, who don't have a home. Therefore there is not a lot of money available for the personal needs of their foster children.

Cimmeron is a Junior in the Pine Ridge School.

She likes to draw, listen to music and do bead work like these key rings:

LATOYA

Situation: The parents of Latoya, 17 years, are incapable of taking care of her. Because of the difficult family background the seventeen year old had problems to complete her education. Now Latoya moved in with her grandmother where she can go to school on a regular basis.
As the grandmother also takes care of her younger brother and a cousin, there is not a lot of money for Latoya's personal needs.

Latoya likes to play BasketBall, listen to music and do bead work.

Needs she had: Latoya wished for new clothes and shoes.

Outcome: Latoya received the clothes she needed. She has also found a sponsor from Germany who will support her on a monthly basis.

March 2007

LINDSEY

Situation: Lindsey, 16 years, is the older sister of Jessica, our last "Rezkid of the Month". She is in the 10th grade and lives with her mother and younger sister north of the village of Pine Ridge.

Lindsey likes to play Basket Ball, listen to music and watch her favorite shows on TV. She is a very sociable person and takes part in youth group activities. Family is very important to her and she visits almost every weekend her grandmother who is very ill at the moment.

Her single mother has recently received a scholarship which enables her to go to college. While she is getting her education she can only work part-time. So the family has less money available to make a living.

Needs she had: Lindsey needed school clothes.

Outcome: Lindsey received the school clothes she needed. She has also found a sponsor from Germany who will support her on a monthly basis.

January 2007

JESSICA

Situation: Jessica, 13 years old, is in the 7th grade and lives with her mother and older sister north of the village of Pine Ridge.

Jessica likes to play Basket Ball and would like to start playing Volleyball too. Riding bicycle is another one of her hobbies.

Her single mother has recently received a scholarship hich enables her to go to college. While she is getting her education she can only work part-time. So the family has less money available to make a living.

Needs she had: Jessica whished for a small Stereo and/or a pair of Volleyball Shoes.

Outcome: Jessica received the desired Volley Ball Shoes and Stereo. She has also found a sponsor from Germany who will support her on a monthly basis.

November 2006

DARREN

Situation: Darren, 13 years, lives with his Grandmother on Pine Ridge Reservation. His mother had passed away a few years ago and his father has a drinking problem.

He is in the 6th grade at a school in the village of Porcupine. Darren likes to play sports and listen to music.

Needs he had: Darren's grandmother has only a small income and is not capable of buying anything for him. She asked the DYP to help out with clothes. The picture shows Darren with a pile of new clothes the DYP has bought for him.
He wished for a portable CD player and some new CDs.

Outcome: Darren received the CD player he had wished for as well as a battery charger and some CDs. He has also found a sponsor from Germany who will support him on a monthly basis.

May 2006

AUTUMN

Situation: Autumn, 14 years, lives with her parents on Pine Ridge Reservation. She is in the 8th grade at a school in the village of Porcupine.

Autumn is a very enthusiastic and very good basketball player. She spends all her free time on it.

As her parents are not only taking care for her and her 6 siblings, but also take in other children of their kinship, money is often in short supply.

Needs she had: Autumn wished for a portable stereo.

Outcome: Autumn received her stereo. Beside this a sponsor from Grmany will support her on a regular basis.

March 2006

LYNDON

Situation: Lyndon, 16 years, lives with his grandmother on Pine Ridge Reservation, because his parents are not able to take care of him.
He is in the 10th grade at a school in the village of Kyle. His favorite hobby is sports. He is also interested in the Lakota Traditions and participates in the Sweat Lodge Ceremony on a regular base.

Needs he had: Lyndon would really like to have a basketball goal, which he can set up in the yard. He also needs clothes and basketball shoes.

Outcome: Lyndon received his basketball goal and a new basketball. He has also found a sponsor from Germany who will support him on a monthly basis.

February 2006

Kyle with one of the dream catchers he made

KYLE

Situation: Kyle is a thirteen year old boy who is in the eight grade and lives in the Wounded Knee community of Pine Ridge reservation. Kyle likes to go fishing and learned his fishing skills from his uncle. Kyle is also a craftsman and has learned to make necklaces, earrings, dream catchers, and other popular crafts that are sold to tourists. In this way he helps his mother to provide for his four brothers and sisters. Kyle lost his father when he was two years old and has been raised by his mother, who comes from a traditional family and speaks her Lakota language.

Needs he had: Some help with buying materials for his craft projects, clothes and a few things for his fishing gear.

Outcome: Kyle has received a lot of support from Europe and the United States in helping him to buy materials for his craft projects. He has also received funds for buying clothes, and he has found a sponsor from Austria who will support him on a monthly basis.

July 2005

WHITNEY

Situation: Whitney, 12 years, lives with her aunt and uncle on Pine Ridge Reservation and attends school in the Eagle Nest District of the Pine Ridge Reservation. Whitney would like to continue on to college after she finishes high school. Whitney does well in school and says math is her favorite subject. She likes to help other students with their math.

Whitney also has an interest in Powwow dancing and traditional ceremonies. She likes sports, especially basketball and track.

Needs she had: Whitney wanted to buy herself really good basketball shoes. She was also in need of school clothing.

Outcome: Whitney has received donations from Austria and Germany to buy clothes and shoes she needs. She is very happy about that. Beside this somebody from Germany has shown interest to support the girl on a monthly basis.

May 2005

BYRON

Situation: Byron, 12 years, is an Oglala Lakota youth living in the Wakpamni community of the Pine Ridge reservation.

Byron is learning to sing traditional songs through his father, who sings at Lakota ceremonies, such as the Sundance ceremony. Byron is also active in school sports and would like to go to college when he gets older.

Byron lives with an aunt and uncle who also have six childen of their own.

Needs he had: School clothes and school supplies. A CD or tape recorder to help him learn his Lakota songs.

Outcome: Thanks to the DYP activities Byron received a CD recorder and some clothes. He has also found a sponsor from Germany who will support him on a monthly basis.

April 2005

MAYA

Situation: Maya, 10 years, is in the fourth grade at the Porcupine Day School, Porcupine, South Dakota. Maya is a full blood Lakota girl and comes from a traditional family. Maya participates in the Lakota ceremonies and recently completed her first year of the Sundance Ceremony.
Recently her stepfather broke his leg and has been unable to work. Her mother started a job at a hospital on August 2nd.
Maya's family is struggling to make ends meet and is unable to buy school clothes for her.

Needs she had: School clothes

Outcome: Thanks to the DYP activities Maya received Christmas gifts and clothes. She has also found a sponsor from Austria who will support her on a monthly basis.

February 2005