Help Women in India Become Professional Drivers

Now, also in Ahmedabad underprivileged women are becoming professional chauffeurs, earning with dignity. They are able to increase their family income up to four times, which enables them to pursue further studies, pay for education of their children and siblings, buy a house, see a doctor when needed…so many things. But more than that, those 'Women on Wheels' are fighting for their future, deciding themselves whom to marry, or not and to walk out of relationships that hurt them.

And this is all happening thanks to you. Thank you for being part of this movement.

We could not be more excited to tell you about all the great things happening in Ahmedabad. So read on and enjoy :)

Gulnaz leading the way

Gulnaz, lived for years in rejection from her family, due to marrying the person she loved. Her and her husband struggling to provide for their three sons, Gulnaz decided to join our residential Women on Wheels Academy in Jaipur to train to become a professional driver in Ahmedabad.

After successfully completing the residential course, with the help from our partner Jan Vikas, Gulnaz got a job as private chauffeur. She earns Rs. 9,500 per months, doubling what her husband is earning as auto-rickshaw driver.

‘My dream was to drive in Ahmedabad to contribute to our family income. I could not stop crying when I got my license. It was the happiest day of my life. With my boys maturing, I know they are proud to see their mum driving on the road. There aren’t many mums doing that!’

Gulaz has inspired many other women in Ahmedabad to join the programme – now provided directly in Ahmedabad in collaboration with Jan Vikas.

Women on Wheels in Ahmedabad…introducing DriverBen by Jan Vikas

Jan Vikas is a renowned NGO based in Ahmedabad, established in 1987. At first, Jan Vikas partnered up with us to send Gulnaz from Ahmedabad to our residential Academy in Jaipur. When the Jan Vikas team saw her transformation after only six months, they decided to bring Women on Wheels programme to their city. They knew the programme would enable a better life for many women they have been working with. And also it would help them address the urgent need to provide safe transport options for women in Ahmedabad.

So in April 2016, Jan Vikas in partnership with Azad Foundation launched DriverBen! In the last six months, 15 resource-poor women living in slums have already started the training, with many from minority communities, thanks to Gulnaz leading the way. Three drivers are already earning as private chauffeurs, with the initiative gaining loads of interest from local media and community.

And what has been our role in this? We have been intensively working with Jan Vikas team to build their understanding of the programme and approaches to building a squad of empowered Women on Wheels. We have been providing training, advice, support and raising the much needed funds to train women in Ahmedabad.

When passionate people come together, magical things can happen.

Thank you for joining us and enabling for this new venture to be born. Hundreds of women in Ahmedabad will now be able to drive into better future.