Azad Foundation

The Women With Wheels initiative empowers economically disadvantaged women by training them as professional drivers, offering them remunerative livelihoods while fostering independence, confidence, and awareness of their rights. This programme, initiated in 2008 in Delhi and expanded to other Indian cities, helps marginalized women transition to the mainstream economy through driver employment, challenging stereotypes about women's roles in public transportation. The comprehensive training equips women, often from slums, with technical skills, self-empowerment, and self-development, enabling them to thrive as self-sustaining drivers. This initiative collaborates with partners, provides support for acquiring documentation, and offers financial assistance if necessary. Beyond driver training, Azad Foundation actively engages with women's rights, protection, health, and community improvement through campaigns and networking, promoting gender equality and advocating for change agents.

Azad Foundation engages communities to support women in pursuing professional driving, an unconventional field. They identify candidates through mobilizers, sharing success stories, counselling, and home visits. The initiative operates in Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Indore to shift mindsets and promote gender equality. They work with men to challenge harmful attitudes and empower young women leaders for local change. Programs for adolescent girls address gender issues and life skills. Azad actively participates in campaigns against violence and raises awareness about non-traditional livelihoods for women.

Azad Foundation aims to extend its impact beyond trained women and their communities through research and advocacy. It strives to bring non-traditional livelihood options with dignity to women from various backgrounds on a national scale. The organisation collaborates with similar initiatives, conducts research, and documents its work to advocate for social considerations in livelihood training programmes. By systematically monitoring the effectiveness of women empowerment policies and forming networks, Azad Foundation seeks to influence policymakers and donors to broaden women's livelihood choices. Through ongoing dialogue with the Indian Government, the organisation works towards breaking gender stereotypes, promoting equality, and ensuring well-paid dignified livelihoods.