15 years later mother tracks down the stranger who had accompanied her 5-year-old to the U.S. alone

Singing

The man had tried to soothe Maya down with all the ways he could have possibly known because he could see that the eyes of all the passengers were on him and Maya. He even sang her a song in Kreyo, which was Maya’s local language in Africa. But Maya was just a screaming and crying 5-year-old. 

Destination

The man and Maya finally reached Dulles International Airport, on the outskirts of Washington D.C. Zainab had a word with her mother who lived near Washington D.C. and told her that Maya would be reaching home. 

Grandmother

Maya’s grandmother drove to the airport in excitement to meet her granddaughter. As soon as Maya saw her grandmother, she ran towards her and hugged her tightly. Was something wrong? Maya certainly did not look happy. 

Return

One month after Maya had come from Africa, Zainab also returned. She asked her daughter everything about the man, but Maya did not speak much. And Zainab did not force her since she was only a little child. 

No Identity

As days passed, Zainab’s urge to find who the chaperone was, increased. She really wanted to know, but had no clue where to start from. His identity had become a mystery and it was impossible to find him. Until…

A Connection

One day, Zainab told the man and Maya’s story to a cousin of her’s. It turned out that her cousin had already heard a similar kind of story from a colleague of her’s. Sesay told the Huffington Post, “[My cousin] said, ‘Hey, Zainab, did you ever track Tom Perriello down?’ And I said, ‘Who’s that?’”