Hope for Her International launches Drive to Thrive for refugee women in Utah

By AI, Created 3:00 PM UTC, May 21, 2026, /AGP/ – Hope for Her International has launched Drive to Thrive, a Utah-based pilot program to help refugee women earn driver’s licenses and gain access to work, education and healthcare. The first phase will serve five women and test online training, interpreters, road instruction and car access before the program expands.

Why it matters: - Drive to Thrive is built to remove transportation barriers that can limit refugee women’s access to jobs, education, healthcare and daily independence. - The program is aimed at improving economic stability and family integration for resettled women in Utah.

What happened: - Hope for Her International announced Drive to Thrive on May 21, 2026, in Salt Lake City. - The program will help refugee women prepare for driver’s licenses through online driving training, specialized materials, interpreters, on-road instruction and access to cars and work support. - Founder Crystal Bayat said transportation is a key step toward self-sufficiency.

The details: - The initial pilot will include five women from different nationalities. - Hope for Her International is using the pilot to refine the curriculum before broader expansion. - The first phase will test online training, custom training materials and interpreter support for participants who need English-language assistance. - The pilot will also move participants from classroom learning to hands-on driving instruction. - Hope for Her International is seeking community partners to donate reliable used cars for graduates of the first cohort. - The organization is also asking public agencies and employment services to help newly licensed drivers find sustainable jobs. - For more information, contact the organization at contact@hopeforherinternational.org. - Hope for Her International also shared social channels, including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X.

Between the lines: - The pilot’s small size suggests Hope for Her International is trying to prove the model works before scaling it. - The push for donated cars and job-placement support shows the program is designed as a mobility and employment pipeline, not just driver education. - Bayat framed the effort as a family-centered intervention, not only an individual training program.

What’s next: - Hope for Her International plans to evaluate the five-person pilot and then expand if the rollout goes smoothly. - The organization is looking for local partners who can support graduates with vehicles and employment pathways. - Successful participants are expected to move toward full financial independence after licensure and job placement support.