Bibifatima Akhundzada maneuvered a white Chevy Spark through the streets of downtown Modesto, California, under the guidance of her driving instructor, Gil Howard. Gil, an 82-year-old retired professor, has found a second career teaching driving skills to Afghan women in Modesto.
In the conservative society of Afghanistan, driving is forbidden for women. However, in Modesto, thanks to Mr. Gil’s instruction, more Afghan women are behind the wheel. For many Afghan immigrants, driving is not just a rite of passage but a lifeline in a country where public transportation is limited.
After the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, many Afghan women sought the freedom to drive, a simple act that can make a significant impact on their daily lives. Learning to drive has become a way for them to assimilate into American society and gain independence.
Mr. Gil’s classes have become highly sought after, with a long waitlist and inquiries from other states. His simple teaching methods, combined with his fluency in Dari, have helped hundreds of Afghan women navigate the roads of Modesto and beyond.
For many Afghan women like Bibifatima and Latifa Rahmatzada, driving represents a means to help their families and navigate their new lives in the United States. Through Mr. Gil’s patient instruction, these women are gaining the skills and confidence to drive in a world that was once off-limits to them.
As Mr. Gil continues to teach and empower Afghan women through driving lessons, he has become a symbol of hope and freedom in a community striving to make a new home in America.
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