Help Women in India Become Professional Drivers

Your support enabled us to bring Women on Wheels to Indore in the Indian state Madhya Pradesh. Indore is home to over 1,5 million women - many of whom lack freedom, resources and employment opportunities that would enable them to stand on their own feet and improve the impoverished situation of their families.

So many young resource-poor women in Indore had shown interest in the programme that we decided to launch Women on Wheels there in May 2015 in partnership with a local organization, SAMAAN, which has been helping women to claim their rights since 2010.

Since the launch of the programme, 46 women have embarked on the journey of empowerment - learning to drive and undertaking various empowerment and self-development modules. Some of them are ready to start working as professional private chauffeurs – with three already earning behind the wheel.

Thanks to your support, these women will not only be able to earn remunerative incomes, improve their living conditions, pay for further studies and support their families – they are also transforming minds of people, proving women are capable of taking on any profession. What’s more, they have transformed themselves into self-assured individuals, enjoying their newfound freedom and inner strength.

Thank you for helping all these women in Indore to change their lives – all of this would not be possible without your support and generosity.

Here is a story of one of them – Lalita

At the age of 27, Lalita is married with two kids, living in a slum area in Indore. Lalita’s husband works as a seasonal worker at a paint manufacturing plant. In the months when he is unemployed, he sells clothes on a pushcart. But despite all his hard work, he is able to earn only 8,000 INR per month (equivalent to £80/$120). Lalita was earning little extra income for the family by running a beauty parlor at her home, but as she says:

‘I got some clientele in the evening when the ladies come back from work, but what I earned wasn’t much.’

So when she learned about Women on Wheels programme in a church, she went on to find out more and eventually decided to join despite her mum’s initial disapproval.

‘I joined this programme because I wanted to do something different. I wanted to have an identity of my own and do something out of the box. I have heard people say that girls can’t do this, girls can’t do that…I wanted to prove that they can do everything. I also thought that since driving is a skilled profession, I would be able to earn more and support my family.’

Lalita has been fulfilling her childhood wishes thanks to the training she received as part of Women on Wheels:

‘Driving is my favourite module because I have always wanted to know how to drive. It was my childhood dream. I used to watch others driving and thought that I would never be able to do it. My wish to learn English language has also been fulfilled. If you know both, you don’t have to depend on anyone during difficult times. I wanted to study as a child but my parents did not have enough money to pay for the fees. Now I am fulfilling this wish by learning all these skills at Azad Foundation.’

At the moment, after completing all the modules, Lalita is preparing for her first job as a professional driver. But she has already changed in many ways:

‘Earlier, I used to think that the only option available to women is to work as domestic help. Now I know women can do any job. Before I joined Women on Wheels, I used to fight a lot with my husband because of money issues. I used to complain that he does not earn enough. I want to give good education to my children and now I feel I will be able to send them to good schools.

Thank you for supporting Lalita to take up Women on Wheels training.

Thank you for enabling Lalita to gain skills that will lead to a better life for her family and enable her to be the one who can ensure her children receive good education.

You are changing lives of so many people, not just in Indore – all over India. Thank you.

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