It has been five months since Raj Mohammed Ansari began work as a mason at the Khalifa International Stadium, as it undergoes a renovation in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™.

The father-of-six – originally from the small northern Indian village of Mohammedpur – arrived in Qatar two months before the country won the right to host the World Cup, joining MIDMAC Contracting Company as a marble cutter.

"I have had a small connection with the FIFA World Cup," Ansari told www.sc.qa. "I watched Diego Maradona's Argentina win the 1986 World Cup on black and white television in India."

Ansari's journey in Qatar has taken him to three other MIDMAC sites before beginning on the Khalifa International Stadium project, which is undergoing its third renovation since its construction in 1976.

Ansari spoke of the pride he takes from the opportunity his work provides to support his four daughters and youngest son, back home in India.

"My second son is studying CA honours in Kolkata. We are from the village. His education was in Hindi school but now he is in a big city and enrolled in an institution which imparts education in the English language. I was struggling to meet the costs of his education. The reason I am in Qatar is because I want him to continue the education," he said.

"It is the wish of every father that their children – whether male or female – should get educated. I could not educate my eldest son, who is currently a welder in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, I am educating my second son. I believe whatever money I am investing in educating him is spent for the right reason. It will be wonderful if he were to complete the education."

There also is pride in Ansari's voice as he talks about his two elder daughters getting married on the same day in 2013.

"Every father does all what it takes for a daughter," he continued. "I was able to go to India for their wedding on the date that I had in mind. My earnings helped to pay for the cost of the wedding . I contacted all my relatives and friends from Doha and then applied for leave, and it was proud moment to be present at their wedding."

Ansari has shown great resilience throughout his life. Carrying on his late father's small scale garment business in the Indian province of Assam in the late 1980's, Ansari was driven out of his home after his shop burned to the ground. He tried to pick up the pieces in Mohammedpur but could not make much headway and soon had to leave for Mumbai in search of employment in the construction sector.

Ansari is now proud to be working on a project for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ - and looking ahead to the future with great hope.

"The living conditions and food at the MIDMAC accommodation are good. I am a Muslim and believe in God, honesty and hard work. There is no better feeling than eating food earned by the sweat of the brow. It has worked as an advantage to me and I believe it will for all others too. My honesty and hard work transformed the lives of my family for the better. I am proud my family is healthy, secure and looking ahead to the future."

The mastermind of this transformation, Ansari too reserves a dream or two for himself.

"I want to see Argentina play in Khalifa International Stadium in 2022. If the company encourages us to watch it in the stadium I will be there. If not, I will definitely watch the matches on TV and tell everyone that my team is playing in the stadium I helped build."

2022 Stories is a series which looks at the human stories behind the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™.