The Foundation's first programmatic focus area is American Indian Country. Lotus 88 Foundation will raise and grant funds in Indian Country for two strategic purposes: revitalizing the Council Tipis as spiritual, cultural and service centers; and providing the basic needs through community building. These two projects will enrich the lives of women and children by assisting them to strengthen their communities, create a facility for gatherings for education, tribal ceremonies and other traditional healing programs, and identify other facilities and services that they need to improve their lives. Lotus 88 Foundation will seek funding partners to work with us to bring resources to these communities to implement their community building plans. Lotus 88 Foundation is supporting the Brave Heart Society Lodge on the Yankton Reservation in Southeastern South Dakota. The Lodge serves Dakota/Nakota/Lakota families to strengthen their bond to their culture and provide support for families. The Lodge is a facility where women and girls can come for a short residence to address addictions and dysfunctional behaviors which are the result of the intergenerational trauma of Native people. In addition to shelter services, the Lodge provides a place for cultural and spirit gatherings, storytelling institutes, healing circles, programs for children and youth, tribal gatherings and community planning. Lotus 88 Foundation is working with Lodge Manager Faith Spotted Eagle to create a development plan to meet their needs. Lotus 88 Foundation intends to extend its vision and strategy of community empowerment to work with women and children in other parts of the United States and around the world. As with our Indian Country project, we will form alliances with local organizations sharing our mission and seek to raise awareness and funds to help achieve their goals. We are currently looking into developing a project in Nepal to bring clean water to a village where the women and girls have to walk four hours to get water.