Sakler Moo looks ready for the start of school at the prestigious Albany Academy, he has his tie, white shirt, khakis and new shoes. Ali’s pride is quite evident, he is very happy for Sakler.

It is, I admit, a bit of a shock to see Sakler dressed up like this, he is already transformed.

This is not what he wore to Middle School or to soccer games or field trips.

Ali (Amjad Abdulla) is a surrogate parent to Sakler Moo, his parents are shy and private and speak little English. They are grateful to Ali for acting as their surrogate parent, he deals with the school, drives Sakler every morning to school and back, keeps an eye out on his  young friend.

Ali has been keeping an eye on his gifted protege for some time now.

Sakler starts regular classes next week (he gets to wear a Blue Blazer also), his tuition for this year is all paid up and I’m trying to figure out how best to raise money for next year ($5,000) while also respecting his family’s desire for privacy and Sakler’s own privacy and need to adjust in peace and alone.

I spoke with a teacher at the Academy today, and he said Sakler was almost certain to change and evolve while he was at the school. “And it will be good for him,” he said, ” his will help shape the rest of his life.”

Ali has asked the school not to make too much of a fuss over Sakler, to treat him as they would treat any other student, which is what Sakler also wants, and I trust and hope the school will take his request to heart. He is quiet and shy, he does not ever seek much attention.

The family was unnerved recently when a local reporter, anxious to do a story on Sakler, tried to end run Ali and the family and showed up at the school asking to interview Sakler without permission. He is fourteen.

The reporter squashed any chance she has of getting a story on Sakler anytime soon. I was a reporter for a long time, I can’t imagine approaching a 14-year-old kid in school without permission, especially these days. The school was alert and called Ali, he said there was no permission given, and the reporter was sent away.

I told Ali and the family this will happen again, it will die down if they refuse to play along, and the reporters will move on.

The family trusts me and Ali and I have a close and trusting relationship, but I also want to respect Sakler’s privacy and take care not to invade his space throughout the next three years, while at the same time helping to raise money for his tuition- we need $5,000 a year for three years, this year is paid up.

We don’t need and aren’t asking for help from the school or the school community to pay Sakler’s tuition, we will take on the responsibility for it ourselves. Our tuition contribution will be paid every year, and on time. We seek only the help from the Army Of Good. So far, they have made it clear they want to help make this happen. I am confident about it.

People ask me what will happen to Sakler if I die or get hit by a bus, and the answer is I don’t know. I’ll do the best I can for as long as I can, and I expect to be around for a good while. I have no legal relationship or obligation to the family, my contribution is just that.

He is not my child or ward. I just want to help.

Sakler’s parents say they trust me completely, in part because I am close to Ali, and in part because I have known Sakler for more than two years and have never violated his privacy or dignity. I’ve met his mother and we are easy with one another. I bought her her first meal ever in a restaurant.

She knows about my role as a sponsor for the soccer team and my respect and affection for her son.

Trust takes time, and I am proud to have earned it.

My idea is to meet with Sakler every month or so, inside or outside of the school (with permission of  Ali and parents and school when necessary), take a photo and ask how he is doing. I need to do this because people need to see Sakler once in awhile if they are to want to help pay his tuition. And if there is important news he wants me to share, I’ll share it. I don’t want people to forget him, I surely won’t.

But I won’t violate his privacy either. I have a privacy police.

Mostly, I will leave him alone and keep track of him through Ali. Generally, I will stay away from his school. Ali will keep me informed, and I’ll get a photo up every once in awhile. When I go near the school, I will ask Sakler, Ali and his mother, and then the school.

That’s my privacy policy, Sakler has a lot to handle this year, he needs the time and space – and privacy – to handle it.

If you wish to support  his tuition fee for 2019 – I already have $1,000 in the Sakler Moo account – you can send a check or payment to me, Jon Katz, c/o Post Office Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected]. Please mark the contribution “Sakler Moo.”  I have $4,000 to go. And thanks. All money will go into a new special account for this express purpose.

This is exciting, I am committed to it and grateful for the opportunity to help in this way.

Audio: My Privacy Policy For Sakler Moo