Justine was entering the “big school” and she knew she would need her big brother’s support and guidance more than ever!.
Up to 43 percent of Native American children live in poverty and 29 percent of employed Native Americans live below poverty level.
Throughout our country, Native American children travel each day for hours across rugged and remote areas to attend school. These students often lack the simplest tools — such as paper, pencils, and notebooks — needed to participate in class.
Years of struggle take their toll on students. Today, only 17% of Native American high school graduates begin college. Of these, only one in five makes it through the academic, emotional, and financial stresses of the first year.
Yet, like all our children, these youngsters are inspired by the dream of a better future. Since 1997, the American Indian Education Fund (AIEF) has given hope to Native American students by providing the tools they need to succeed!
Services
Our Services focus on:
School SuppliesView All
To help young Native Americans get off to a good start each fall, we distribute basic supplies to preschools, elementary schools, and secondary schools serving reservations in the Northern Plains and Southwest.
Learn MoreLiteracyView All
The AIEF Literacy service partners with community programs such as Head Start and after-school care programs to help stock libraries for students who may not otherwise have access to children’s books.
Learn MoreScholarshipsView All
We follow up on the School Supplies service by providing scholarships — undergraduate and graduate, — to Indian peoples pursuing higher education. In fact, AIEF is one of America's largest grantors of scholarships to Native Americans.
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