Help Women in India Become Professional Drivers

Azad Foundation is dedicated to transforming the lives of marginalized women in India by enabling them to access non-traditional skill education and livelihoods, empowering them to achieve full citizenship, earn with dignity, and contribute value in their families and communities. With a focus on women disadvantaged by gender, caste, class, ethnicity, religion, race, and sexuality, Azad Foundation is making significant strides in breaking barriers and promoting gender equality and economic empowerment.

Facilitating Employment of Resource-Poor Women

Azad celebrated the successful conclusion of its commercial driving training program, conducted in partnership with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This program, supported by ADB and EESL, empowered 200 women from resource-poor backgrounds by training them in commercial driving, including the operation of electric and conventional vehicles. Today, 150 of these women are working as professional chauffeurs and riders in the electric transport sector.

The impact of this program has been profound, transforming the lives of the participants by enhancing their self-confidence, mobility, and financial independence. These women have become the primary breadwinners for their families, challenging traditional gender roles and inspiring others in their communities.

Engaging Communities for Gender Justice

Azad Foundation’s commitment to gender justice extends beyond transformative skill training to broader community engagement. Through campaigns, Azad engages communities in conversations on gender, unpaid care work, gender-based violence, workforce participation, aiming to create a gender-just ecosystem that expands choices for marginalized women and girls. Our ‘Ghar Ka Kaam’ and ‘Samanta Bandhan’ campaigns have impacted over 45,000 people across nine states in India, in collaboration with more than 30 organizations. Azad’s trainees and young feminist leaders actively participated in these campaigns, playing a crucial role in driving conversations, raising awareness, and amplifying our message for impactful change.

The #GharKaKaamSabkaKaam (household work is everyone’s work) Campaign, launched on International Labour Day, collaborated with MenEngage India and the Non-Traditional Livelihoods Network to emphasize the critical value of unpaid care work, predominantly performed by women and girls. Through street plays, workshops, rallies, and creative activities like film screenings and puppet shows, the campaign encouraged men and boys to share caregiving responsibilities. Events like “PAPA’s Kitchen,” where men took on household tasks, sparked conversations about the equal distribution of care work, supporting women’s access to education and employment, and promoting healthier family dynamics.

The #SamantaBandhan (bond of equality) campaign redefined the traditional festival of Raksha Bandhan, transforming it into a powerful movement for gender equality. This campaign rejected patriarchal notions of ‘protection’ of women and girls and instead celebrated equality and mutual respect. Communities participated in tying the thread of equality to one another, symbolizing a commitment to gender justice. The campaign also addressed the burden of unpaid care work and violence faced by women and girls and promoted non-traditional livelihoods for women, fostering conversations about the importance of skill education and employment.

"When I cook food, everybody in the family sits together to eat and have conversations with each other," shares Chand (name changed), Men for Gender Justice Leader from Delhi.

"If men and boys help out with household work, mothers and women will get time for themselves," shares Rani (name changed), an alumna of the Azad Kishori Program of Azad in Jaipur.

Institutional Growth: Embracing Digital Transformation for Greater Impact

At Azad Foundation, we are embracing digital transformation to amplify our impact. This year, we have digitized all data related to our Women with Wheels programs, introducing a new dashboard designed to visualize our impact and identify areas for improvement. This shift to a digital framework will enhance data accuracy, streamline our processes, and minimize manual work, ultimately boosting our efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, this transition includes building digital skills among our program teams, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate and utilize the new system effectively.

In addition to this, we are excited to announce the re-development of our website, set to launch on 16 September 2024. The redesigned website will provide a more engaging and user-friendly experience, featuring updated content and improved compatibility across mobile and desktop platforms. These updates will facilitate easier content management and strengthen our ability to communicate our mission and impact to our supporters and stakeholders.

With Heartfelt Gratitude

All of this progress and impact would not have been possible without your steadfast support. We extend our deepest gratitude to all our supporters, who have been crucial to our journey. Your contributions are vital as we continue to strive towards a more equitable and empowered future for marginalized women and girls.