Ugandan Street Kid to American Foster Dad

This is Lisa Beavan.

This is our American stories that show where America is the store and the American people and we love to hear your story. Send them our American stories.com up next to story from Kevin Sammy, the son of Indian-American immigrants who appeared in Forbes 30 under 30 for law and policy in 2016. Today Kevin shares with us the story of his family's love for the sport he played football and why they value his education so much taken away. I grew up in Canton Ohio I and first generation Indian-American semi mom and dad, the emigrated from rural South India.

Dad came TIC's to his doctorate. He ended up moving to Ohio to work at the company as an engineer and that's was born in.

I had what I believe is a pretty archetypal Midwest upbringing and in a lot of ways I played football in high school and kind of plain college to it.

Don't think it would have if not for the fact that the grip so close to the Hall of Fame and in the culture. There was so deeply steeped in football. I didn't know I would be as good as I was playing college is difficult to do and I see that give credit to everyone who makes it to Division I ball. My parents, they really wanted to learn the game after I became interested after be answered to do well and I got Luke's colleges I was you Allstate for two years and in the state of Ohio which is adeno known for good football. It went from me trying my my hand in it to 30 Indian families that would come from the parts of the state and around the region who come watch my high school games just as a function of being now interested in this game they didn't have any other reason to be. Let say before, during Thanksgiving Turkey bowl thanks giving game that NFL ways every year. All of the Indian families would come to my my house because my dad would teach the girls to teach about the game. Worked there. Fewer things I feel more strongly about terms of what I've shaped them. Even in the game of football. I very much grew up in the way that I think we all hope America to be one that is not always, but predominantly accepting of difference where this sort of multicultural experiment is more or less working in Google cofounder was refugee, but an enormous amount of American winners of Nobel prizes are immigrants. It's an amazing place where that type of reality exists, I should say segue into my parents. I mean, part of the reason I got involved in politics latched onto Barack Obama's candidacy is he talked about his famous DNC speech that really launched him into the public either talked about his father's family farming goats in Kenya might as family farm goats in India is a fascinating place largest democracy on the planet. The caste system in India was a vestige of British rule and it doesn't officially exist, but the caste system is still a kind of unfortunate vestige of the past that has some kind of irrelevance in modern Indian society.

So my family is from a relatively lower cost. When we are not from the height higher cost of fuel reason is I say that is you know I am from a lineage of the meat eating farmer South Indian people uneducated.

My mom and dad were the first in their families to really go to school. My father was the first to go to go to any school and on higher education grew up in a village with no running water and electricity could read as an illiterate community as a neighboring village were there was one guy that used to call him in my parents mother tongue pummel a Tamil these to call in the reading uncle because he was the one guy within 90 know of, however, many mile radius that could kind of read some people would bring him letters are a very small amount of things that needed to be read as it could bring him that collateral and content to the translator to read for them. There's a moment in my dads childhood where there are a handful little kids hit one of one of which is him and some of the parents thought themselves look like let's pay this guy a few rupees a month right to to teach our kids lately and basic basic normal basic literacy, hollowed out a little clay less than five or square foot space that was a temple with some old idols and things in there that God knows how long they've been there.

Took some things out.

They bring sand from the river bed to coat the floor so it was fresh and soft and invaluable and they would use their fingers to write in the sand as a chalkboard and to do letters and numbers and when the sand was course when it was a hotter day or wasn't soft anymore. Their fingers would bleed and so it's kind of indigenous vegetable in an area that they would crack open and they would put on their fingers like thimbles and to protect them after they surgically keep container lessons. That's how my dad learned how to read. He ended up going to a nearby government school owes 13 climbers away. His father, my grandfather save money for the year to buy a bike so he could bike there. One thing led to the next the next in education was really a way out.

