Humanitarian OSM Team/Open Mapping Hub - Asia Pacific/She Leads and She Inspires
She Leads & She Inspires is a program being launched by Humanitarian OSM Team's Open Mapping Hub - Asia Pacific, that will engage 100 women between December 2021 and June 2022. The program has been co-created with women operating in the OSM ecosystem to help support the emergence of women leaders in what (let’s face it!) feels like a male dominated arena. Read more on the HOT blog
SLSI 2022
Training
| Topic | Speaker | Resources | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2022 | Team Building | Aishworya Shrestha | |
| February 2022 | Challenge Identification | Andi Tabinas | |
| March 2022 | Project Planning | Hyacinth Umaran | |
| April 2022 | Voice of a Leader and Communications | Awantika Pal and Sonam | |
| May 2022 | How to Write a Winning Project Proposal | Amelia Lyons |
SLSI Gallery of Ideas
For the month of March to April, the SLSI Champions were tasked to create a brief poster about a project idea in preparation for the proposal writing session. Here are the results.
Submitted Proposals (DRAFTED) - For Public Commenting
Please click on any of the projects. You will be directed to their proposal documents and feel free to ADD A COMMENT in the file and RECOMMENDATIONS to their projects. Thank you!
Here are ten SLSI initiatives chosen for further advancement, aimed at tackling various regional issues in the Asia Pacific, such as Disaster Resilience, Environmental Concerns, Gender Equality, Health, Heritage Preservation, Inclusion, and the Advancement of Sustainable Cities.
SLSI Project 1 | Remote Areas TJ Mapping & Building relations with OSM Community in Uzbekistan
Tajikistan, a country known for its mountainous terrain (93% of its territory), faces challenges in mapping remote and isolated areas. Factors such as high altitude, geographical isolation, and the absence of existing mapping data pose risks to hikers and travelers. This project aims to address these challenges by mapping the most frequently used paths by both local and foreign tourists in these remote areas, ultimately improving safety and accessibility.
This project is focused on conducting OSM training sessions and competitions for the OSM communities of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In Tajikistan, the project centers on mapping new tourist trails, remote settlements, and verifying existing routes in areas that are currently unmapped. Many of these regions lack internet and mobile connectivity, making it crucial to provide accurate maps for safe travel. The priority regions include the Fan Mountains and republican jurisdiction districts. Tajikistan has experienced fluctuations in its tourism industry over recent years, with the Fan Mountains consistently being a top attraction for both domestic and international visitors. Concurrently, the project aims to enhance participation within the OSM community in Uzbekistan. Presently, the OSM community in Uzbekistan is relatively inactive, with only a few contributors and mappers. By initiating new mapping endeavors and involving more enthusiasts, the project intends to bolster the OSM presence in Uzbekistan.
SLSI Project 2 | Supporting Women’s Necessities at Public Facilities through OpenHerMap
The recognition of safe and comfortable public facilities for all genders underscores the realization that space is far from neutral. Space can either facilitate or hinder utilization, particularly concerning the comfort and safety of women. Women often prefer engaging in activities with fellow women, have specific health requirements, and encounter a multitude of cultural, financial, and physical barriers when it comes to accessing education or work.
The main objective of the "Open Her Map" project is to develop an open and user-friendly web mapping platform that empowers communities to compile and disseminate information about designated women-only spaces within public facilities. These spaces encompass amenities such as breastfeeding rooms, provision of free emergency menstrual products, children's play areas, locations equipped with CCTV surveillance, women-only restrooms, and dedicated ladies' parking spaces. The project is committed to providing free access to this invaluable data while encouraging active community participation in its continual expansion. The project aspires to engage a total of 50 participants, with a primary focus on women from Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
SLSI Project 3 | Mapping vulnerable villages in central Vietnam supporting Communities Resilient to Climate Change Disaster in Mountainous areas
Central Vietnam, prone to relentless natural disasters and storms, has faced 12 to 13 severe heavy rain events in the past two decades, worsened by La Niña. The year 2020 brought severe heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides, underlining the region's vulnerability.
In response, a comprehensive strategy has been devised. From 2022 to 2023, the focus is on stabilizing mountainous settlements, with plans to resettle 5,500 households in vulnerable areas by 2025. The Sống Foundation has initiated projects in Bac Tra My (70 households) and Nam Tra My (50 households), highlighting the broad recognition of the issue. Despite these efforts, a critical gap persists. While roads are well-mapped, buildings, land cover, and essential amenities lack adequate data. Given the region's susceptibility to natural disasters, there's a pressing need for a Mapathon, OSM editor training, field surveys, and decision support rooted in OSM data.
This project is a beacon of hope for Central Vietnam, with a core objective to generate and share essential data for future humanitarian efforts. The data will include critical information on amenities like hospitals, schools, and community centers, along with infrastructure, road networks, and land cover. It combines satellite imagery, on-site surveys, and cadastral data to enhance the capabilities of NGOs, researchers, and governments. Beyond data, this initiative seeks to empower local residents with knowledge. By mapping safe locations and providing information about potential danger zones, it equips communities with valuable resources for flood preparedness.
