When you meet Aretha, it’s clear she’s on track to make a difference. Her energy and enthusiasm for whatever she’s involved with – studies, tutoring, volunteer work – is infectious.
She’s currently studying a Masters in Engineering and Architectural Design in London, and contributes to important dialogues to increase diversity in the profession, such as the Black Females in Architecture network.
An early mentoring experience at the age of 17, which helped pave her way into architecture school, has motivated Aretha to give back. She joined AzuKo’s Designing with dignity course in Bangladesh to learn about humanitarian architecture, and the tools to design more ethically and collaboratively.
Throughout the course, Aretha worked hard to listen, learn and lead with empathy. She helped conduct a needs assessment, map a community and their assets, and held interviews to understand more about the challenges people face, their hopes and dreams.
Almost half the population of Bangladesh don’t have access to a clean, safe toilet of their own. It’s simply unacceptable. Aretha was not afraid to get her hands dirty. Working alongside a family, and supported by our local construction team, she built a new twin-pit, pour-flush toilet. An incredible achievement, that will bring safety and dignity.
Inspired by her time on the course, Aretha is now looking to take a new module ‘Engineering for International Development’ during her final year at university. She has recently been accepted on a summer course to improve water, sanitation and hygiene in schools in Uganda, and will be mentoring 16-18 year olds in the UK sharing her experience and helping to break down barriers to architecture.
Want to know more? Register your interest to join Designing with dignity, Bangladesh in 2024.