Post by Yazmin El Ashrafi

RIBA Architecture Ambassadors are architectural professionals who volunteer to partner with schools to inspire one or more classes about the potential of the built environment. Ambassadors empower children and young people to have an opinion on architecture and make their voice heard in debates.

As RIBA Ambassadors, Stephen George + Partners’ Nita and Fiona are already mentoring university students and view the introduction of architecture to younger pupils as a firm progression.

“With a growing need to actively engage the younger generation in environmental debates, ambassadors are able to home in on environmental and societal topics already present in the curriculum. This comes alongside the added benefit of introducing young people to a career path they perhaps were totally unaware of,” explains Nita.

Nita and Fiona attended a training workshop last week, during which they learned to understand the psychology behind the year groups, Key Stages 1 to 4, and skills required to keep them engaged. Creative teaching techniques and teaching in short bursts were the key takeaways from the session.

Partnering with Sparkenhoe Community Primary School in Leicester, Nita and Fiona will deliver an exciting workshop on ‘Space and Architecture’ to around sixty Year 5 students in the next couple of weeks. Keeping in mind what they learnt at the workshop, Nita and Fiona will invite the children to engage in architecture by investigating things such as landmarks/architectural structures visible from space. This workshop follows the school’s curriculum as the school children have recently visited the National Space Centre.

Says Nita: “It’s important to let students know architecture is a pursuable career. When it comes to sectors like construction, I think it’s very important to inspire young children in particular to consider a career in the industry.”

Nita and Fiona look forward to sharing updates nearer the time.