In this episode of Voices; we find out how one driving school is making a real difference to the lives of refugee learners. Produced by Sara Vui-Talitu.

A driving school in Auckland offering subsidies on lessons for refugees is appealing to the public for help.

Due to growing demand, the Migrant Action Trust manager, Amie Maga, said they need more donations and volunteer staff and driving mentors for The Puketāpapa Community Driving School.

Amie said they need at least $7,000 to buy another dual control practise car plus a driving simulator to help nervous learner drivers.

"This is very helpful for someone with zero driving experience and going in a driving simulator will give confidence (and) hopefully after some sessions it will help them drive on the real road."

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The Puketāpapa Community Driving School has been going for two years already in an Auckland suburb known for its diversity of cultures and communities.

"It's the Maori name for Mt Roskill," said Amie. "We are one of the more ethnically diverse communities but happy to support all people and help them try to get a job."

"We help the whole family by getting one driver."

The project, which is a community-owned social enterprise, offers subsidised lessons to a refugee learner for every fully paid driving lesson.

The school takes into account cultural and religious considerations and a translator can be arranged if needed.

"So, several organisations get together to make it more migrant friendly and more culturally appropriate as many of the women prefer woman mentors and instructors as many of them are Muslim women."

Islam Khalelo, has been in Aotearoa New Zealand for four years now as a former refugee from Syria.

"It's very good and helpful and I feel lucky because I heard from others before...it is expensive to have to pay in full."

Islam reckons she has an elephant foot and her husband often tells her to slow down. Unlike driving in Syria, Islam said people in New Zealand follow the road rules.

Islam's driving instructor and mentor is Susan Matencio.

"I started as a volunteer 2017 when we launched this and then after a year, they told me would you like to consider being a driving instructor?

"And they said the skill is there and I have had a lot of good feedback from students and you have a lot of patience…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details