Help Women in India Become Professional Drivers

Throughout the Women on Wheels learning journey, we can see how Azad trainees are finding their inner strength. They go from shy and vulnerable to confident professional women in control of their lives. Shimla is one of these women…

Shimla takes charge of her future

Shimla, at the tender age of 9 years, was thrown into a confusing and terrifying new world when her parents arranged her marriage with a much older man. Adjusting to life with her new husband, who as it was later revealed was homosexual, was beyond her age. She found herself alone, with no financial or emotional support. And once she became a wife, her dream of going to school and to continue her childhood was shattered.

Within several years Shimla gave birth to three children. There was no option but to live with her husband in the same house. If she left her husband she would be an outcast, shunned by society, and she would not be able to keep her children safe. Finances were very tight in Shimla’s house, so to provide for her children, Shimla took a job as a cook and also started working as a babysitter for wealthier families. Despite all Shimla’s efforts she was not able to earn enough and often felt trapped in her life.

One day Shimla’s friend told her about Azad Foundation, and that we offer training to resource-poor women that enables them to become self-sustaining professionals so that even a less educated woman can have a respectful and well-paid job.

Shimla eagerly joined our Women on Wheels programme and started the training to become a driver - an occupation that is still very uncommon for women in India. Shimla learned that women could work outside of the boundaries constructed by society to earn their own money and take charge of their own lives.

“I went through 16 types of training programmes at Azad,” says Shimla. “These programmes gave me strength and self-confidence. I learnt that women can earn with dignity and generate wealth and value for all. After completing the driver-training course, I joined a chauffeur service that pays me more than double the salary I was earning before. I am happy. My children are happy. I secured their education. Today I have the courage to fight for my rights.”

Thank you for enabling women like Shimla to transform their lives and secure future for themselves and their loved ones.

What training your donations fund

The learning journey of Azad trainees begins after successful registration into the Women on Wheels programme. All the training modules are learner-centred, thus the overall preparation period ranges from six to eight months, depending on the individual pace of a trainee. The training programme includes technical, women’s empowerment and self-defence classes.

Technical training

Azad in-house faculty and established driving schools that we partner with provide theory lessons and driving practice to ensure trainees achieve confidence and control over the vehicle required for employment. Technical training covers ground, road and self-driving practice as well as road/route identification and map reading.

Women empowerment

The training modules on Women empowerment equip our trainees with self-defence skills and build their understanding on gender issues, legal rights of women and women’s health and sexuality.

Self-development

As the name suggests, this component of the Women on Wheels training aims to enhance all-round self-development of women trainees. It covers communication and English fluency. In addition, self-caring guidance is provided through continuous counselling by a trained counsellor.

Thank you for enabling us to continue providing this transformative training.

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Warm wishes

Azad team, trainees and drivers