LIFT Annual Report 2015: Creating A Better Way | Page 8

Breaking the Cycle, Securing the Future.
Empowering people to achieve their goals is the
cornerstone of LIFT’s mission. From the moment
a Member walks into one of our offices to the
second they leave, we remind them that they are
the architects of their futures and that we are here
to help them turn their dreams into reality. The
story of Aminata Diarra, a Member at LIFT-DC,
represents this partnership and through it, what’s
possible.
A Fresh start
When Ms. Diarra first came to the U.S. in 2013
her future was in limbo. She had left an abusive
husband in Mali in order to start life anew.
But upon her arrival in America, she faced
new obstacles that stood between her current
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circumstances and the life she wanted. Yet from
the moment Ms. Diarra set foot in our office, the
intensity of her determination to create a better
life for herself was clear. It was also clear that the
primary motivation behind this determination was
her son, Mohammad.
Bringing Mohammad home
Ms. Diarra had ambitious dreams of becoming a
CPA and she knew that this required advanced
education. But before she pursued that goal, she
first focused on bringing Mohammad to America.
LIFT matched Ms. Diarra with an Advocate and
together they secured a passport for Mohammad.
They also worked together to enroll Ms. Diarra
in English classes, find a job, and access a high