BritBangla supports and works with community and charity organisations bringing awareness to issues affecting our community and focusing on women and children.

Mentoring Update for BritBangla: Samiul Kamal-Uddin

The mentoring programme I was involved with through Nighat Yasmin, a contact working with BritBangla, led us to ultimately join a programme that was run by a independent charity, Open City.

The goal of the programme was to inspire students to learn more about architecture and the built environment, a similar ethos we were trying to achieve. This was conducted through a serious of tutoring sessions, workshops and building visits involving the students, and it ultimately led to a prize giving session in December 2010.

Alongside this programme, we continued to give talks to various parents/school heads, teachers and students. Nighat and myself also gave a presentation as part of a MEAP conference (Minority Ethnic Achievement Programme) for one day, which was received well.

There were 200 entries for the Opencity housing project programme from joint architects/schools. Amongst a number of awards given out, our team won the ‘Best team award’, and we were also presented with the most ‘Engaging Architect’ award.

The recognition was fantastic for the school and the students involved – The news was published in local papers, and various architectural press.

Some of the students are now considering architecture. However the intention was to create opportunities, so they could be inspired and realise there was a positive future outside their familiar pattern.

The achievement was a reflection of the team effort and also a positive collaboration between Britbangla, Newham council, Brampton Manor School, Open City and MEAP.

Hopefully this does not finish here…but becomes a stronger

Samiul Kamal-Uddin ARB RIBA
M +44 (0) 7754 206424

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