“I just want to give my daughter a good life. I want to have the choice to live where I want, with a job that gives my family long-term stability. I want to have freedom.”
Leaving the only home she ever knew, Aisha emigrated to the United States as a teenager. She enrolled at a local high school, where she learned English in three months. She graduated from high school, worked at a local restaurant, and enrolled at Palm Beach State College.
But Aisha’s family held her back, hindering every opportunity for success. When Aisha realized that she would never grow in that environment, she packed her bags and moved in with a friend. She continued to work toward her goals, and met someone who supported her goals. Unfortunately, her partner relapsed into addiction shortly after she found out she was pregnant, , and she was forced to make the difficult decision to once again pack up and leave in search of a healthy home environment.
But this time, Aisha had nowhere to go. With no family or friends, Aisha ended up in a shelter. While in shelter, she gave birth to her daughter, a beautiful child who is non-verbal and autistic. In addition to her disability, Aisha’s daughter has other physical health problems that require continued care. Aisha embraced motherhood and her daughter’s special needs with the same strength and determination that had carried her through all of life’s challenges.
After finishing the shelter program late last year, Aisha made her way to Adopt-A-Family and Project SAFE. Once they were settled in, she started to see and feel the positive impact their new home had on her daughter.
Aisha is an active participant in the AAF community and makes the most of every resource available for her and her child. She attends family events and personal development workshops. She works with the Mental Health Therapist and the Building Your Future Job Coach Program. Bryan Boudreault, the Job Coach Manager, speaks highly of Aisha’s dedication and hard work.
“This lady is going places!” Bryan said. “We celebrate the achievements she’s made.”
“He’s very positive. He motivated me, he gave me self-belief,” Aisha said when speaking about her work with Bryan. “He says ‘You can do it.’ He believes in me.”
Aisha re-enrolled at Palm Beach State College and recently earned her Insurance Claims Adjuster License. She’s working towards an associate’s degree in business, with dreams of going even further in her education and her career. As she pursues these goals, she’s grateful to have found a stable environment, where she knows that she has a community that supports her and her daughter.
Finally, she can envision long-term stability for herself and her young daughter, a life where they both feel truly free.
