Brief Bio:

Hamidah Ashrafi Fateha is an architect and education enthusiast with a demonstrated commitment to social justice. Her work at BRAC IED since 2018 has focused on designing stimulating learning spaces for children, where play is central to development. She is a strong advocate for co-creation, believing it to be crucial in developing culturally sensitive and community-driven projects. Hamidah's interest in the social impact of design led her to pursue post-graduate studies in the built environment, culminating in an action research that explored the dynamics between urban communities and street animals highlighting the need for more harmonious relationships between humans and animals sharing the same spaces. In addition to her design work, Hamidah has contributed to academia as an academic associate at Anant National University, where she supported courses in communication. Her dedication to leadership development is further evidenced by her participation in the Harvard Crossroads Emerging Leaders Program. Hamidah's award-winning thesis project exemplifies her commitment to community-focused design. The project involved the innovative redevelopment of a brownfield site in Hazaribagh into a vibrant community recreation center, contributing to the area's revitalization and economic growth.