Of that type of poverty will just say you know very much so the American dream. I mean, he came to United States to give his family better shot to sort of raise the quality of life by an order of magnitude. I think my appreciation for being American is so rooted in that and how is it I don't blame people for not knowing that I wish I wish I could show them but how is it that you can't appreciate the value of a place like the United States when you can see how far you can go is that possibility, that is what makes this place special and you and I spoke a little about football but the game meant so much to me. It really built me and a special thanks to Faith Buchanan and Monty Montgomery the editing and postproduction of the story. The special thanks also to Kevin Sammy Sherrick again his father's and mother story and the American dream story that so many immigrants come here to pursue and today Kevin worked in R0 accompany moving the ball forward on biosafety. Find out more about what he's up to. At that company go to R0.com that's R0.com how can you not appreciate or value this country when you see how far you can come for Kevin about America. His father well no running water in his community.

The first in his family to even have the ability to read, comes to America becomes an engineer and that next generation.

Oh my goodness, you know the rest of the story you just heard a terrific story about the American dream about poverty about immigration and about the ability of America to absorb different people from different places Kevin Sammy story here on our Americans.

We have been here the host eval American story every day on the show were bringing inspiring stories from across this great country, very smart, big cities and small towns, but we truly can't do the show without our stories are free to listen to, but they're not free to make if you level go to L American stories.com and click the donate button give a little develop go to L American stories.com and give and we continue with L American stories up next, we bring you a story that begins across the ocean in Africa, but winds up being the true story of faith, generosity, and citizenship based here in the United States to share his story is Peter moved about I'm from a small village of the board of Uganda and Rwanda mining is Peter and lots of guys see how bad my now with the boss is my dad's name and had been minor is the man that I was given the age of two and awful most months you know we Mama kids before the goal and as soon as we know where pregnant or expecting you know will look for man's but in my time in my face moms were not able to do so. In my view, which most kids with wood died before the age of tool so most nonstate man vacates not because they didn't love him but the one sure they will make it and so they didn't give us a name until when a little bit older, so I too was given the name Abby and mono which means gift given to me by got us what my mom named me I come from a village you know where life was miso boy, every ship form you could imagine. Grew up in a home when no one ever told me to be hopeful of correcting a home where really demoralizing guaranteed to not hear the reasons why think about as a mom.

If you cannot feed your child for a day. How do you tell them they have a future that was me.

You know on Angel for I knew I can go fetch warts and all. 3 to 4 miles away just full asked to have drinking water and saw as a kid. That's all I do think about that.

You have to walk 4 miles one way and 4 miles back and have time to go school absolutely no my family need a little you know the needed war so that they needed me to go to school.

Also, they could not afford me to go to school. Also in on draw for my family that I pharmacy another what snow we call ourselves subsistence farmers, which means we only girl while the concealment you know we didn't have enough meals. I can remember we had a meal every other day me and on to SMU was beans and potatoes. And if we're lucky, we could have both but most of them would have one of them so we can spit out one for the next day so that's all I knew as a kid in all of misery and had shape but it wasn't just me was every child in that village that worked hard will always face water, miles, miles away, so I took it as a gnome that this is a known normal life in some way and then on Angel 54 I began to realize that we were different that my dad was different from any other that I knew my dad was just so abusive to me and abusive to my mom and my siblings as well. I never had kind was from my dad like you have a kid. He nobly walks live to please add that you go fetch water for days and hours and go look for firewood and he would hope your dad would say sign was a great job you did to me now you know I think all I had for my dad. I was garbage. I would never amount to anything I am useless you know the dogs in my neighborhood where why the old wife more than I wise and those of the things I had for my dad and every day and it was in my notes coming towards me was going through my mom five years old, I cannot protect my mom means I saw a name I never wanted to see tomorrow because today was had enough. I really did want to repeated the next day. Now is my life hero from the age of 0 to 10, 11, as a kid in my village penis on Angel 10. I think I was life I become so miserable and I think as you grow older you understand abuse hash and holiday in some way. You know those words.

I had every day that I would never amount to anything you know. Now they will striking me in or dip down the calls myself, you know. Also, I think I hated my dad so much that I thought look to give them a reason to kill me that is that is a gift, you know, I think the age of 10, I said look I would rather go die in the hands of someone else than that then my dad so you I Noel was going but also wasn't looking for future but I think I was looking in some way to dine the hands of a stranger than my own dad.

