My Nonprofit Reviews

I work at a high school and have helped lead a group of student volunteers to Tree of Life Ministry on four different occasions. We have student volunteer groups travel outside of the country, but I tell the students that the Rosebud Reservation is the most impoverished place that we send volunteers. The need is great on the reservation. But aside from the work that is done to help alleviate the poverty on the reservation, I think the best part of this experience is the cultural activities that Tree of Life organizes for volunteer groups. My life has been enriched by learning more about Lakota culture and participating in ceremonies like the sweat lodge. The students are also enriched by learning about Lakota spirituality and culture. This is a great cross cultural experience for participants and a chance to work "with" instead of "for" the people living on the reservation.

Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in home repair projects. If volunteers have experience with home repair, that is very helpful. If not, there are opportunities to work in their food pantry or thrift store. These are good experiences for people who may not have a lot of construction skills. The group receives a day off on Wednesday, which provides a good break in the week. And each evening, there is a cultural activity which is a huge part of the program.

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