Peter Mutabazi is a foster dad of 34 and Founder of the Now I am Known Foundation He is an extraordinary individual who has triumphed over adversity and become a beacon of hope for countless immigrants around the world.
Peter's journey began in a small village in Uganda, where he grew up in a challenging environment. Despite the hardships he faced, Peter possessed an unwavering determination to create a better future for himself and his family. With limited resources and opportunities, he set his sights on the United States, driven by the belief that it held the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
Peter has been featured in several publications, including People, Good Morning America, Today, and ABC.
I never dreamt of coming to the USA; it was never even a thought in my mind. Given the circumstances of where I was coming from, it seemed like a far-fetched idea. My aspirations, my goals, and the places I envisioned myself working and building a future were all centered around Uganda. However, everything changed when I was offered a scholarship to study here. So, when I came here as a student, it was like a whole new world of possibilities opened up for me - I met people from all over, I learned about foster care, and most of all, I realized how many avenues there are to make a positive difference.
You have been an extremely active foster parent - can you share a little bit about the need for families to consider supporting the foster care system?
There is a huge need. With over 450,000 kids in foster care, and very few foster parents available, the demand for loving and supportive families is very high. There would need to be 10 kids for each foster parent in order to accommodate all the children seeking homes. I think a big reason behind this shortage is that there’s a stigma that the foster system is the most difficult messed up system and it’s that stigma that keeps A LOT of capable people that may be considering it from actually doing it.
How can people support the foster care system and foster families and even if they aren't able to be one themselves?
it is important to recognize that not everyone can become a foster parent, and that’s understandable. Thankfully, there are numerous alternative ways to support the foster care system. Donations - it doesn’t have to be just money, but if you have old clothes or toys that you don’t use anymore, find a charity to donate them to. Breaking the stigma surrounding foster care through education and awareness, even buying a foster family dinner, mowing their lawn, or just being there for a fellow foster parent to vent to are other impactful approaches. Even the smallest contributions can have the biggest impacts. If we want these over 450,000 children to grow up with healthy behaviors, that ultimately impact all of us as a society, we must be willing to help and show them love.
Can you share a little bit about Now I Am Known and what it does?
I created Now I am a known when I realized how much the platform I have can help. I made it specifically for room makeovers for aging out teens. Many times, aging out teens have nothing to claim as their own so whether they’re going to college, or they have their own apartment, we like to create a space they can truly call their own, a sanctuary that reflects their unique identity and empowers them to embark on their next chapter with confidence. Another part of Now I am Known is helping foster families fix up an empty room that maybe has just been sitting there collecting dust, and we fix it up so that they have another room to accept foster children with.
Check out his new book Now I Am Known: How a Street Kid Turned Foster Dad Found Acceptance and True Worth to learn more!
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