Teen Lead Foundation

08/07/2026

Five years ago, our Founder, Dr. AugustinaOsabutey, Dr. Augustina Osabutey, was interviewed by KELOLAND News on KELOLAND Living while pursuing her doctorate in Agricultural, Biosystems and Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University.

During the interview, she shared Teen Lead Foundation's work in Ghana and her vision of empowering young people through education, leadership, and mentorship.

Today, that vision has become an international mission.

Teen Lead Foundation now has an office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where we are partnering with schools, nonprofits, and community organizations to raise a generation of environmental stewards, protectors, and leaders through environmental literacy and hands-on sustainability education.

We are sincerely grateful to KELOLAND Media Group and KELO Lauren Soulek for helping share our story five years ago. We also thank our mentors, partners, Board of Directors, volunteers, donors, and supporters whose encouragement and commitment have helped Teen Lead Foundation grow.

As we reflect on how far we've come, we're even more excited about what lies ahead. Together, we're empowering the next generation to care for their communities and the environment.

Learn more about our work:
USA - teenleadfoundation.org/us/
Ghana - teenleadfoundation.org

07/28/2026

Teen Lead Foundation Community Partner Spotlight!

Today, we are honored to recognize Kristie Parsons Schreck, Director of the OSL Community Library in Sioux Falls - South Dakota, for her outstanding support of Teen Lead Foundation.

From the very beginning of our journey in Sioux Falls, Kristie has been a valued community partner. Through her connections and encouragement, she introduced Dr. Augustina Osabutey, Founder of Teen Lead Foundation to community leaders and stakeholders, creating opportunities to share the mission of Teen Lead Foundation and the Little Guardians Series children's books.

Kristie also served as the guest speaker at the launch of the Little Guardians Series and the inauguration of Teen Lead Foundation in Sioux Falls, helping us celebrate an important milestone in our organization's history.

Her belief in our mission and her willingness to connect us with the community have played a significant role in helping Teen Lead Foundation establish meaningful partnerships in Sioux Falls.

Thank you, Kristie, for your friendship, encouragement, and commitment to helping us inspire the next generation of environmental stewards and leaders. We are truly grateful for your partnership.

Learn More:
htttps://teenleadfoundation.org/us/
Draugustinaosabutey.com/shop

07/23/2026

This past Wednesday, Teen Lead Foundation and Friends of the Big Sioux River, had the opportunity to visit the Sunday School at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD, to teach children about the importance of clean water and protecting our environment.

Dr. Augustina Osabutey, Founder of Teen Lead Foundation, read Nana's Magic Waterfall, bringing the story to life by connecting it to the Big Sioux River and the Falls Park waterfall right here in Sioux Falls. Our Friends of the Big Sioux River representative also shared why the Big Sioux River is so important to our community and how we can all help protect it.

The session concluded with a hands-on water filtration experiment, where every child explored how water can be filtered. Thanks to the generous support of First PREMIER Bank, each child received a take-home water filtration science kit so they can continue learning about environmental sustainability with their families.

The highlight of the day? Hearing both the children and their parents say how much fun they had. The children were fully engaged during the story, eagerly participated in the experiment, and left excited to keep learning.

We are grateful to St. Mark's Lutheran Church for welcoming us. Thank you to First PREMIER Bank for the support in providing the water filtration experiment kits.

Teen Lead Foundation and Dr. Augustina Osabutey are available to partner with churches, schools, libraries, and community organizations that want to inspire children to become the next generation of environmental stewards.

Learn more
https://teenleadfoundation.org/us/

Order copies of Nana's Magic Waterfall
https://draugustinaosabutey.com/shop/

07/17/2026

About Us Teen Lead Foundation USA equips children with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to lead change. We inspire youth through environmental education, leadership training, entrepreneurship, STEAM exploration, and life-skills mentoring to help them thrive and transform their communities. Missi...

07/15/2026

We continue to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability. We are at Discovery Elementary School for Guardians of the Earth / Little Guardians Earth Explorers Initiative this summer.

We got to visit the City of Sioux Falls - Municipal Government Water Purification Plant as part of learning about the importance of water.

Friends of the Big Sioux River
Community Learning Centers

07/09/2026

Environmental stewardship begins with what we teach our children today. What is one lesson about protecting the environment that has stayed with you since childhood?

Learn More:
Teen Lead Foundation, Teen Lead Foundation
draugustinaosabutey.com

Leadership NonprofitLeadership PublicSpeaking STEMEducation TeenLeadFoundation Author SiouxFalls

07/04/2026

07/02/2026

We are excited to share that Teen Lead Foundation and Friends of the Big Sioux River have been jointly awarded a Sustainable Community Grant in the Clean Water category by the City of Sioux Falls!

This grant will support our signature program, Little Guardians: Earth Explorers Initiative, a collaborative program designed to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards and leaders.

The eight-week initiative engages elementary school students in literacy-based, hands-on learning about clean water, healthy soil, clean air, and environmental sustainability. At the same time, middle school students are trained to become Young Environmental Leaders, developing leadership, communication, and mentoring skills as they guide and support younger students throughout the program.

This award reflects the power of collaboration and our shared commitment to equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to care for their communities and the environment.

We sincerely thank the City of Sioux Falls - Municipal Government for investing in our shared vision and for supporting environmental education in our community. We are also grateful to everyone who continues to champion this partnership and the children we serve.

Together, we are raising a generation of environmental stewards and leaders.

https://www.siouxfalls.gov/news/2026/07/01/20260701-sustainability_grants

The City of Sioux Falls has awarded Sustainable Community Grants to four local nonprofit projects focused on recycling education, composting expansion, youth environmental learning and plastic waste reduction.

07/01/2026

The City of Sioux Falls has awarded Sustainable Community Grants to four local nonprofit projects focused on recycling education, composting expansion, youth environmental learning and plastic waste reduction.

06/30/2026

Celebrating One Year of Teen Lead Foundation in the United States!

This month, we celebrate one year of serving the Sioux Falls community and advancing our mission to raise a generation of environmental stewards and leaders.

Over the past year, Teen Lead Foundation, in partnership with Friends of the Big Sioux River, has successfully implemented our Little Guardians: Earth Explorers and Guardians of the Earth Initiative with the Sioux Falls School District Community Learning Centers. We've also been honored to work alongside Volunteers of America, Dakotas, the YMCA, and the Boys & Girls Club to empower children through leadership, environmental stewardship, and education.

We are grateful to have established our office in Sioux Falls and to every mentor, Board member, volunteer, donor, partner, and supporter who has believed in our mission. A special thank you to Friends of the Big Sioux River, Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, First PREMIER Bank, St. Michael Catholic Church of St George & St Michael Parishes, The Seed Catholic Store, KELOLAND News, Dakota News Now, Postal Annex Sioux Falls, and everyone who has supported us along the way.

This milestone belongs to all of you. Thank you for helping us make a lasting impact in our community.

Here's to many more years of empowering young people and protecting our environment.

Happy 1st Anniversary, Teen Lead Foundation USA!

Dr. Augustina Osabutey
Founder & Executive Director