Zulaikha Khalil Looking to the Future
She took her first step in that direction when she graduated from the Real Alternatives Program (RAP). Since then she has been looking for the stepping stones to a career and good educational opportunities for her children. But as a single parent and the head of the household, her schedule is hectic and it can be difficult to focus on personal goals. Added to her set of daily challenges is caring for her mother, who has lymphoma. “My mother still continues to play a huge role in my life. She has been a mentor and a supporter. Her strength is in her spirit and I have learned that you have to have that spirit to be a success.”
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San Francisco native, Zulaikha Khalil knows about struggle and she also knows about success. Born in the Western Addition, she moved to Hunters View when she was just seven years old. Now she has a son, DeShawn, who is eight and a daughter, Dezyre, who is five. “As a mom now, I look at things differently, and know that I have to have goals in place to insure a good future, not only for myself but for my kids.”
“I have to have goals in place to insure a good future, not only for myself but for my kids.”
Last year offered an opportunity for success when Zulaikha participated in the Garden Project, a nonprofit workforce development program. The unique Garden Project program provides hands-on horticultural training at the San Bruno Jail. The SFHA sponsored 50 scholarships for residents of public housing in San Francisco and Zulaikha was one of the lucky recipients. “The garden at San Bruno Jail was a learning tool. I learned about the immense diversity of flora in the Bay Area’s ecosystem and how to transplant at the gardens. We also got to eat some of the food that we grew and the SF Food Bank benefitted as well.” While enrolled in the program, she met another mentor—Catherine Snead, the Director of the Garden Project. Her mentor encouraged her to step into a leadership role and become a mentor to the younger students in the program.
After graduating as an Earth Steward from the Garden Project in August, she applied to the JOBS NOW! Program, which began in November 2009 and has provided 21 jobs to residents who live in SFHA housing sites. “I am really looking forward to my participation in the JOBS NOW! program. I hope this gives me another opportunity to help the people in my community and teach my children what my mother taught me about the spirit of success.”
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