Like many refugees, Tiblets Awalom was separated from her family when she vacated her native Eritrea nearly twenty years ago. Since settling in St. Louis, Tiblets has had little contact with her loved ones back home. Despite difficulties most of us can only imagine, Tiblets faces life head-on. She is the definition of strength, and having come through so much, she is still almost always smiling.

Today, Tiblets makes the most of her new life and is surrounded by a strong group of new friends from an Eritrean women's organization here in St. Louis. The women from the group supported Tiblets throughout the build - many volunteering alongside her throughout the process.

Teri Finan, Co-Chair of the Women Build volunteer group who sponsored Tiblets' home, remembers her first day of the build. It was a cold mid-winter day and the team of volunteers had been hard at work for hours. It was approaching lunchtime when a few of Tiblets' friends were spotted carrying bags and boxes into the house that was, at the time, still a work in progress. The surprise was soon revealed when the women emerged just a short time later.

Tiblets and her friends had prepared a full coffee ceremony for the volunteers - a social tradition in Eritrean culture. The coffee was brewed from fresh green coffee beans which Tiblets roasted on site using a portable camping stove. The beans were ground and poured into a unique clay boiling pot called a "Jebena" or "Jabanah." Finally, in conjunction with the burning of incense, the brew was served in tiny, handleless serving cups on a table adorned with traditional table clothes. The group of hardworking women was able to take pause to come together to savor the aromas, the flavors, and above all, the budding friendships that were beginning to form.

Upon completion of the home, the team from Women Build partnered with Tiblets' friends from the local Eritrean community to throw her a housewarming party. An array of foods was prepared, both Eritrean and American, to share with the large number of guests in attendance. It is also customary in Eritrea to welcome someone to a new home by sprinkling grass on the floor. This was somewhat of a challenge on a new construction site, so shredded paper and fresh herbs were substituted. It must have done the trick, because Tiblets was all smiles.

To further embrace Women Build's theme of empowering women, the team invited a local Girl Scout troop to experience and participate in this special, multi-cultural day. The girls collected items like cleaning supplies and paper towels to provide to Tiblets as a gift. Meanwhile, members of the Women Build team made contributions toward a large group gift, a brand new washer and dryer, for the guest of honor.

Tiblets is now fully settled in her new, beautifully decorated home. Hardworking as ever, she still puts in long hours at the packaging plant. When she's not working, Tiblets loves cooking with fresh herbs and veggies and has put great care into cultivating her own backyard garden. She's currently growing basil, lettuce, cabbage, peppers, and tomatoes, to name a few, and relies on natural and sustainable growing methods like composting! With a little help from a Habitat staffer, Tiblets has created a great composting bin in her garden - benefiting her plants and the environment - which we definitely appreciate!

Thanks to Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis supporters, Tiblets and a group of amazing women were able to come together and build a house. And thanks to her own warm heart and shining spirit, Tiblets was able to turn that house into a home. It is the first true home Tiblets has known in years, and she could not be more grateful.