The visit last fall to Whiteclay Makerspace near Pine Ridge by the Widajuri Indigenous exchange team from Australia formed a unique kind of synergy. Both the Makerspace and the exchange team are funded by Rotary grants. The global grant for Whiteclay Makerspace was started in 2020, to purchase equipment and supplies and provide financial support for education in finance and artistic skills.
The financial education seminar last fall gave 12 artists support in forming their own businesses around their skills. Another enhancement is the community that is building around the Makerspace as they host Food Fridays and Christmas Markets.
The Group Study Exchange project to provide funds to host a team, and then send a team, was started in 2019 as a District grant, then put on hold by Covid. We successfully hosted the 5-member team in October 2023, and have now received 17 applications from Native Americans in 6 different reservations in South Dakota. A selection committee composed of Rotarians and Native Leaders will review and interview the applicants, to have a 4 member team identified to travel to New South Wales, Australia this fall 2024.