Bright young boy sees a robot in his future

Robots. That’s what Sepehr thinks about.

Not far-flung cyborg killers or “Star Trek” super-androids but the practical, utilitarian variety.

“I want to make robots that deliver mail, work in tunnels, drive cars,” says the skinny, intelligent 11-year-old. He wants to build a completely automated house and make robots that can work in space.

Sepehr (pronounced seh-PAIR) says he became interested in science through American movies he saw translated into Farsi in his native Iran. But his prospects of becoming a scientist or engineer there were very dim. As followers of the Baha’i faith, Sepehr’s family experienced religious persecution.

“After the revolution,” says Sepehr’s father, Shoja, “the government killed many Baha’i.” Those who weren’t killed weren’t allowed to go to school or work in most jobs.

Shoja eventually got his clan to Austria in 2001, where he was barred from working because of his immigrant status. The family soon exhausted most of its savings.

After many tries, they were finally allowed to enter the United States in November 2002. Since then, Sepehr has become fluent in English. He lives with his parents and two younger sisters in a low-income housing complex in Fullerton.

Like many kids his age, Sepehr loves video games, anime and riding his bike, and he says that recess is his favorite subject. He admits that a typical day finds him going to the Project Access North Hills Learning and Resource Center and getting into trouble.

“I eat too much sugar and get hyper,” he says, happily.

The American obsession with high-fructose corn syrup is just another of the culture shock tremors the family has absorbed since its move to the States.

Mindy Moschel, service coordinator of the Learning Center, says, “They’re very interested in other religions. They’ve been very respectful and open about what other people believe, and ... Sepehr has taught the other kids a lot.”

Sepehr is going to Camp Nawakwa for a second summer, courtesy of the Los Angeles Times Summer Camp Campaign.

“He was very full of energy when he came back,” says Shoja of his son’s first visit. “He did a lot of dancing and singing for us. He got a ribbon for singing a song at camp: ‘Banana Banana.’ ”

The family members continue to struggle financially and culturally, but they’re unquestionably happy to be here. Compared with Iran and Austria, says Shoja, “this is very good.”

About 11,000 children will go to camp this summer, thanks to the $1.6 million raised last year.

The annual fundraising campaign is part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, which this year will match the first $1.1 million in contributions at 50 cents on the dollar.

Donations are tax-deductible. For more information, call (213) 237-5771. To make credit card donations, visit la times.com/summercamp.

To send checks, use the attached coupon. Do not send cash.

Unless requested otherwise, gifts of $50 or more will be acknowledged in The Times.