LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – A Lexington family is starting a new chapter on Sunday thanks to Habitat for Humanity.
After fleeing from the war in Congo in 2009 and spending several years in a refugee camp, the Shabani family says receiving a habitat house was a dream.
Morris Shabani says ten years ago their lives were very different.
A Congolese family is excited to start another chapter in their new house…thanks to #HabitatforHumanity. They fled the Congo and and spent years in a refugee camp. @LEX18News pic.twitter.com/hO4h0hD3yC
— Alexa Helwig (@AlexaHelwig) June 2, 2019
The family says there was oppression and killings in their home country, so they escaped to a refugee camp in Uganda, where they stayed for the next seven years.
In 2016, the American dream was in sight and they were able to move to Lexington. Now in 2019, they’re celebrating success after a long journey to homeownership.
“What has happened today is because of love. This country has love. The people have love,” said Shabani.
For 18 months, Morris and his family put in 500 hours of sweat equity.
With help from volunteers and habitat for humanity, they were able to help build their very own house.
“We love having these families who have worked so hard and struggled in ways we can’t even conceive of in this country,” said Rachel Childress, CEO of Habitat for Humanity.
“To be honest, we didn’t think such a thing would happen. We know that God did it, and it’s a dream in our lives,” said Shabani.
