My name is Mohamed, I am 48 years old and from Guinea. But today I feel Italian, 100 percent.

My history with Scalabrini House 634 began in June 2015. I was among the first to arrive. At that time I was working several jobs, one of which was at a juvenile center, where I worked night shifts.

When I entered the House, I found Claudio, Joachim and Emanuel. A good understanding was immediately created with them. And slowly with the newcomers as well, many young people just starting their journey.

Scalabrini House soon became my home as well. I took care of the common areas, tended the small mosque on the second floor, and helped the kids understand how important that place was: a precious space that deserved respect and attention.

These were intense, difficult but stimulating years. I had a dream: to build my own independent life so that I could live with my family in peace.

For a while I worked as a warehouse worker. I worked hard every day, and little by little I won the trust of my employers. That’s how my first permanent contract came about. A huge step that also meant

For me, autonomy also meant a concrete thing: a driver’s license. I knew that by being able to move freely around Rome, I could take more jobs and organize myself better. I studied a lot, even during the months in the Casa. I remember that on the day I moved into my new home, I also had my final practice exam.

Rita, a worker at Scalabrini House, had helped me with the move and noticed that I was a bit nervous. I hadn’t told her I had the exam. But everything went well. I had studied hard, and that day I reaped the fruit of so much effort, celebrating later with everyone in the Home.

With Rita, I had also shared a very important step: starting the procedure for family reunification with my wife. It is a long and difficult path that requires a lot of paperwork and also a lot of emotional support. Rita and everyone in the House helped me in this procedure to be followed in the best possible way and within a few months of leaving, my wife arrived in Italy.

My life has begun a second phase again when my son is also here with me. Now I dream of guaranteeing him a secure future in which he can have many opportunities to live his life to the fullest.

Today I am happy to look back and see how far I have come. Scalabrini House 634 was truly a spark: it ignited in me the dream of the future, and helped me walk the road to realize it. I wish this House to carry out its commitment alongside migrant people every day with the same passion with which it welcomed me. And to the children who live it, I wish to lay the foundation for a full future.