In 1993 Haidar Kokola began his journey from Sudan to the United States. At that time in Sudan there was a civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan and the situation there became especially unsafe for Haidar. Haidar, who lived in Southern Sudan, was considered an educated man and as such thought to be a rebel spy. For fear of being jailed or worse he escaped the country, but was forced to leave his family behind. The next 9 years were spent in two refugee camps, one in Ghana and the other in Libya before he was finally able to move to the United States.
Haidar’s passage to the United States led him straight to Iowa through the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services program. Once settled in Iowa he immediately enrolled in DMACC to finish his high school degree and then began an apprenticeship program with the Carpenter’s Union. Working fulltime and attending classes allowed him to send money back to Sudan to his family he had to leave behind in the hopes that they could one day join him.
Eventually the funds that Haidar consistently sent back to Sudan allowed for his mother, sister, and two sons to travel to Egypt where they were to make the final leg of their journey to meet him in the United States. Tragically while in Egypt his mother passed away from cancer. Not wanting to give up after so many years Haidar’s sister and two sons waited in Egypt 5 more years until they were able to come to the United States.
Now that Haidar’s family was reunited he began to hope to someday own a home where his family could spend many safe and happy years together. Haidar heard about Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity through the Des Moines Sudanese community. Another Sudanese family whom he attends church with, Francis Chan and Regina Nyikang, will soon become his neighbors as their houses are built through a partnership with Thrivent Builds, GDMHFH, the Des Moines community, and the families themselves.
Currently, he works for Newman Construction and enjoys spending time with his three children, Fadi Angalo (15), Hiba Angalo (13), and Amal Dawood (3). In April Haidar celebrated two milestones as he became a Carpenter Journeyman and also became a U.S. Citizen. Soon Haidar and his children will have something else to celebrate when they see their dream of homeownership become a reality.