More Federal Way women are ready to “take the steering wheel of their lives” after graduating from the Arabic and Kurdish language driving class by that name at Mujer al Volante on Nov. 11.

The class is one of many offered by the nonprofit organization in Federal Way, which holds instructional classes in many different languages to help prepare refugee, immigrant and asylee women to take their written driver’s test and ultimately obtain their driver’s license. Mujer al Volante is located at 34616 11th Place South in Federal Way.

The organization was started by Jaqueline Garcia Castillo, who was the Mirror’s Hometown Hero of the year for 2023.

Since then, the organization has continued to expand, adding more languages and looking for more ways to support their communities.

The Arabic cohort specifically was added in 2023, and this was the third of this language cohort to graduate. They’ve also had several Dari and Pashto cohorts, which are typically languages spoken by those from Afghanistan.

Basima Ali, a graduate, shared through an interpreter that not being able to drive has been a barrier to her and her family. She is looking forward to being able to go to appointments, pick up her kids from school, attend women’s gatherings and go to English as a Second Language (ESL) classes by herself.

“When you work and have kids, it takes a lot of time to take public transit,” Haneen Mohammed Salih Ibrahim Kaldi said through an interpreter. “I feel very lucky to learn these things in our language and that they can help us understand the rules … before this we were afraid to even go and learn these things.”

“We want to thank the organization for giving us the opportunity to be independent. They’re not here to make money. They are here to support women,” Shaymaa J. Khalaf said through an interpreter.

“I’m honored to get to learn. No one else has given me these options,” Abeer Haleem Awadalaa Rezkalaa said.

Others added to the theme of independence overall, speaking to how hard it is to take steps like obtaining a job or improving their English or participating in the community when they can’t drive.

After the class is over, it is up to the students to take the written test, acquire a vehicle and take the practical — but the Mujer al Volante team is there to support however they can.

In the future, Garcia Castillo shared that Mujer al Volante is looking to own at least one vehicle to provide that hands-on driving experience and eventually even loan it out to graduates to help with transportation access.

The organization is also planning a new podcast to share the stories of the women they serve. They have begun recording episodes and are planning to release the first one for listeners in the spring.

Most of the staff of Mujer al Volante speak English and Spanish, but their crew of interpreters supports them, offering their classes in multiple languages. Sheelan Shamdeen interpreted in Arabic for this class and Payman Shamdeen provided the Kurdish interpretation.

In a diverse community like Federal Way, Mujer al Volante isn’t the only organization looking to serve those with language and culture that are new to them.

Garcia Castillo shared some tips for doing this work, emphasizing that the most important thing is to first actually learn if a need is present and support is desired by that community.

After establishing that the need is there, it is vital to introduce yourself and “ask your permission to serve them.”

“It’s not just bringing a flyer in that language … it’s about creating a relationship,” Garcia Castillo said. She said she’s seen a lot of well-meaning organizations include other languages as an afterthought or include a community without actually seeing if there is a need there and asking for consent.

Learn more

To learn more about Mujer al Volante, visit mujeralvolante.org or call 206-775-9904 or email info@mujeralvolante.org.

Program Coordinator at Mujer al Volante Elisa Philippe and founder of Mujer al Volante Jaqueline Garcia Castillo join interpreters to congratulate the Arabic speaking cohort on completing their class. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Participants in the Arabic/Kurdish language driving class at Mujer al Volante at their graduation on Nov. 11.

Abeer Haleem Awadalaa Rezkalaa receives her graduation certificate at Mujer al Volante on Nov. 11. Photos by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Interpreter Sheelan Shamdeen shared the bouquet she received for her work interpreting with the rest of the graduates, saying “you are all flowers, you deserve flowers!” Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror