“Azad has not only helped me get trained for a job and double our income—it has taught me to walk with my head held high.” Joytsna, Kolkata
“Earlier I could not even think of going out alone. I was even afraid of speaking to people. Now I am so confident that I can drive on my own to places, I can travel by bus and auto anywhere. I do not feel afraid anymore.” Manju, Jaipur
“My husband and in laws abused me constantly. I remember the day I learnt that my body is my right. I felt so angry because I realized that I have been accepting violence all my life. That night I told my husband ‘NO’. He tried to beat me up but my children stood by me. Now he does not dare to touch me.” Lata, Delhi
“I am confident that now I can drive as well as men do. In my first job, I earned Rs 7000, which improved our economic condition and I was able to assure better medical care for my parents.” Jayshree, Indore
The impact of the Women on Wheels programme needs to be understood not only in numbers but more importantly in the depth of change it brings to trained women, their families and communities.
The depth of change
The transformation towards empowerment the Women on Wheels trainees achieve is irreversible. The programme enables women to identify the power within themselves. Once they connect with it, there is no going back. Furthermore, the benefits of the programme reach out to their children – girl children particularly, making an inter-generational impact of far reaching consequences.
Majority of women who complete the programme become principle breadwinners in their families. They are financially independent and empowered to make their own decisions. Many women decide to continue with their studies and are able to support education of their children and other family members. Others take on the responsibility for looking after health issues of their mothers or other family members – taking them for treatment, liaising with doctors and ensuring care. Some women were able to invest in a property in their own name to secure their future.
The women who are undertaking the programme and those working as commercial drivers inspire other women to also take on non-traditional professions and become autonomous and economically independent. Read our stories of courage to learn more.
The numbers
Since the beginning of our journey we have:
- Reached more than 600,000 women and families in slums through our outreach and mobilization work across Delhi, Jaipur and Kolkata
- Supported more than 3,000 women to acquire identification papers
- Enabled over 1000 women to get employed as professional chauffeurs
Majority of women who join our programme come from families that live on $1.50 – 3 per day. Once employed as drivers, women earn salaries between $100-300 per month, leading to more than 200% increase in their family incomes.
Download our 2016/2017 annual report to learn more.
Download our 2015/2016 annual report to learn more.
Download our 2014/2015 annual report to learn more.
Download our 2012/2013 annual report to learn more.
