A driving program in Stone Mountain, Georgia, is helping mostly refugee and immigrant women gain independence by providing them with free driver’s education. The Women Behind the Wheel program offers 14 hours of instruction to women who come from countries where driving or working outside the home is discouraged. Instructor Nancy Gobran guides students through the basics of driving, helping them gain the skills needed to navigate the roads in their new home. The program is unique to Georgia but similar initiatives exist in other parts of the country, such as Refugee Women Rising in Omaha, Nebraska, and Driving Opportunity in Denver.
Women Behind the Wheel is operated by the nonprofit organization Ethaar, which assists refugee families with their resettlement in the Atlanta area. The program aims to empower female clients who may have been dependent on their spouses due to cultural beliefs that restrict women from driving or working outside the home. By providing women with the ability to drive, they can access job opportunities and contribute to their families’ financial stability. The stress of not being able to drive can be compounded for families living in metro Atlanta, where access to transportation is essential for getting to work, school, and other important places.
Ethaar works with refugee families from various countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, Iraq, and Eritrea. The organization helps these families navigate the challenges of resettlement in a new country, including the need for transportation and job opportunities. The driving program has already graduated 230 students, including both women and men, and has a waitlist due to high demand. With limited time for refugee families to become self-sufficient, obtaining a driver’s license is a critical step towards autonomy and financial independence.
Refugee migration expert Dorian Crosby emphasizes the importance of driving and access to a driver’s license for refugee women to achieve self-reliance. Learning how to drive not only helps women meet government regulations but also allows them to sustain themselves financially and emotionally. Instructors like Nancy Gobran, who are fluent in Arabic, provide a comfortable learning environment for students, many of whom are still adjusting to life in a new country. Gobran witnesses the transformation of her students as they gain confidence behind the wheel and pass their driving tests, empowering them to navigate their new home and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.
The driving program offered by Women Behind the Wheel is a vital resource for refugee women in Georgia, providing them with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in their new environment. By breaking down cultural barriers and empowering women to drive, the program is helping families become self-sufficient and integrated into their communities. With the support of organizations like Ethaar and dedicated instructors like Nancy Gobran, refugee women are overcoming challenges and embracing the opportunities that driving brings to their lives. As they navigate the roads of their new home, these women are driving towards a brighter future filled with independence and empowerment.