So I never been 20 miles away from my village. I run away to the bus station I three in the morning and I asked the lady hey over these buses here which goes the file based on the reason why was asking was I needed to go as far as I could, that I knew if he met me if he found me that he would take my life so running as far as I could, was all that I needed so the lady told me that when he know I got on the bass.

I can tell you it could not wasn't traveling in math you know and had never been in a kind some way so I was scared today fell as little but at the same time there was a joy to look back and see that I was leaving my feelings that I was leaving the man who had no cause Harmon somewhere that I detested and headed so much I Noel is going was a glimpse of. I don't have to hear him and I don't have to take his physical abuse and have to listen to my mom crying from his abuse like I can now hear this anymore, so there was a joy. You know, in some way of of living well is going and finally I made it to compile you know that Jenny took up about 14 1416 hrs. and ended up in compiling the capital city of Uganda which is about 500 km away from my village.

I knew I was flying off but also I knew hair I'm in a new city.

I have no idea at all. Speak the language. I've never been here.

I got one thing to make to make it through the day you coming from home. It was survival day by day on the streets was survival alibi how I remember I don't think I ever slept.

At one point for more than two hours just just to make it think I slept less than two hours for four and half years I was in the streets because it wasn't safe.

I go to me on the street kids and I knew that had found family that became my family so I unilateral web chemistry keep the laptop survive. And yes, the abuse on the streets was harsher and we had survive, hour by hour was strange, as you know, they called me garbage they told me you know mademoiselle you: any useless animal.

At the same time that I was hitting them from strange that didn't matter to me. Oh, I didn't care about an island to survive in ministry kids.

We learned how to work hard. No working hard was to help people so we can on the right to be on the streets.

You know that the work ethic is one thing they knew how to do also. To be honest, it was easier to steal while you're helping you know if people need cheap labor. They want pain you so all you could do is help in the process of helping to what you need. So the end of the day would have enough to eat and that's how we survived, you know, back in Uganda.

We beg for money.

You must put a make a dollar a day you don't make for money but you work so you can on the right. Also work so hard so you felt you were useful to the strangers who needed to help in some way, but also for asset, street kids provided a venue and a place to find food and to feel safe, you know, flask motion and whether what people we fail we can be safe within my involvement in civil marketplaces became a home readings in the streets where they threw all the garbage so that means they will illustrate animals like dogs, you know there are vultures that we are all looking for food.

Just like I see no way mean sometime so we will do some work and they would refuse to give us food or the right to throw into the garbage and that's what we had to go get it.

In order for them to get read of us from where they where they will throw away the food in the garbage for us to go find it so we can can go. But that means to to struggle it with the dogs got me into to fighter with the vultures. You know how I survived eating you know the most horrible food, but somehow make it through the day.

You know that's truly aggressive go to be honest, it was a way to survive. He was a way to make it through the day and that became my new life and you're listening to Peter Mota Bossi tell the story of his harrowing childhood in the worst possible circumstances a person could grow up with mother and mother's in his village wouldn't even name kids until they had reached a certain decent age is most died before they were to unimaginable and abusive father. On top of it and escapes to the streets of Kampala refines community of fellow refugees from the villages to the streets and community and family with those kids only come back more of Peter Mota Bossi story here on our American story and were back with our American stories and the story of Peter to Bossi's book.

Now I am known as available on Amazon at local bookstores or ever you get your books. Peter was born in Uganda in poverty and ran away to Kampala, Uganda's capital to escape an abusive father where he lived on the streets back to Peter.

Now this is strange, but if someone was kind last week will end no link go towards that because we knew anyone who was kind, especially for me and one was kind would also come with abuse. So we went trusting winning trust people so one day I am sitting with my friend seen all see someone wearing glasses and smart and clean and speaking English. So we always knew that was a target. So for me I saw him I like my target is gonna buy food. I'm can help him, still some and I'm going up enough so I followed him. He bought food as soon as he bought what he was buying a finger bananas and sweet potatoes. So I went to my say I'm not calling these things to occur before I could do that. He said hey what's your name, and that rattled had lived on the streets for full and have no one any point during that time ever asked me what my name was no one's and so I stopped in at 20 minus Peter and I know of course I try to help him and before I could take it. He had something to eat and he gave me something to eat.

