Refuge International Owensboro is now hosting a driving academy to prepare local refugees to take the driver’s test after a series of classes.
Volunteer and Event Coordinator Lindsay House said the project has been in the works for over a year, but thanks to a grant from Owensboro Health, they were able to jump-start the program.
“It was $4,800 that helped us launch everything,” House said. “…That really helped us to purchase our own vehicle, get it fitted with the passenger brake, and pay for driving instructors and all that,” House said.
House said the class is free for all refugees to enroll in. The academy is led by volunteer driver instructors who have completed an AAA curriculum to lead driving instruction classes.
All students must have their permit before they start the academy and an intermediate understanding of English. House said they hope to eventually offer a permit class to prepare refugees for the Kentucky permit test.
They began hosting classes on June 1, but the 10-12 class program will be personalized to the student. Each class is expected to be an hour to two hours each.
“We’ll get started with a very basic course where they drive around an empty parking lot, then they’ll keep moving on based on confidence and what the driver instructor feels they’re ready for before we just put them out on the road,” House said.
In addition to teaching them how to drive, they plan to have officers speak about driver safety practices like car seats, distracted driving, and other safe practices.
When the student has completed the course, the organization will gift them a certificate, pay for the fees associated with the driver’s test and provide them with a gas card.
House said they’ve already had a good crowd of refugees interested in the class, with several from Myanmar and Afghanistan already enrolled. She noted that providing this opportunity is a hopeful way to get the people connected with the community.
“So of the women who come to us didn’t have the opportunities we have here. So, just being able to learn how to drive is something they maybe never were able to do over there. For them to just have that type of independence and self-sufficiency here, I think it’s just something that is going to help their lives thrive that much more,” House said.
She also noted that this is an easy way for the community to connect with the different refugees and learn about their cultures.
She said people can go here to sign up for the Driving Academy.
