This North Carolina Foster Dad Opens His Home to Kids During Pandemic
North Carolina father Peter Mutabazi understands the meaning of second chances. He was born in Uganda to an abusive father, ran away, and struggled on the streets until a Good Samaritan took him in. “My childhood was difficult, but somehow it gave me empathy,” he told TODAY.
Mutabazi attended college in the U.K. before moving to the United States to work for World Vision, a nonprofit that helps children. He has always loved children and wanted to create a safe place for them, so he became a foster parent in 2017. He has since fostered over a dozen children, including his adopted son, Anthony.
Anthony was abandoned by his adoptive parents at age 11, and Mutabazi had a special bond with him as his foster dad. “He has no family — he had no where else to go,” he explained. When Anthony arrived at Mutabazi’s home, he asked if he could call him “dad.”
“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,” Anthony said.
Anthony continually asked Mutazabi when he could be adopted. Finally, on Nov. 12, 2019, it became official. “It was really neat to see that happen that he had my last name, which he had wanted for a really long time,” said the proud dad.
As the pandemic began to sweep across the world, Mutazabi knew he wanted to help more children. “Most homes have been closed, so I knew there were not many places to go,” he said. He now shares his North Carolina home with four kids and two dogs.
“My goal is to lift up those who have been forgotten and to say you’re special, you matter,” said Mutazabi.
Image source: Peter Mutazabi / Facebook
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