“Driving Is Important For Everything”
Every morning, Yalda boards a bus in Spokane, Washington. Then another. Her daily commute to the Davenport Hotel, where she works full-time in housekeeping from 8 to 5, takes two buses and precious time. For Yalda, a Dari speaker from Afghanistan who arrived in the U.S. four years ago with her parents and siblings, the journey has always been about seeking a better life. But that journey has also come with sacrifices.
“My sister is 14 years old. She begged me to learn how to drive,” Yalda says with a laugh. Her younger sister attends North Central High School, and like many teens, she’s already thinking ahead. But she’s not asking to be chauffeured—she’s asking for freedom, for both of them.
Yalda’s situation is not unique. For many refugee and immigrant women, transportation remains one of the biggest barriers to independence in the U.S. Without a driver’s license, everything becomes more difficult. In Yalda’s case, her mother has missed medical appointments due to a lack of reliable transportation.
Recognizing this critical need, Thrive International launched the Women’s Driving Program in early 2023 to empower refugee and immigrant women with the skills and confidence to drive. The program is not just about cars and licenses—it’s about freedom, autonomy, and building a new life with fewer limitations.
“I wasn’t allowed to drive in my home country,” one participant shared. “Driving is important for everything—going to work, getting groceries, taking children to school.”
Since its launch, the program has served over 250 women from more than a dozen countries, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, and Ukraine. Currently, 76 women are actively enrolled: 30 are behind the wheel, gaining real experience, and 46 are preparing for their permit exams. Last month alone, 13 women passed their written tests—a major step forward on the road to independence.
To support diverse linguistic needs, Thrive International offers instruction in four language cohorts: Slavic, Afghan, Arabic, and Congolese. Each cohort builds a safe, culturally responsive space for women to learn, ask questions, and support one another in what, for many, is a completely new experience.
For women like Yalda, learning to drive is more than a skill—it's a lifeline. Her husband remains in Afghanistan, and much of the responsibility for helping her family adjust to life in the U.S. falls on her shoulders. Driving will make her commute shorter, her days easier, and her family more connected to the resources they need. For Yalda and hundreds of women like her, it's the beginning of a future defined by choice and mobility.