I was surprised no and so he left. I named buying to aid in almost wet kind, as I save you I mean at the same time so I was waiting for him to be mean, but he he laughed all the next week. I saw him again. So this second time I saw him in all he can give me something to call me by name, which was really kinda cool so he laughed third time, I was like a minute.

I know Wendy, I know what kind of dress.

I know what he buys my no ankle so I was assured every Monday was coming to the city so that's how I go tonight though he was kind, though he helped me To distance. Remember, anyone was kind always came with you. So for me I was waiting for abuse like I did. Trusting Billy was kind of interesting because I was waiting for the bad part two, is waiting for you know for the abusive, but the cam so for one and 1/2 he give me something to eat and sometimes will bring move on the kids. So one day he said hey Peter if he had her up to go school to go to school, you know, and I was like, wait me garbage boy, a useless boy kid will never amount to anything, go to school.

No, and I did not believe him.

But man every time he came in and said hey I would like to take to school.

If you like to then finally I said absolutely. And the reason why said yes. It wasn't because I wanted to be somebody you know my family wouldn't have so many educated people that I wanted to be like now for me for the first time in my entire life, someone sold me as a human being well give me close to where he told me I was going to boarding school. But before he could take and he said hey to things that inhabit wanted any part of the local church, then the other one is to be meals for you to be lunch breakfast and dinner. I think I did hear anything else but had the meal. That's all I had.

So as we went. You know I really looked at him and I said no for kids. Why me, why are you doing this for me and he looked at boy I just want to be faithful. That's all I really want to be faithful.

But I do not understand what he Mancino so finally we make it to school and that was last time to give me something to eat and he said they'll be DMSO for me.

I waited for the next meal.

I really didn't think about school. I didn't think about anything.

I slipped there for one night and then because before I left I told the other street kids. I cake if you don't see me in the next 24 hours. When you see this man home him please comment that means a lady killed me all something happened so payback time so I slept in the following night I had to come back to the city because I wanted to tell them that I was okay because I knew it would harm him if I didn't come back so I can back and said hey I'm okay equipment school and I really like keypads for some going back for Ford so I went back and in the process of waiting for a meal.

I think I realized that in order to do this, I needed to go to class, you know. So then I started going to class and then I realized that I was smart only was I just good at finding food. I knew also that I was smiting school as well, and after a while you know I was there for six months. He said you know you can be part of our family and that we began to change my life because the teachers the social workers that do that were coming alongside, began to see the best in me. They so potential that I didn't see myself I think for me that truly began to change my world on how I looked at things now and then. The one thing he did once he he brought me to his family. They would use words of affirmation that I never had before. Say things like Peter you matter like what me. I know this one day he was went to the seat and he was taking with me.

I always knew sitting in front was for the important people you know that I wasn't worthy of sitting in front with with him.

I always sat in the back, but this time he said Peter consider fun. I said no I don't deserve to sit in front I need to sit in the back and he looked at me safe. You know you belong to this family. You see it in front man. I can remember those what's the state, remove the scales of sham scales of what had been told all my life that I was nobody around.

Never amount to anything because they so more in me that I saw myself finally finish high school and I went University in Uganda and then I got a scholarship to go study mainland to England and I went back to Uganda and I was working for the International Committee of the Red Cross and my job was to walk as a radio operator to make sure that food on planes and in trucks was moving from Arcadia to Sudan. So one day I wanted to visit that the know at the refugee, so I went there and why was there so this 18 year old boy shot last swipe was the only white kid ever saw was like what are you doing here. He said my name is Luke and I'm here to help the refugees and I got to know him and I said hey you, I did an American, so if you come to Kampala please come in and have clean water Center will make sure you're okay and so he came and stayed with us for about two months then he went back to United States and when he got back in US. He said you know I say Peter is a school I go to I think I would like to. We help you get a scholarship to come and study here as I can and I am not sure I can afford is like no it's up to me I would do the best I can and he otherwise know from one strained ends like you got more potentially life and so he got me a scholarship, studies, United States, and so I went to school for four years and then I was hired at the end, you know to be an advocate for children with compassion to nationals. I get to travel with key speakers and no reverends and all people to show them the walk of compassion all over the world and so nobody died, travel in order to my 20 countries.

