Sudanese teen finds home with Grand Island family
January 20, 2008 (GRAND ISLAND, Neb.) — When Gatkek Jiob Gatchay came to the United States at age 8, he was expecting to find a place in the clouds with flying cars and food that popped off the walls.
What he found was a safe place to live, good schools, great friends and a family that loves him.
Gatkek, a native of Sudan, has seen more violence in his 16 years than most people twice his age: classmates beaten by their teachers, people killed and abuse at the hands of a family member.
He fled his homeland under the cover of darkness and came to the United States with his aunt, uncle and two cousins in July 2000.
They landed in Chicago, and Gatkek attended first and second grade there. He couldn’t read or write and had to learn English. The family soon moved to Omaha because his uncle had heard of other Sudanese people living in the area, Gatkek said.
At age 11 or 12, Gatkek moved to Grand Island with his family. The youngster had been acting out in school and getting into fights. He said his aunt thought he might get into less trouble in Grand Island.
But the trouble followed. Gatkek got into fights, and his uncle would physically reprimand him. One night, after going to a basketball game without permission, which he knew would mean abuse, Gatkek confided in a teacher. Gatkek was taken into foster care near the end of his fifth-grade year.
Gatkek has been with three foster families, including Dave and Karen Olson.
“He’s the reason we became foster parents,” Karen said.
The couple met Gatkek through church and knew he was looking for a permanent home. Dave’s four biological children were grown, and after a lot of praying, the couple decided to take Gatkek into their home in 2004. They knew they’d have their hands full with the rebellious child, so they took a “tough love” stance, Dave said.
“Gatkek didn’t want anything to do with it,” Dave said. “It was a tough six to nine months.”
Gatkek was removed from the Olsons’ home and lived with another family for several months before asking his caseworker if he could return to Dave and Karen.
“Now he’s with us for life,” Karen said. “He’s our son. He told us that, when he came to us, he felt like a bird with a broken wing and he couldn’t fly, but with us, he feels like he has both wings and he can fly.”
Just before Christmas, Gatkek received permanent residency and the Olsons became his legal guardians. His biological parents still live in Africa, they now call Ethiopia home, and Gatkek is able to contact them through e-mail and by phone.
Dave said Gatkek has made strides in adjusting to American culture. He’s participated in basketball, football, track and choir. He’s also starting to understand the value of things, Dave said.
Like many immigrants, Gatkek received a lot of assistance when he came to the United States. He got material items without having to do any work and, like many teenagers, wanted the goods to keep coming. The Olsons have shown him he needs to earn things and are teaching him the difference between wants and needs.
Gatkek said he appreciates the clothes he has and the school he attends because, in Sudan, he lived in a straw hut without running water and wore the same clothes for months.
Education, both in church and in school, is a priority for Gatkek. He wants to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and possibly study science or medicine. Now a freshman at Northwest High School, Gatkek talks about how safe Grand Island’s schools are, how much he’s learned and the friends he’s made.
“It’s great,” he said. “Without them, I don’t know what I’d do.”
Since taking Gatkek into their home, the Olsons said, they’ve learned more about Africa, particularly the unrest in Sudan, and they’ve opened their home to other foster children. Though Gatkek is reluctant to share the Olsons, Dave said it has been a good learning experience for Gatkek.
“I never thought I’d end up here,” Gatkek said. “I feel very important that they became foster parents for me. Why me? I’m not a perfect child.”
(AP)