OGDEN — For four years Anifah Barobi, her daughter Zulufa and her two nephews and two nieces shared a small tent in a Ugandan refugee camp after fleeing the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. The nephews and nieces, Ashraf, Hakim, Azida and Habiba Kambare, had been left orphans when rebels killed their parents and younger sister. Miraculously, shortly after their arrival at the refugee camp, they were reunited with their aunt and cousin. During their time in the camp they worked and hoped and prayed for a better life somewhere far from the violence that had taken their loved ones.
Eventually in 2015 they were granted asylum in the United States, and in 2016 were resettled in Ogden by Catholic Community Services of Utah. With the help of the organization and its volunteers they began to make a new life here. While it has not always been easy, the Barobis and Kambares have made the best of all circumstances. For example, until recently the family of six lived in a rented, 1,000-square-foot duplex with three bedrooms and one bathroom and no air conditioning, but they have never complained about the tight quarters.
Recently they were chosen by the television show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to receive a new 2,900-square-foot, six-bedroom home. For six days, a crew from the TV show, 30 Wadman Construction employees and more than 500 volunteers worked around the clock to build the solar-powered home on a lot donated by the City of Ogden. On Aug. 15, show host Jesse Tyler Ferguson unveiled the new home to the family, who were overcome with emotion.
“This family, this is their American dream come true,” said Aden Batar, CCS immigration and refugee resettlement director. “With all the refugees, more than 80 percent of their income goes toward housing. That does not leave anything to cover the needs of the family, so it can be very difficult.”
Along with the house, several local businesses gave the family necessities for their new home, and even a new car. Weber State University has also offered full-ride scholarships for all the family members.
Most often the younger members of refugee families have to work to help support the family, Batar said, but with their new home and other gifts, Zulufa and her cousins will be able to realize their dreams of advanced educations.
The show’s producers became aware of the family after a June 2018 “Deseret News” story highlighted Ashraf Kambare, who opted to continue his education at Utah International Charter School in South Salt Lake after the family moved to Ogden. Kambare’s commute required him to take three buses and two trains each way, and took a total of almost five hours every day. To make this commute, he rose at 4 a.m.
The Barobi/Kambare family is among 65 Congolese refugees CCS of Utah resettled in Ogden in 2016.
Batar said the Ogden community – “in fact all of the communities CCS works with in Utah” – has been tremendously supportive of and welcoming to the refugees.
“Even though the [federal] government is trying to zero out refugee programs, this tells us that the people of Utah are happy to welcome them here,” he said. “What we have seen in the community’s response to this family and their need is that everyone is inspired by their determination, what they went through and how they survived, how resilient they have been to come here and pick up the pieces and rebuild their life.”
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” has been off-air for more than eight years. The new season, which will feature the episode about the Barobi/Kambare family, is expected to air early next year.
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