The Make Better association raises awareness among middle school students of the importance of construction professions

In a world where the recognition of professions and their value sometimes seem to fade behind stereotypes, MAKE Better, a bold initiative born from the vision of Benoît ANTOINE, founder of MAKE Office, meets with middle school students to raise awareness among younger generations of importance of the building trades, and inspire them to get involved in them.

Discovery of careers for middle school students – Government will

The Government wants middle school students to be able to start thinking about their direction with access to professionals. The objective is to discover professions and open up the field of possibilities. Professionals did not wait for the Government to realize the importance of bringing the sectors into the classroom.

This is the case of the MAKE Better association which, since 2022, has intervened free of charge in colleges in Greater Paris.

The objective of MAKE Better: to highlight the construction professions

While the construction trades have often been relegated to the background, suffering a lack of recognition, MAKE Better stands up as a non-profit association to change this perception. The association intervenes directly in colleges, putting young people in contact with construction professionals. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and the professional world, by providing students with concrete information on careers that offer real opportunities.

Middle school students are first introduced to the building trades and the challenges of this industry. They thus discover the diversity of professions which contribute to the construction of their environment.

« Do you have people around you who work in construction? »

Painter ! Electrician! Mason ! and other professions come to mind among students.

MAKE Better does not fail to question middle school students about their apprehensions related to the construction professions.

Proof by example: put into practice to encourage vocations

Subsequently, an immersion in a practical case engages students in a real experience. For example, they must imagine these construction sites and list chronologically all the stages of a construction or development site.

Next, the middle school students must design a living space. This practical case allows them to put themselves in the shoes of professionals, to understand the challenges of design and to feel the direct impact of their creativity on the space around them. Their implementation must take into account constraints. They must also define the different professions necessary for the realization of the project and plan the whole thing. The rendering is in the form of a laid out plan with the placement of the furniture cut out and glued. The rooms must be demarcated.

“College students are sometimes amazed when we present to them possible careers and salaries. »

For Benoît ANTOINE, founder of MAKE Better: « We are witnessing a situation where certain professions, particularly those in construction, are underestimated and little valued. This is why it was essential to intervene with MAKE Better and give young people the opportunity to discover and be inspired by these important and often little-known professions. It’s a way of putting craftsmanship back at the forefront and promoting key professions. »

Colleges as a ground for educational transformation

By collaborating with Greater Paris colleges and education stakeholders, MAKE Better focuses on revealing talents, promoting manual skills and promoting professional pride. This initiative echoes the desire of Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic, to face the “battle of orientation” by involving professionals in middle schools from year 5^e. Benoît ANTOINE and his team have already successfully shared their expertise on several occasions, and aspire to further extend their interventions. Their objective is to standardize the intervention of construction professionals in colleges, thus boosting the professional sector and encouraging young people to explore varied career paths.

MAKE Better is always looking for colleges interested in participating in this inspiring initiative for both students and professionals.