I traveled in but now I had an opportunity to travel to 101 countries which was absolute mind bro. It hit him from a street kid in Kampala who didn't think about tomorrow. I was jumping from one country to the that which was really fascinating, but all I wanted was to truly be a voice for the behind the scene.

The hard ones that we don't know that wanted them to know their story through to my own story, the people would help them so that became my my Job for 10 years and will assure you been listening to from Peterman about he lived on the streets for 4 1/2 years when the man asked him what his name was was the first time it happened, and of course that act of kindness, you soon would always be followed by an act of abuse. In fact, but kept on persisting until it didn't.

When this man offered up the kindness of free school. Peter asked why me and answered boy I want to be faithful when we come back more of this remarkable story of faith of love the stranger here on our American story canceling plan to be me until I got my Windex air purifier now not only my feeling better and finally enjoying summer control your allergies today with a winning air purifier get 20% off on winning America.com with code. Your only one step away from allergy freedom code for 20% off@wiamerica.com and were back with our American stories and the final portion of the boxes stored there today adopted himself. Peter eventually ended up working for the international humanitarian organization compassion international and advocated for children living in the very same property experienced growing up. His work took him around the world, but his home base is the United States what's returned to Peter well so when the kids and I says I think I struggled I would visit people and then you must also follow is where I come from homes is because the American garage and then 7 to 12 people that leaving the garage know. So when I walk into these homes was a huge empty door only like two people leaving and I like a they must be kids in the neighborhood that truly looking for place to be.

So I think from that conviction. I wanted to somehow leave what someone did for me that he saw the need of kids in the streets of Kampala walkway. He wanted to do something and he happened to help one that one having to be me. I wanted to do the same. You know little foot and to whom much is given massive product, I felt I had been given so much that I wanted to give back as well. You know, so I think it was a promise in my head like God if he ever came an extra bedroom help a child you know so that's when you cancel.

I bought a house, quit my job. I when I was walking with compassion to national and then I moved to Oklahoma because it was cheaper to live in Oklahoma but also a good place to live to be a force of parents and so I walked in the foster care system.

I said hey I would like to mentor children is in the way you could help help me anyway. Could I can be of help in the reason why thought of mentoring was. I had traveled with people adopting India in Ethiopia in China and in Uganda. I had never seen a black person like me doing so.

I never seen a male doing so in my head I think. I believe the lie I thought I don't qualify because I'm single and I don't qualify because I'm black so when I walked to and it was more like okay he's the least you can let me be be a mentor. The social worker look to miss it beautiful. Being a force it out like I don't qualify. I'm single she's like so man I was like commune.

I can that day. I mean literally that idea. I signed up to be a force to dad because now I had been helping kids in other countries. I would go see and help a comeback this time I wanted it to be part of my everyday life and so full month later. You know I had my first placement sees no I had my first child and that began the whole Jenny and I knew how it felt to be neglected. I knew how it felt to have your own parents be your worst enemies. I knew what it means to be called garbage every day and also I knew what he meant to leave you in a place where you do not feel it was, I believe that every day that I thought I can impact at least one child, and so it's been a great Jenny that I've had 22 kids count on right now have 6 mile it's it's been hard, but it's been a joy for sure. Don't adopted one, my son, Anthony, and I'm in the process of adopting my three other ones you know I counted a blessing for sure that I want street kid in Uganda had no food. I had no hope that I can give hope you had posted about 1011 kids all going back to her family, so I think I wasn't out I was demoralized, you see kids come and we want them to go absolutely. When you do it over in Albany, leaves you empty angry but just seeing pieces so my number 10, and 11 had gone home on a Monday and I told my social work we I would need a break. I need three months break like I cannot do this and she said okay this Monday. On Friday I get a phone call hey Sir, I was like sister. It's not three-month yet. She's like Kate is a kid of the hospital really needs help you keep them just for the weekend and I said absolutely I would do so please do not tell me why in the Foskett as anyone to be attached so finally he can my three in the morning… What had to leave really quickly.

