No Poverty

End Poverty in all its forms everywhere

1No PovertyUN Sustainable Development Goal

CAU’s commitment to poverty reduction through student engagement

Central Asian University recognizes that poverty is not limited to a lack of financial resources. It can also mean difficulty accessing food, essential goods, healthcare, education and social support. In line with SDG 1, the University highlights community engagement, charitable initiatives and research as ways to address social challenges and support vulnerable groups.

CAU student volunteers with children in the paediatric haematology and oncology department

~4 yearsof continuous work by Hikmah Charity, CAU’s student-led volunteer community

50 volunteersvisited the children’s haematology, oncology and immunology department on 16 June 2026

Researchon measuring non-monetary poverty with machine learning and the neutrosophic method

Hikmah Charity: students turning concern into action

An important contribution to this goal comes from Hikmah Charity, a student-led charitable and volunteer community established at CAU and active for almost four years. It brings together CAU students who dedicate their time and effort to helping people in need through donation campaigns, visits to children’s centres, charitable distributions and community outreach.

The community’s activities extend beyond collecting donations. Students organize charitable initiatives, prepare items for distribution, visit people who need support and raise awareness of the importance of helping others, developing a stronger sense of social responsibility, empathy and solidarity along the way.

Research and innovation for poverty reduction

CAU also addresses poverty through academic research that examines the different ways deprivation can affect individuals and communities, recognizing that financial indicators alone may not fully reflect the challenges people experience.

By investigating methods for assessing non-monetary poverty, this research contributes to a broader understanding of deprivation and of the multiple dimensions of people’s living conditions, and supports academic discussion of how poverty is measured.

Research paper, Central Asian University

“Measuring Non-Monetary Poverty via Machine Learning and Neutrosophic Method”

The study explores approaches to measuring poverty beyond income, highlighting the role of research and innovation in examining complex social issues.

Donation campaigns and direct community support

Through Hikmah Charity, CAU students collect and distribute essential items to people in need: food, clothing, toys and educational materials for vulnerable groups, including children. Coordinated campaigns direct practical support to people with limited access to essential goods and resources.

Rather than limiting charitable work to financial contributions, Hikmah Charity encourages active volunteering and collective involvement. Students give their time to organizing and carrying out activities, showing how a university-based volunteer community can support people beyond the campus.

Visits to children’s centres

Through its work with children’s centres, Hikmah Charity also brings care, attention and positive experiences to children. These visits complement material donations by giving volunteers time to interact with children and create a more supportive, welcoming environment.

Supporting children and families through volunteering

16 June 202650 volunteersChildren’s haematology, oncology and immunology

Hikmah Charity’s outreach includes visits to children who require additional care. On 16 June 2026, 50 volunteers visited the children’s haematology, oncology and immunology department, spending time with children and their mothers and offering companionship, attention and emotional support.

By engaging directly with children and their mothers, students created opportunities for interaction and encouragement beyond the practical assistance of donations.

While essential goods address immediate material needs, personal interaction and companionship offer another form of support for families going through challenging experiences.

Ramadan initiatives: sharing food and essential supplies

The Ramadan activities reflect the community’s broader approach: identifying opportunities to help, bringing volunteers together and distributing practical items directly to recipients.

During Ramadan, Hikmah Charity prepares and distributes iftar boxes to people who may be working at the time of breaking their fast, as well as to individuals experiencing hardship. Volunteers hand out boxes to delivery workers, drivers and other hardworking members of the community, and share water and dates with drivers along the road.

These activities recognize people who spend long hours working and may not have convenient access to a meal, encourage students to show consideration for those often overlooked in everyday life, and build a culture of giving and shared responsibility.

Encouraging student volunteering and community solidarity

Hikmah Charity’s continued activity over almost four years shows an ongoing student-led commitment to charitable work. Through donation campaigns, volunteering visits and the distribution of essential supplies, CAU students engage directly with community needs and better understand the challenges faced by vulnerable groups.

Through Hikmah Charity and its poverty-related research, CAU highlights the role that students, researchers and community initiatives can play in advancing SDG 1, bringing together academic inquiry and practical community engagement.

Practical aidCollecting and distributing food and other necessities

PresenceVolunteering visits that offer companionship to children and families

ResearchUnderstanding poverty and the factors that shape living conditions

Central Asian University’s Commitment to Ending Poverty

Central Asian University is committed to contributing to the eradication of poverty through education, research, and community engagement. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1 - No Poverty, the University integrates social responsibility and equity into its institutional culture. CAU recognizes that poverty is not only a matter of financial limitation but also limited access to education, healthcare, and opportunities for inclusion. Therefore, the University’s initiatives aim to address the multidimensional nature of poverty, ensuring that progress and prosperity reach all members of society.

CAU’s commitment to poverty reduction begins with research-driven innovation. University researchers have examined advanced frameworks for assessing and addressing non-monetary poverty, including studies such as “Measuring Non-Monetary Poverty via Machine Learning and Neutrosophic Method.” This research provides multidimensional poverty assessment tools that support more equitable policy targeting. By employing artificial intelligence and computational models, the study identifies social and economic disparities more accurately, enabling policymakers and institutions to design effective and inclusive poverty-reduction strategies. These efforts contribute not only to SDG 1 (No Poverty) but also to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), reflecting CAU’s integrated and evidence-based approach to sustainable development.

