Justice Amadi Comes to America
Justice Amati and host mom, Sally Moore.
Ten years ago, Justice Amadi was living in a hut in Africa with no running water or electricity with little hope for the future after a severe burn injury. Today, he lives in a prominent Chicago suburb and is a MBA graduate with a 3.5 average, working full-time and studying for his CPA exam.
As Aid Africa’s Children’s first Starfish recipient, Justice Amadi benefited from the incredible generosity of many people and organizations whose donations included critical medical treatment in America, airline tickets, room and board in America, and a 4 year college scholarship.
Justice Amadi, a severely burned and and disfigured 16 year old African boy from Nigeria with a megawatt smile has given new meaning to the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Find out what happens when a group of well meaning strangers lives intersect to help Justice’s dream “to go to America to fix his arm,” come true, and how it would change his life forever.
As a small child in Nigeria, Justice was severely burned in a kerosene lamp accident. His parents took him to a tribal medicine man which left his arm fused to his body with critical burns over much of his face, arms, back, and chest. The fortuitous meeting with Ryan Moore on a medical mission in Nigeria would lead to Justice Amadi’s remarkable transformation. From a poor teen burn victim to a healthy, vibrant young man pursuing the American Dream, Justice earned his Bachelor Degree and MBA in 4 years with a 3.5 average from Robert Morris College in Chicago.
This incredible journey started with a group of generous and kind hearted people, who “just wanted to help.” Justice Amadi is the first recipient of Aid Africa’s Children’s Starfish program which helps one exceptional child with education, medical or financial assistance. Aid Africa’s Children were already funding part of Justice’s tuition in Africa. In the meantime, despite receiving almost a year of hospital rejections to help Justice, Sally Moore, Ryan’s mother, persevered. As a result of Sally’s efforts, Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati agreed to treat Justice’s fused arm and severe burns.
Aid Africa’s Children enlisted Senator Obama to help expedite Justice’s medical visa to meet the fast approaching deadline to begin medical treatment at Shriners Hospital for Children, that he would otherwise have missed. During the painful medical and rehabilitation process, Justice received his GED from Lincolnshire High School.
Once his medical visa would expire, Justice was expecting to return to Nigeria. All of his attempts to obtain college funding had failed. LuAnn Wing, a founding member of Aid Africa’s Children decided to take it upon herself to find him a scholarship. In a miraculous reversal of fortune, LuAnn helped secure a 4 year scholarship for Justice through the incredible generosity of Robert Morris College in Chicago.
Aid Africa’s Children’s first Starfish recipient, Justice Amadi benefited from the incredible generosity of many people and organizations whose donations included critical medical treatment in America, airline tickets, room and board in America, and a 4 year college scholarship.
Justice Amadi, a severely burned and and disfigured 16 year old African boy from Nigeria with a megawatt smile has given new meaning to the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Little did Justice realize, what would happen when a group of well meaning strangers lives intersect to help Justice’s dream “to go to America to fix his arm,” come true, that his life would change forever. The transformation from to a healthy MBA honors student in America studying for his CPA exam and working full time.
Justice a scholarship helped secure Justice a 4 year college scholarship through the generosity of Robert Morris University. Sally and LuAnn also became Justice’s mentor, coach and tutor throughout the 4 years. He is currently living with his host family, Sally and Perry Moore family in Lincolnshire. Other host families have provided room and board as well. With his rehabilitation and education behind him, Justice hopes to be able to give back to his community, family. He remains grateful to all those who have supported him.