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SALT LAKE CITY — He was born in one of the poorest countries on the entire planet. Now, he's devoted his life to doing whatever he can to help improve the lives of those who haven't had the same opportunities he has.
Yeah Samake grew up in Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa. Disease is rampant, and many lack access to basic necessities like electricity and running water.
"My mother would come and tie my stomach with a handkerchief," Samake told KSL TV while in Mali in 2016. "That way I wouldn't feel the pain of hunger."
Samake ended up meeting a family from Colorado, who brought him to the United States where he attended BYU.
"I'm actually a graduate from the best school in Utah," he said proudly. "One of the best schools in the United States: Brigham Young University."
He returned home and was elected mayor of his hometown, Ouelessebougou, where he brought about a large number of improvements — chief among them, running water and a solar power plant.
Samake said his fellow countrymen welcomed him with open arms, despite the fact that he'd made a big change in his life while in America: he'd converted to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"I joined the church in New York in 2000," he said. "Upon my return to Mali, my family and I were the only members (of the LDS Church) — me, my wife and my two children. So we just passed sacrament. And now, the great news is since July, Elder Bednar (an apostle for the LDS Church) came to Mali, and helped dedicate my country."
Samake said missionaries will soon be arriving in Mali's capital city of Bamako.
"They will be coming soon," he said. "The church is planning to bring in missionaries from Ivory Coast, and they will be based in Bamako, so the church certainly will grow very fast."
Along with his enthusiasm for the growth of the LDS Church in his home country, the well-being of the people of Mali has always been at the forefront of Samake's mind. He said his father always understood the value of education, which is part of the reason Samake helped establish a group called Empower Mali, which raises money to build schools throughout the country.
In Mali, a good education can be hard to come by. In many classrooms, children are forced to share a single textbook. The schools he's helped to build are different; each child has their own books they can take home every night. Living quarters are also available for teachers, to help encourage them to stay in their positions. Samake has also partnered with a Utah-based company to build merry-go-rounds that power electric generators.
And most importantly to him, his foundation requires that a village raise a portion of the necessary funds themselves to ensure that they truly want the schools and will take care of them.
"We have built more than five schools," he said. "And we have provided medical help to the people, provided scholarships to students from Mali to come to America. So the foundation is doing very well. We have also provided tractors to farmers in three different villages."
Samake has been living in India for the last two years, serving as Mali's ambassador to that country, as well as nine others in Southeast Asia. He's put a big focus on bringing investments from India back to Mali. But now, he may have some bigger plans in mind.
"I want to be back home, in a different capacity," he said. "The presidential election is coming in July. So we are looking into potentially running for president, and serving the people of Mali ... and change the kind of leadership that is provided there now."
Samake also made headlines in 2012 when he initially raised funds to run for president of Mali. His presidential run went unsuccessful at the time.
