Japan Automechanic School
Creating pathways to global employment in automechanics for Bangladeshi youthPrivate Japanese donor Implementing partners:
Japan Automechanic Ltd
Location:
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Project duration:
Ongoing since 2015
Sustainable Development Goals:
4, 8, 17
Background
Japan Automechanic School (JAS) was established in 2015 by Japan Automechanic Ltd., a social business joint venture by SK Dream Japan, Grameen Shikkha and Rangs Workshop Ltd. The school provides eighteen months comprehensive training and hands-on experience in auto mechanical services to disadvantaged and poverty-stricken youth in Dhaka and surrounding rural areas. They also receive Japanese language and intensive English tuition to prepare them for the future finances and business. Graduates of JAS are given the opportunity of employment in the automechanics industry in Japan.
The challenge
Millions of families in Bangladesh struggle with limited income opportunities, particularly in rural areas. Young people are disproportionately affected, with a large number leaving school early due to financial hardship and entering the workforce with little or no formal training. As a result, youth unemployment and underemployment remain high, and many are confined to insecure, low-paying jobs. Access to vocational education and skills training is limited, meaning that disadvantaged youth often lack the qualifications needed to secure stable employment in growing industries.
Our approach
JA combines technical training, language education, and career support to equip disadvantaged Bangladeshi youth with the skills and opportunities needed for long-term success:
- Comprehensive auto-mechanics training as an intensive 18-month program covering both theoretical knowledge and practical, hands-on experience.
- Language development through structured tuition in Japanese and English to prepare students for international workplaces.
- Employment facilitation to support securing work placements in Japan and other markets where skilled mechanics are in demand.
- Pathways to independence enabling graduates to access stable, well-paid jobs that uplift their families and communities.
Impact
10+
students studying automechanics and Japanese per year
74
graduates since establishment
82%
average pass rate
34
graduates received work permits for Japan since establishment
Lessons learnt
JAS has shown that high-quality vocational training, when paired with strong language skills and employment pathways, can transform the prospects of disadvantaged youth. However, the experience also highlighted the importance of sustained industry partnerships to ensure graduates’ smooth transition into stable jobs, both locally and abroad.The project demonstrates that holistic support – technical, linguistic, and career-oriented – is key to enabling vulnerable young people not only to gain employment but to build sustainable livelihoods.
“When my father’s accident left our family with no means to support my studies, the JAS scholarship became my turning point. It not only gave me the skills to build a career but also the courage to change the course of my family’s future.”
– Sahinur Islam, JAS eighth-batch student
