Asian University for Women (AUW) signed a grant agreement with the Government of Japan today to support the construction of the AUW Community School, a new initiative aimed at expanding access to quality elementary education in Chattogram.

The grant is provided by Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) and will support the construction of a dedicated school building at AUW’s campus.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Rubana Huq, Vice Chancellor of Asian University for Women, and H.E. Mr. Saida Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh. The signing ceremony took place at the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka, where representatives from the Government of Japan and Asian University for Women gathered for a briefing on the GGHSP program, the formal signing ceremony, and the symbolic handover of the grant. Ambassador Saida said “AUW’s activities are such a unique and special. We are glad to collaborate with you at GGHSP.”

The AUW Community School will operate as a community-based education hub, supporting foundational learning and long-term social mobility for children. The school will be free for all those who demonstrate need and is designed to address growing social divisions by creating a learning environment where children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds can study and grow together.

The AUW Community School is envisioned as a part of AUW’s School of Education programs. It is expected to become a demonstration site for innovations in pedogeological approaches and in creating positive learning environments for children. Students and graduates of the School of Education are expected to be intimately involved in the planning, creation, operation, and management of the school.

The project targets urban communities in Arefin Nagar and surrounding areas of Chattogram, including informal settlements located near AUW’s permanent campus. The school’s location will enable direct community access while leveraging AUW’s academic resources and institutional infrastructure––similar to AUW’s work in Rohingya Refugee Camps where a select group of graduates of AUW’s MA in Education have been conducting a teacher training program for 1,100 upper primary school teachers.

Once completed, the AUW Community School is expected to serve approximately 200 students from Kindergarten through Grade 5 annually, providing a strong educational foundation during the most formative years of learning. Through this initiative, AUW aims to strengthen community engagement while expanding educational opportunities for children living in communities surrounding the campus.