Mohammed & Sahra

Mohammed, Sahra and their four children love reading. The family speaks three languages and their twin girls are enrolled in gifted programs. Every day when Mohammed leaves for Children’s Hospital, where he works as a respiratory therapist, and every day when Sahra leaves for Metro State University, where she is enrolled in classes, they’re working to ensure their children have a bright future. These proud parents value education for themselves and their children.

Mohammed and Sahra also value the importance of a stable, long-term home for their children’s promising futures. The family has moved multiple times in only a few years. With each new apartment, the children are forced to change schools and make new friends. On top of the compromise to their children’s academic and social well-being, Mohammed and Sahra think that their homes have lacked decent living conditions. "We’ve shared a corridor with other residents and have had to deal with noise and trash. A lot of residents use the corridor to smoke, too. It’s not the environment I want my children to grow up in."

Mohammed applied to Habitat in hopes of providing a decent, stable living situation for his family. After a few months of interviews and meetings, he finally received the call he was waiting for this past June while at work. Mohammed couldn’t wait to tell his wife and kids they finally had their own home free of shared corridors, trash and noise. Not only is the family thrilled to be staying in St. Paul, a familiar neighborhood, now Mohammed will be closer to work, which will allow him more time at home and with his family.

Mohammed, Sahra and their children are enjoying volunteering and working with Habitat. "It’s great to get to know the other families and hear their stories. Some of them have been living in the same home eight, nine and ten years." Mohammed feels our community would be much worse without the Habitat for Humanity program. He now looks forward to volunteering and helping others every week.

But what’s most exciting for Mohammed? Moving into a new home and settling down with his family. He looks forward to the future, and he anticipates developing his career and watching his wife and children graduate. "If you do well in this life, you will get the prize. Be nice to this world, and it will be nice to you. My home and my family are my prize."