UPDATE: Women Behind the Wheel is restarting, after a big increase in donations following 285 South’s reporting that the program was on hold because of lack of funds.
Many 285 South readers clicked through to donate page for the program (thank you!).
We are incredibly grateful,” said Sarah Karim, the executive director of the nonprofit which operates the program. “We’re starting up the Women Behind the Wheel program. It will move slowly, but at least we are up and running.”
Women Behind the Wheel, a one-of-a-kind program that provides free driving lessons to immigrant and refugee women in metro Atlanta, has paused those services due to a lack of funding. Students who had been taking lessons and those who were enrolled to start have been told to not expect any classes at the moment, said Sarah Karim, executive director of Ethaar, the nonprofit that runs the program.
The program, which I reported on in December for the Cost of Living Project, provides a vital service in metro Atlanta, where a single driving lesson can cost upwards of $100. In a region where accessible public transportation is virtually nonexistent, it’s been a lifeline for those who need to get on the road to start their lives here, but have limited income.
“Sorry, we’ll have to pause it for now,” Karim says she had to tell students. “As soon as we get funding, you know, we’ll be sure to reach back out.
For now, Ethaar, which runs a range of programs to support newly arriving families in the region, has been able to connect driving instructors who have worked with Women Behind the Wheel with nonprofits like the Afghan American Alliance of Georgia, who have some funding to pay for their own students, Karim said. But Ethaar is not able to provide any free lessons as it did before.
Women Behind the Wheel has graduated more than 230 new drivers since it started in 2018. The organization has provided women, many of whom are newly arriving from Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, with lessons taught by instructors who had previously been in their shoes: immigrants who are culturally sensitive and bilingual or multilingual. Students take anywhere from 10 to 14 hours of lessons, acquiring enough on-the-road experience to pass the road test and safely navigate metro Atlanta roads and highways. Ethaar pays $55 for each driving lesson, so enrolling one student in the course comes to a total of around $700.
Part of the reason for the drop in donations is that donors are tapped out from global crises, “whether it’s Gaza, Sudan, Congo,” Karim told 285 South; it’s getting harder to make the case to give locally. Since Ethaar is almost entirely funded by local community members, she said, it lacks the stability of bigger resettlement agencies that have secured federal and state grants.
Just a few weeks ago, the organization had to let go of its sole case worker, who supported newly arriving families in Clarkston. Earlier this month, Ethaar launched a fundraiser on Facebook, with the goal of raising $30,000. So far, they’ve raised just over $1,300.
“Everyone has limited funds. When they think of giving, they’re probably thinking of Gaza, first and foremost. And that’s why we’re struggling,” Karim said. She understands, she added: “I am overwhelmed by all that’s happening in Gaza. So I imagine so is everyone else.”
Karim said she knows that Ethaar provides a critical service, and one that needs to be funded again: “I don’t know of any other nonprofit that does what we are doing.” She’s also applying for federal and state grants, and said that while it might take some time to get Women Behind the Wheel up and running again, she’s optimistic: “Right now we are struggling, but inshallah, we are still hopeful.”
To donate to Ethaar’s driving program, click here, and select “Women Behind the Wheel” from the dropdown menu.