The University also promotes the concept of pro-poor tourism through its Hotel and Tourism Department. By embedding social inclusion and community empowerment into tourism education, CAU prepares future professionals to support local economies and promote equitable growth. Students are encouraged to explore how tourism can serve as a tool for poverty alleviation, create employment opportunities, and strengthen small local enterprises. Such initiatives ensure that the benefits of tourism are distributed fairly across communities, particularly those in rural or economically disadvantaged regions.

Beyond research and curriculum, CAU actively participates in social outreach and community-based support. The University community organizes and participates in regular volunteering programs aimed at assisting vulnerable groups. Students and staff contribute their time and resources to improve the lives of those most affected by poverty, creating a bridge between academic learning and civic responsibility. These initiatives have become a core part of the University’s identity, encouraging a sense of empathy, responsibility, and leadership among students.
Each year, CAU students organize donation campaigns to provide essential goods, food supplies, and hygiene products to low-income families. These campaigns respond directly to immediate community needs, ensuring that basic living conditions can be improved for families facing financial challenges. Through such actions, students learn the importance of solidarity and community engagement as key values of sustainable development.

The University also regularly supports Mehr va Sahovat Uyi, a care home for elderly individuals who have no families or have been abandoned. CAU students visit the residents, prepare and share traditional meals such as pavlov, bring small gifts, and spend time engaging in conversation and companionship. These visits provide emotional comfort and help restore a sense of belonging for older citizens who often face isolation.

Another aspect of CAU’s social inclusion efforts is its work with Bolalar Uyi, a home for children without parents. Students visit the center to distribute gifts, toys, clothing, and educational materials. They organize games and creative activities that bring joy and confidence to children who have faced difficult beginnings. Such initiatives embody CAU’s belief that education extends beyond the classroom and that compassion and shared humanity are integral to social progress.

CAU students also engage in street-level outreach programs, distributing bottled water, prepared meals, and basic necessities to individuals experiencing homelessness or severe hardship. These efforts reflect the University’s belief that small, consistent acts of kindness contribute meaningfully to reducing the visible and invisible effects of poverty in society.

In addition to year-round initiatives, CAU upholds traditions of generosity and inclusion through its Ramadan Iftar program. Every year during the holy month of Ramadan, the University provides free Iftar meals for students, staff, and community members. This initiative emphasizes the values of sharing, compassion, and unity. It also ensures that individuals who may face financial challenges during this period are supported with dignity and respect. The Iftar gatherings serve as a meaningful example of CAU’s dedication to caring for its community, reinforcing cultural traditions while promoting social welfare.

Health is a critical factor in addressing poverty, and CAU supports this connection through its partnership with AKFA Medline University Hospital and the AKFA Medline Social Project. This initiative represents a new model of socially responsible healthcare in Uzbekistan, designed to provide free, accessible, and technologically advanced medical care to citizens in need. The facility, located in the Alfraganus residential complex in Tashkent, covers 35,300 m² and is equipped to serve up to 3,000 patients daily, or approximately 500,000 people per year. The hospital offers over 36 medical specialties, employs more than 300 healthcare professionals, and operates with full digitalization online registration, electronic medical records, and mobile access. By offering free preventive and diagnostic care, the AKFA Medline Social Project reduces health-related poverty and ensures that vulnerable populations can access essential services without financial burden.

CAU’s Rector, Kamran Gulamov, has emphasized that the University’s mission extends beyond education to include social responsibility: “Our goal is to provide these services to everyone, focusing on prevention and early diagnosis.” Through this initiative, CAU directly addresses the structural links between poverty and health inequality, reinforcing the University’s holistic approach to sustainable development.
Through its research, outreach, and partnerships, Central Asian University demonstrates that poverty alleviation is best achieved through a balance of knowledge, compassion, and action. CAU’s academic innovation, community engagement, and social responsibility projects together contribute to building a more inclusive society one where every individual can live with dignity, opportunity, and hope.

No Poverty - SDG 1

1.1.1 - Contribution to Poverty Reduction through Education and Community Engagement

CAU’s Commitment to Poverty Alleviation
Central Asian University is committed to reducing poverty through education, research, and community initiatives, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1 - No Poverty. The University recognizes poverty as a multidimensional issue involving limited access to education, healthcare, and opportunities.
CAU promotes social responsibility across its academic and community programs, empowering students and staff to contribute toward inclusive growth and sustainable development.

1.2.1 - Research and Innovation for Poverty Reduction

Research-Based Approaches to Social Equity
CAU researchers develop innovative methods to assess and address poverty beyond income-based measures. Studies such as “Measuring Non-Monetary Poverty via Machine Learning and Neutrosophic Method” apply artificial intelligence and data-driven models to identify social inequalities and guide fair policy decisions.
These initiatives strengthen CAU’s contribution to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through evidence-based and inclusive solutions.

1.3.1- Community and Social Outreach Programmes

Supporting Vulnerable Groups
CAU organizes donation and volunteering campaigns to assist low-income families, elderly care homes (Mehr va Sahovat Uyi), and children’s centers (Bolalar Uyi). Students and staff contribute essential goods, food, and educational materials, fostering empathy and civic responsibility.
CAU students also participate in outreach programs distributing meals and necessities to those in need, reflecting the University’s values of compassion and solidarity.

1.4.1 - Inclusive Cultural and Social Support Activities

Ramadan Iftar and Campus Solidarity
Each year, CAU hosts a free Ramadan Iftar program for students, staff, and community members. This initiative promotes unity, generosity, and inclusion- supporting individuals who may face financial challenges and reinforcing CAU’s dedication to community welfare. Through these integrated efforts in research, education, and social engagement, Central Asian University continues to advance the goals of SDG 1 – No Poverty, contributing to a more equitable and compassionate society.