American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) actively organizes and supports a multitude of training or programmes to improve access to basic services for all, with a strong focus on the wider local community. These programmes directly address fundamental needs such as food security, healthcare, and education, which are all pillars of poverty reduction (SDG 1). The university's programmes for food and healthcare access are vividly demonstrated by the institutionally-supported student-led initiatives of the AIUB Social Welfare Club, 'Shomoy'. In 2024, this club executed major relief programmes, including Students of AIUB: Standing with the Flood-Effected, which delivered essential food and medical supplies to 1200 families, and the “Oder Eid, Amader Khushi” campaign, which provided food packages to 150 underprivileged families. Beyond immediate relief, AIUB is committed to providing long-term access to the basic service of education. This is most notably actualized through its long-running Kathpencil Pathshala programme, which provides free education and meals to underprivileged children. This commitment is further expanded through numerous free training workshops and academic Olympiads hosted by AIUB for students from various local schools and colleges, thereby improving community-wide access to basic educational services.
Relevant Events and Initiatives
Students of AIUB: Standing with the Flood-Effected
In response to devastating floods in September 2024, numerous AIUB student groups organized a comprehensive relief programme. This initiative, supported by the wider AIUB community, improved access to basic services by distributing essential food and medical supplies to over 1200 families in hardest-hit regions. Students also participated in rescue missions, assisting vulnerable individuals. This large-scale programme demonstrates AIUB's capacity to mobilize and deliver basic services (food, health) directly to the local community in times of crisis. This action provides immediate relief and support, directly addressing SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by ensuring access to necessities for all affected.
#AIUB #FloodRelief #CommunityService #SDG1 #SDG2 #SDG3 #NoPoverty #ZeroHunger #BasicServices #StudentActivism
Link: https://www.aiub.edu/students-of-aiub-standing-with-the-flood-effected
“Oder Eid, Amader Khushi” by the AIUB Social Welfare Club – Shomoy
On April 5, 2024, the AIUB Shomoy Club organized its “Oder Eid, Amader Khushi” programme, providing essential food packages to 150 underprivileged families associated with the Kathpencil Pathshala. This is a recurring, university-supported programme specifically designed to improve access to basic services (food) for low-income families in the local community during a time of celebration. By fundraising within the university and distributing these necessities, AIUB and its students demonstrate a direct and compassionate commitment to social welfare, tackling food insecurity (SDG 2) and alleviating poverty (SDG 1) for the most vulnerable members of the community.
#AIUB #ShomoyClub #OderEidAmaderKhushi #NoPoverty #ZeroHunger #SDG1 #SDG2 #FoodDrive #CommunitySupport #BasicServices
Link: https://www.aiub.edu/oder-eid-amader-khushi-by-the-aiub-social-welfare-club---shomoy
Kathpencil Pathshala (Community Education Programme)
AIUB's long-term programme, Kathpencil Pathshala, is a cornerstone initiative to improve access to basic services for the local community.14 Supervised by senior students and supported by the university, this programme provides free education and meals to underprivileged children aged 5-12 who have no access to traditional schooling. This initiative directly provides the basic service of education (SDG 4) and nutritional support (SDG 2) to the most vulnerable, addressing the root causes of intergenerational poverty (SDG 1). The programme also includes vocational and technical training, equipping children with life skills for a sustainable future. This is a clear, long-term commitment to improving access to basic services for all in the local community.
#AIUB #KathpencilPathshala #EducationForAll #SDG4 #SDG1 #SDG2 #NoPoverty #ZeroHunger #CommunityService #FreeEducation
MCO project ‘Responsible and Responsive Universities- A case study of AIUB’ presented at IAU 2024 conference
The MCO project, presented on November 24, 2024, is a high-level programme aimed at systemically improving access to basic services for the Korail slum community, one of Dhaka's largest low-income areas. The project's goals include developing programmes for "low-cost housing" and "education for underprivileged children". By mobilizing its faculty and students from Architecture, Public Health, and Business, AIUB is directly engaged in designing and implementing solutions to improve access to basic services (housing, education, health) for all members of this community. This initiative is a profound example of a university applying its expertise to address all dimensions of poverty, aligning with SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
#AIUB #ResponsibleUniversity #Korail #SDG1 #SDG3 #SDG4 #SDG11 #NoPoverty #BasicServices #Community #Housing
