Empowerment 101: the Asian University for Women is educating an alumnae of game changers
Finding potential women leaders and empowering them to spark change in developing countries is the primary goal of one Bangladesh-based institution. Sarah Lazarus meets its chancellor, Cherie Blair, and founder, Kamal Ahmad, as they set out their vision for the future.
As the first person in her family to go to university, Cherie Blair knows all about the transformative power of a good education.
"I wouldn't be anywhere in my life had it not been for the opportunity to study," says the wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair.
The AUW is a unique institution. Located in Chittagong, a bustling seaport and Bangladesh's second city, the university aims to offer a world-class liberal arts education to women from across the region. Its goal is to create a generation of capable and visionary female leaders.
In developing countries, universities are usually the preserve of the economic elite. AUW operates on a radically different model - it's a meritocracy. Its mission is to educate the smartest girls, with the greatest potential, regardless of their families' ability to pay fees. The majority of students are on full scholarships and AUW is currently entirely funded by donations.
The limited access to education women in many Asian countries have, especially at the secondary and tertiary levels, has serious consequences. Two-thirds of the illiterate adults in the world are women. According to a report published by Unesco in 2011, a child whose mother can read is 50 per cent more likely to survive beyond the age of five. Each extra year of a mother's schooling reduces the probability of infant mortality by 5 to 10 per cent.