Ibrahima and Khadidiatou Diallo family

“It’s for them [the kids],” Ibrahima declared when asked what a Habitat home means to his family. As he motioned toward his two little girls, he said, “I want them to be free to go to school and to come back to a home each day.”

Ibrahima and Khadidiatou Diallo will be the proud owners of the new Habitat home built at 2527 Whispering Prairie Avenue in southeast Iowa City. The Tippie Build 2, a home sponsored by the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business students, will begin this spring.

Ibrahima, a refugee of Mauritania in Northwest Africa, and his wife from Senegal in West Africa currently reside in the Bon Aire Mobile Home Lodge. The couple has three children, however only two of them are living in

the United States at this time. Daughters Ramatou, a six month old, and 2-year-old Mymuna were born in the United States. The couple’s son, Amadou Djota, was born in West Africa, therefore he is unable to live with his parents and sisters in the United States and instead lives with his grandmother in Guinea. Ibrahima also has a daughter living in Africa who was born before meeting Khadidiatou.

When talking with Khaditiatou about her son living apart from her, her eyes filled with tears as she expressed how each day is difficult and trying. The couple keeps in touch and Ibrahima visits when money allows, yet they have missed many important moments and often are left feeling empty. Thankfully, this will soon change. This July, Ibrahima will take his citizenship test and once passed, he will be able to move the couples’ son and his daughter here to the United States to live with them.

The timing of the family’s new home couldn’t be better. The four-bedroom Habitat home will be the perfect size for the soon-to-be family of six. Ibrahima, a housekeeper at UIHC, spoke of the opportunities he has been given since living in America and especially, since partnering with Habitat for Humanity. He said he and his wife look forward to a life in their new home and the stability that will come with owning a home of their own.

“America,” he said. “It’s all about freedom. You guys are awesome and you know how to treat others. It’s not peaceful over there [in Mauritania], but here, it’s all about peace.”