Meet Mamadou

New Neighbors community member Mamadou is a father of four from West Africa who recently arrived in the United States. He recently spoke to New Neighbors about his experience resettling in the United States, the challenges of missing his family, and his hopes for the future.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your family?

Right now, I live here with two of my kids, and the other two are still in Africa. From the time I came here, it has not been easy for me. You know, when someone moves from their country and leaves part of their family behind, it's very hard.

Right now, I can say that things are starting to get better — especially since I joined New Neighbors, I’m feeling better every day. I was able to get a job, and the children are going to school, and the NNP partner families are reaching out every few weeks to help and check on us. 

What was your first impression when you arrived in New York?

I don’t even know how to explain it. I had problems in my country: One night, my neighbor called me and said, “They might come for you—you need to leave your house.” So I left that night and never turned back.

Since then, I haven’t seen my home or the rest of my family. Coming here was very, very difficult. I arrived with no work, no support — just thinking constantly about my family I left behind. 

What has been the most difficult part of adjusting to life here?

The most difficult thing is being far from my family. Right now, my wife is not well — she’s in the hospital in Africa — and I’m here without her and my other two children. I wake up every day and can’t see my kids, can’t see my wife, can’t see my mom. That’s the hardest part. 

“I wake up every day and can't see my kids, can't see my wife, can't see my mom. That's the hardest part."

What has surprised you about life in the U.S.?

Something that really surprised me is how people who don’t even know you are willing to help you — like they are part of your family. In my country, we don’t have that type of organization. But here, someone I’ve never met can call me and say, “We have something for your kids.” That really surprised me. Life in America is totally different from my country. I had to leave everything behind — my family, my friends, my whole life. But here people take care of me. I didn’t know America was like this.

What keeps you going on the hard days?

My motivation is my children. My two kids in the US are going to school right now and learning. I was very worried about that, because I know if they don’t have the opportunity to go to school as kids, life will be harder for them when they grow up. Seeing them study here gives me hope.

Also, the partner families that support us — they call me every few weeks just to ask how the kids are doing. With them, I have family here. This is something that motivates me to continue.  

What are your hopes for your children as they grow up in a new country?

What I really hope for is to bring my wife and my other two children here, so our whole family can be together again. That’s my first and biggest hope.

For my daughter who is here, she’s a very good student. I can show you her report cards! She tells me all the time what she wants to do when she grows up. I want to keep supporting her, helping her grow and continue her education. That’s what I really want for my children.

Are there any moments that have made you feel proud since you arrived?

Yes, the first time I joined New Neighbors at one of the community welcome dinners and brought some food from my culture. I saw everyone there with their families, eating together — it made me feel welcomed.

The second moment was when our partner family invited us to a restaurant. That day, my kids were very, very happy. It might seem like a small thing, but for us, it meant a lot. That was one of the best days I’ve had here in America.

How has New Neighbors Partnership helped you resettle in the United States?

New Neighbors has helped me so, so much. Since I joined this group, if I ever have a problem, I can call Khadija — she always answers my questions. Sometimes I just need advice, and she or someone else from the organization helps me.

“Because of New Neighbors, I feel like I have a family here now.”

What advice would you give to someone else resettling in New York?

My advice is to keep your hope. You can’t get everything you want in one day. Keep going step by step. 

My dream is to continue building a better life for my children. Sometimes it’s hard, but knowing there are people here to help makes me feel like I can keep going. I want to keep working hard and eventually bring my wife and my other children here too. That’s my biggest dream — to be together again as a family and live a better life.

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