Our Youth

Our mentorship program takes an intentional look at both our volunteers and residents to find a fit that works for both parties. We know it takes time to build a trusting relationship with someone—so we take the time to learn about both the volunteer mentor and the mentee to know what needs each have before connecting the two.  The first meeting is merely a time to introduce the mentee to the mentor.

You never know how an introduction is going to go; if the youth is going to be shy or uninterested…but when our team introduced Kim to her mentee (we’ll call her “A”), it was clear from the beginning they were a perfect match. The look on A.’s face was priceless. She was so excited to meet her mentor; you could see the joy. When I asked her what she liked to do for fun, she generously listed a lot of things and you could just see how excited she was to have someone want to spend time just with her. The whole meeting was full of laughter. Kim and A. connected right away and it was apparent.

A teenager’s life has been touched-and all it took was for someone to say, “I want to spend time with you.”

Everyone, no matter where you are from, or what your story is, wants to feel seen and known. We all desire to feel understood and sought after. Our mentors are given the rare opportunity to do just that for a special population of youth in our county that has never felt that way before. To give someone the gift of feeling known is priceless.

Are you interested in making a difference in a foster youth’s life? Check out our calendar for ways you can be involved this year with Teen Leadership Foundation. 

We can’t imagine a better way to share the impact of Teen Leadership Camp than having campers share their own experiences. Here are two stories from recent graduates who have stayed involved in different areas of Teen Leadership Foundation after their season at camp ended: 

There are so many reasons why I love TLF. One of the main reasons is, at the age of 28, I can sit here in the comfort of my own living room and tell you that I have a support network grown through camps, The Knot and the other activities developed for me. When I needed a family, they are always there. I have made lifelong friendships from camp. During my time at camp I learned to trust people. Being in foster care as a teen teaches you to guard yourself; it’s hard to trust people, because we don’t know who will stay. But TLF has always had my back. Those 3 days at camp were a refuge in my teen years. Thank you, TLF.  This is my last year of nursing school, and I am coming to camp as a leader this year.

Those 3 days at camp were a refuge in my teen years. Thank you, TLF.

It would be impossible for me to fully express the appreciation and love I have for the people involved with TLF. What started as a “here goes nothing” 3-day camping trip has become one of the greatest blessings in my life. When I first got involved with TLF, I was a shy, afraid, and angry child who felt like the whole world was against her; but TLF has guided me to the understanding that I don’t have to be paralyzed by my past. I’m 21 years old now, and I can honestly say that TLF has contributed to my wellbeing through their continual support, unconditional love, and the relationships I’ve formed. One of the most beautiful things they showed me was that I’m deserving of love, and that I don’t have to jump through hoops to earn it.

When I first got involved with TLF, I was a shy, afraid, and angry child who felt like the whole world was against her; but TLF has guided me to the understanding that I don’t have to be paralyzed by my past.

My name is Rosalind and my husband and I have been in love with Teen Leadership Foundation from the moment we learned about its mission.

We originally heard about an opportunity to volunteer at a camp for foster kids through our church and decided to participate for the weekend. How bad can one weekend be? We thought we could do our “serve day” duty and move on with our lives. We didn’t expect to be changed forever. 

My husband and I were paired with two brothers and their sister who all looked older than their stated ages. They looked a little mean and had already isolated themselves in the corner of the game room—my husband and I remember thinking that it would be a long weekend. At first they were timid and did not want to interact much; but as the day went on, it was obvious we were going to have a memorable weekend.

By the second day, they shared their stories with us, stories from being in foster care, their fears and frustrations, and, by the last day, they had broken down almost all their walls. My heart melted, and I saw God’s plan unravel before my very eyes.

We have been their mentors ever since. We have watched them grow from troubled teens to amazing adults—we have been there through their high school graduations, go to college, to becoming working adults; one brother is a team leader in the military, and the other two siblings have recently become great parents who provide unconditional love to their own children.

We just had our annual “Fancy Christmas Dinner” where we use real, porcelain plates and serve-ware, and eat some of their favorite foods—Korean BBQ and Hawaiian Katsu Chicken. The house was full of our kids, their kids, and rings of laughter. 

We thought we could do our “serve day” duty and move on with our lives. We didn’t expect to be changed forever.

God called us to serve with TLF because, though we have volunteered and donated to many causes over the years, we saw the direct affect TLF had on our foster teen community. God has shown us that every child can be saved, and that every child deserves to feel God’s love and kindness.  In my experience, some of these teens were experiencing that love and kindness for the first time at Teen Leadership Camp. 

