DriveToThrive

Immigrants face numerous challenges upon arrival, with transportation being a critical concern. For several years, it took at least 2 years for an Afghan Refugee to get a Driving Permit in Georgia since the test was offered in 11 languages, which didn’t include Dari as a language. Our Program Manager “Shaista Amani” advocated for adding the Dari language and raisewd awareness around the importance of the issue for the Afghan Community and with the help of Sofia Qureshi from South 285, was able to start the conversation with the representative from the Department of Driving Services in Georgia.

This resulted in adding the Dari language as an official language to take the test in at all the DMV locations in September 2023, which changed the life of hundreds of newly arrived Afghans tremendously.

Our journey continues, and we are working on adding the Pashto language as well to make it more accessible. The Afghan-American Alliance of Georgia (AAAGA) launched online Dari and Pashto permit classes, ensuring accessibility for non-English speakers to ensure that community members get the knowledge they need before taking the test. AAAGA’s staff have translated Georgia’s permit Knowledge test material into Dari and Pashto, which has facilitated enrollment, with recruitment efforts garnering significant interest from the community.

Permit Classes: Immigrants face numerous challenges upon arrival, with transportation being a critical concern. To address this, the Afghan-American Alliance of Georgia (AAAGA) launched online Dari and Pashto permit classes, ensuring accessibility for non-English speakers. Translation of Georgia’s permit knowledge test materials into Dari and Pashto, facilitated enrollment, with recruitment efforts garnering significant interest from the community.

Pashto Permit Classes: Conducted three days a week (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays) from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Pashto permit classes enrolled 40 students (23 male and 17 female). The curriculum, taught in Pashto and English, familiarized students with driving terminology. A graduation ceremony celebrated the success of the first group, with certificates distributed to acknowledge their achievement. AAAGA assists graduates in scheduling DDS appointments and coordinating Pashto interpreters to aid them. These classes are facilitated by Ahmad Farid Sultani (case manager) and our amazing volunteer Maryam Gardiwal.

Dari Permit Classes: Under the ATLAS project, Dari permit classes currently serving up to 60 participants (10 male and 50 female) with sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The high success rate, with 98 percent passing their permit tests, underscores the program's effectiveness in overcoming language barriers and facilitating community integration. These classes are facilitated by Sheela Poya (Case manager).

The success of both Pashto and Dari permit classes is evident through positive community feedback and high pass rates. To enhance effectiveness and accessibility, we plan to improve in-person contact before classes start and streamline the enrollment process. We were able to get more than 250 Afghan community members to get their driving permits successfully since January of last year.

AAAGA is committed to support Afghans step by step in their journey. That's why we help our clients schedule the permit tests and provide transportation for their tests, helping them along the way. After the success of getting their permits, we then enroll them in our free driving classes with ETHAAR.

Free Driving Classes with Ethaar

After obtaining their permits, clients are enrolled in free driving classes with ETHAAR, marking another significant step towards their transportation independence and social adjustment. The Pashto and Dari permit classes offered by AAAGA and the ATLAS project have empowered individuals facing language barriers to obtain driver's licenses, with high pass rates reflecting their effectiveness. Partnering with Ethaar for practical driving lessons ensures culturally and linguistically appropriate services, leading to confident and capable drivers.

AAAGA's driving project effectively supports our clients by providing three hours of free driving instruction, funded through our current federal grant. This additional training is crucial in helping new drivers gain the necessary skills and confidence to navigate Georgia's roads safely. By documenting referrals and coordinating schedules, our case managers ensure that clients receive continuous support throughout their journey to obtain a driver's license. Certificates from Ethaar’s driving school also help families reduce their car insurance premiums, providing further financial relief.

Sustained support and ongoing enhancements to our program will continue to promote social adjustment and transportation independence within immigrant communities. With our current strategy and dedication, we are confident that AAAGA will successfully serve over 144 clients by the end of the next fiscal year, significantly contributing to community integration and accessibility.