John and Etta Tuite
A home, for us, means security, and having the great feeling of owning something. My wife is disabled, so Habitat made sure our lot was level so my wife could get around. It took longer to build our house, but it's a very special place. We had help from fifteen churches to build our home — these people did so much for us, and we will never forget it. And we wanted to help others, so we put in 400 hours building other people's homes.
Dora Bailey
I have never had a blessing like this before in my life. At Scottish Rite Hospital, a lady asked me to pray for Marquis, a 5-month-old baby in a coma — and I became his foster parent. And then a nurse helped me apply for a Habitat home. Everyone that worked on the house was so sweet and nice. God blessed me with my son, and then with a home from Habitat.
Lawson, age 9
This is the only house I know. I have my own bedroom, and I have sleepovers with my friends. And my home is near the woods — I get to explore and gather blackberries, and find walking sticks and bamboo, and tracking rabbits and deer. I have learned how to survive in the woods! I love to garden with my mom. We’ve planted rosemary, mint, roses and other plants. When we turn the corner into our neighborhood it makes me feel very happy. Because this is the place I call home.
Remzije Shala
Remzije Shala lost friends and relatives to war in Kosovo. She and her husband moved to Georgia, but he died a year later, and a month after that her daughter was born. “I was afraid to be on my own,” she recalls. “I had lost so much." She was accepted into the Habitat program, and a Women’s Build constructed her home. "They helped me rebuild myself as a strong woman, a strong parent,” says Remzije. “Now I am not afraid.” And now she’s working toward a teaching certificate and a master's degree.
The Haidari Family
In July 2010, Gwinnett’s Habitat for Humanity broke ground on their 100th home.
This has been an exciting and challenging milestone that has been worth every drop of sweat, every hammering home of a nail and every stroke of paint. And one family has been waiting 15 long months to move into a home to call their own.
The Haidari’s are refugees from Afghanistan. Four years ago, they came to the United States to make a better life for themselves. They came for many of the reasons we take for granted every day. Habitat has had the opportunity to give them a helping hand and something far more precious. They have given the Haidari’s hope that the strong work ethic will continue to pay off and opportunities will continue to present themselves.
Eshaq Haidari has worked for a solar power company for the past two years in order to provide for his family which has overcome so much just in making the trek to the United States. The family is comprised of Eshaq, his wife Sahila Haqiri and their four children. Sadeq, 14; Tareq; 12; Shaima, 7; and Ramesh; 19 month, share a cramped two bedroom apartment in Decatur with their parents. Lack of space is not the first struggle that comes to mind for them. Their initial and ongoing hurdle was the language barrier. They band together in order to learn and communicate just as their neighbors have banded together to drive the Haidaris to the store for groceries and other family needs. Owning a habitat home is no easy feat. It’s not a handout. A habitat home is earned through more than just meeting requirements set forth. It asks that a family be committed not only to themselves, but also to the community around them. The whole family is eager to give back as much, if not more, than what has already been given to them.
“This has been a great experience,” Esheq says. “It has pushed us to help others. We treasure the moments when everyone comes together for one purpose.”
Through Habitat’s sweat equity program, the Haidari’s have already met some of their neighbors. They stand outside their future home, rain or shine, and just look with awe at what the community has built for them. They have begun looking around for furniture for their new home. Sadeq is especially excited for the December move-in and his own room and with that a bed and privacy.
“For us, this is a very good thing,” he says.
A good thing, indeed. 100 homes, 100 dreams. For that, Habitat is grateful. Written by Erin Grantham
