Single dad fosters kids in need of a home during the pandemic

• Peter Mutabazi shared that having a difficult childhood gave him the empathy to care for children in similar situations.
• He started fostering kids in 2017 and officially adopted Anthony in 2019.
• Over the past year, he opened his home to more foster kids who had nowhere to go during the pandemic.

---

Having a difficult childhood, Peter Mutabazi from Uganda developed empathy for kids in similar situations. His dad was abusive so he ran away when he was just 10 years old. He struggled on the streets before he was taken in by a Good Samaritan.

He was able to attend college in the U.K., after which he moved to the United States to work for a nonprofit that helps children, World Vision.

He then started fostering in 2017. Since then, he has fostered over a dozen children.

In 2018, then-11-year-old Anthony was placed with him after being abandoned by his adoptive parents.

Anthony had instantly asked Peter if he could call him “dad.” He told TODAY co-host Hoda Kotb, “I just wanted somewhere that I could feel safe and secure and I knew that I could stay there without worrying about moving somewhere else.” 

Peter also wanted nothing more than to officially make Anthony his son, so on Nov. 12, 2019, Anthony’s adoption was made official.

He shared, “I could not sleep for about two days just waiting for the day. It was really neat to see that happen that he had my last name, which he had wanted for a long time.”

Anthony shared how Peter has been so “supportive” and understanding.

Over the past year during the pandemic, several children had nowhere to go since many homes had to close down. Peter knew he had to help.

Peter and Anthony welcomed another foster kid to their North Carolina home in March 2020.

Peter shared, “I could not imagine a kid wanting a safe place to be loved in the midst of this. … I could not say no. I had to find a way to give him a safe place, a safe home.”

They have since welcomed two more children, so the Mutabazi house now has four kids in total.

Peter declared, “My goal (is) to lift up those who have been forgotten and to say you’re special, you matter.”

Source: TODAY