I mean, he was in my house 20 minutes and I told him hey my name is Peter more deposit, but you can call me Peter because my African man is kinda hard and he looked to my as any says EA can I clean my dynamite held no now you can call me that.

But in my head. I think I was more like every kid I've had call me.enviable going so you can all be in my house 20 minutes and call me dad, I know, so I know you leaving on Monday so I don't want to be associated. I don't want to be called God. Right now you know.

And then he looked back at me said I was told since now I'm 11. I can choose who my father should be and I choose you may house like this key doesn't listen nauseating so I said no.

So finally they came to picking up a Monday so this time after I signed the paperwork that I asked the social work.

Is it okay so tell me the story wise in the Foskett because I knew I have no responsibilities right now since he's up to go in the social exit hey was in the Foskett wing was one and 1/2 and then he was placed with a family is finally adopted him for an then dissimilar family that optimum for the just talk to him at the hospital. They never said goodbye to never give him a reason why didn't one more thing.

Never say one thing just left and went to the county signed up for parental rights. I mean, you should have seeming chess why because I think it took me to when I was 11, 10 running away as a kid from my own family to see this kid that he'd been given hope for nine years. For some reason they just dropped them of the hospital and they do not want a minimal. I think I felt I was doing the same. Like I've always wanted to be a dad and he is a kid who just somehow when you will be. He's got any home advised that dad like I just cannot let him go and so I told the social worker said hey give me his paperwork. I think he already knew LB his dad, so maybe they mean. Many taken so from there I knew you be my sign in two years later he got to be adopted and shared. We share the same last name is cool not, most people ask me man is lucky to have you and Mike know I'm the lucky one he chose me to be his dad and for ever be grateful for sure you know, just like that from a weekend respite to our family for ever so recently I became American citizens. Think about it took me 17 years to be an American citizen 2019.

I finally became a US citizen.

It was it was really awesome.

You know that I can finally cross that line. I never thought I could know these Tribune enjoy you know I think even being a four spring has really helped me in some way to feel like this is my country. These are my people. This is my community. I feel indebted to this country to do the best I can to help others as well. Bosses come alongside those that need us the most and quantity to the suicide like I feel they have given me a place to grieve a price to be free of plastic to things I would never do, also a place that I need to be responsible for that as well to give back to be responsible citizen and contribute what I can and for me for three and advocating for kids you know in Charlotte North Carolina and when United States is my next goal. My dream is truly to advocate for kids in my dream I like to have a big house I can have 20 more teenagers that I will provide a home for them. You know my dream so I can have a place where they can feel this safe and loved. No uneven market by County.

This 800 kids in the Foskett system is only 60 families that are four separate think about 800 kids, 64's apparent that's that's crazy you know that I feel it's my community to truly say I will step in and do what I can to help for those 800 that I'm looking for place to be. I cannot take them all if I can help one I've done my part if I can encourage someone else to think through and help one of them have done my part or if I can help someone and inspire them to help another family so they are able to do that will come alongside and I'm done my part. We can all take part or even advocating for them through our legislature and see we want to help the kids so they can have a better future.

This is a community to do what we can to do. We all to help those in need and a terrific job on the production, editing and storytelling by Robbie Davis in a special thanks to Peter which are boxy in his remarkable book.

Now I am known is available at local bookstores or Amazon or whatever you get your books and what a story to tell about love about love of the stranger, and what a heart this man has in all his heart was working to take care of and advocate for kids.

So many kids without fathers. So many kids without love.

Here's an answer for sure does one thing inspire you to imitate a guy like Peter just one of you listening the show was worth all the years we've been on air the story of Peter much about here on our American story