Many of the teens in the foster care community are highly prone to homelessness, teen pregnancy, drug addiction, the list goes on. But having a stable adult in their life to assist them and mentor them can literally change their path.

We have watched them grow from troubled teens to amazing adults—we have been there through their high school graduations, go to college, to becoming working adults…

We have seen TLF go from a few camps each summer to being an influence to the child welfare system across the nation. We have seen Lisa lead and dream big for God’s kingdom…and 10 years later, Lisa is speaking to pastors and community leaders about the difference we can make in foster and emancipating teens’ lives. Teen Leadership Foundation is providing mentorship, housing, jobs, scholarships, and all sorts of resources to the foster teen community, but what they have provided to thousands of teens in the past 10 years is far more important: God’s love.

TLF has changed our lives. We know that it can change yours. 

My name is Audrey and I am a member of Free Chapel, Orange County. I have been involved with Teen Leadership Foundation since the summer of 2014 and have served as a mentor and budget coach for the residents of The Launch Pad. In August, I stepped into a bigger role, aiding with events for The Knot and The Network. 

I first heard about Teen Leadership Foundation when one of the campus pastors had stated that if only 3,000 households in Orange County were to take in one child in foster care, none would be without a home or a family to love them. That really struck a chord with me, especially because I know what it’s like to feel alone and abandoned.

By the time I was born, my parents were legally separated. I never knew how it felt or what it was like to have both parents under one roof. The earliest memory of my father wasn’t until the age of 5; For those first five years all I knew was my mom, brother, and maternal grandfather…It never occurred to me that [my father] was missing from my life. Up until his first arrival, I thought my life was pretty normal, and when he eventually showed up, the world I knew and loved started crumbling down.

As I became more involved with TLF, those reasons started to reveal themselves—I had to suffer so I could be of comfort to those that suffer. My life experiences have taught me compassion and humility. I can identify with foster youth— making them aware that they are not alone in their feelings.

Feelings of abandonment, neglect, and being unwanted overcame me. He tried to win me over, but because his presence was inconsistent I did not allow him into my heart. He was verbally abusive, a bully, and an alcoholic.

As a young child, I was sexually abused by my babysitter’s husband. I had blamed my parents, because had they never divorced it could have been avoided. As I grew older, the hostile relationship between my parents was too much to bear and I became suicidal in my teenage years. I suffered terribly throughout my adolescence (and early adulthood), and never understood why God allowed all these things to happen in my life. I thought God did not love or care about me. I felt alone in the world.

As I became more involved with TLF, those reasons started to reveal themselves—I had to suffer so I could be of comfort to those that suffer. My life experiences have taught me compassion and humility. I can identify with foster youth— making them aware that they are not alone in their feelings.

At a very early age I knew I wanted to care for children (other than my own), so that none would ever have to experience what I experienced, and by year’s end, I will be a certified foster parent.

Partnering with TLF has been life changing for me;  I’ve also been able to make sense of the pain and find my life’s purpose: “To comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

I am so blessed to be a part of Teen Leadership Foundation. Joining forces with TLF has been one of the best decisions of my life, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us individually and collectively. Thank you, TLF, for allowing me to be a part of your journey!

Photo by Chelsea Francis

Amelia is one of our church liaisons in Orange County and one of many committed to Teen Leadership Foundation and its cause.

Amelia has directed our Teen Leadership Camps for the last few years and is instrumental in bringing more consistent community around foster teens after camp in her area with two programs, The Knot -a monthly youth group, and The Network –a series of life-skills class that meets every other month.

Recently, we caught up with Amelia to talk about the new programs that are going to take place at her church and how that has impacted her life.

It takes quite some work to direct a camp and lead a team of volunteers but Amelia seems to always find a way to put her heart into everything she does! It is no surprise her church’s camps are fun and well done; she says the success of their camp is due the awesome ministry action team who works together in every little detail and the generous spirit of their church.  Amelia has a huge heart for these teens and it shows through her giving spirit.

Her life has not always gone the way she had planned. There were some bumps on the road and Amelia grew up under difficult circumstances. But by the grace of God and the support of her church, Amelia has shown that she has a lot to give and much love to be shared. She says that it is almost a full circle of where she was and where she is going.

One of the best things to know about Amelia is that she is the kindest and warmest person we have ever met-But, beyond that, Amelia is a lion-hearted, servant leader.

It is people like Amelia, who use their own story to change the lives of our youth in TLF, that make our programs possible and our impact measurable.

Photo by Andrew Neal