SLSI Project 4 | Mapping for Cultural Sustainability- An attempt to reiterate the past, document the present, and contribute to the future of Handigaun and Tagum
This SLSI project is conducted in parallel across historically and culturally significant sites in Nepal and The Philippines. This project's core mission is to comprehensively document both the tangible and intangible elements of these culturally-rich locations, strategically placing them on the map as invaluable points of interest. In doing so, they aim to empower our communities to reconnect with their vibrant cultural heritage, underscore the significance of these culturally-enriched sites, and thereby foster sustainability and community development.
This project unfolds in three distinct phases: rediscovering the authenticity of the past, documenting the present, and shaping the future. Each phase is designed to engage the community, promote collaborative mapping, and preserve the historical and cultural value of these sites. With a focus on disaster and climate resilience, sustainable urban development, and enhanced historical and cultural understanding, this initiative aims to not only revitalize these areas but also expand the reach of their stories to a wider audience. Through community involvement and training programs, this project not only aims to protect and celebrate these cultural treasures but also to build a platform for future cultural sustainability initiatives.
SLSI Project 5 | Mapping of speech, occupational and physical therapy centers and updating of tags for educational institutions with SPED classes
This SLSI project is a vital initiative focused on raising awareness and enhancing accessibility for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Philippines. ASD encompasses a wide range of conditions, impacting social skills, communication, and behavior. Globally, approximately 1 in 100 children has ASD, underscoring the need for community support. In the Philippines, significant gaps exist in mapping essential points of interest related to ASD, such as therapy clinics and schools offering Special Education (SPED) classes.
This project's primary goal is to enrich and update the map with this critical information and develop a sustainable web application to facilitate data access, updates, and validation. It will empower parents, siblings, teachers, and children through training, provide ASD sensitivity seminars, and establish a community of data validators and developers. By centralizing information on therapy clinics, SPED schools, and resources for differently-abled individuals, this initiative aims to make critical information easily accessible and to promote understanding and acceptance of individuals with ASD in the Philippines.
SLSI Project 6 | Establishment of Indigenous Training and Mapping Youth Hub in Assam
North East India, a region renowned for its rich ethnic and natural diversity, is home to eight states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim. This area boasts a vast expanse of natural resources, including lush forests, water bodies, and diverse flora and fauna. What makes this region truly unique is its rich tapestry of ethnic, religious, cultural, and linguistic groups, making it a global biodiversity hotspot. However, North East India faces mounting challenges stemming from climate change, recurrent natural disasters, warming temperatures, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss, all of which are threatening the traditional way of life practiced by indigenous communities. These challenges, combined with ongoing disasters, deforestation, and political instability, have resulted in significant out-migration of the youth, fundamentally reshaping the region's demographics and diminishing traditional knowledge systems that have been a cornerstone of these communities for generations.
The project seeks to contribute to long-term resilience across multiple domains, including disasters and climate, public health, gender equality, sustainable communities, and safe migration. Key project outcomes include the establishment of an Indigenous Hub, fostering gender-inclusive leadership, building community coalitions, the creation of local labs and state forums, and the development of a consolidated web map of previously unmapped areas. By project's end, the Indigenous Hub will serve as a collaborative platform for stakeholders, with a primary focus on the community and youth. It will facilitate knowledge sharing, experiential learning, and provide access to valuable data. Additionally, a gender-inclusive approach will empower young women to advocate for gender-sensitive issues, especially in the context of climate-induced vulnerabilities. In addition, the project will produce a consolidated web map of areas previously left unmapped, engage key stakeholders in dialogues, and facilitate the development of climate change resilience plans, bridging traditional knowledge systems and scientific insights. These efforts will strengthen indigenous communities, ensuring that their invaluable heritage and knowledge systems endure, fostering a more resilient North East India.
SLSI Project 7 | Kudumbashree Mapping - Kerala
Kudumbashree, a poverty eradication and women's empowerment program led by the State Poverty Eradication Mission (SPEM) of the Government of Kerala, stands as one of the world's most extensive women's networks. Rooted in the core objectives of poverty eradication and women's empowerment, this community network thrives on democratic leadership and the formation of cohesive 'Kudumbashree families.'
A pivotal strategy within Kudumbashree's mission is the promotion and development of micro-enterprises, a powerful tool for facilitating economic empowerment among the underprivileged. This approach entails comprehensive support, encompassing training, partial financial assistance, marketing guidance, and continued hand-holding support for both existing and new micro-enterprises. These micro-enterprise units are scattered across Kerala, yet they remain largely unmapped within the OpenStreetMap (OSM) platform. This project aims to bridge this gap by mapping and validating nearly 40,000+ Kudumbashree Micro Enterprises, representing approximately 20% of these ventures, unleashing their economic potential and enhancing their visibility within the community.
SLSI Project 8 | Mapping Emergency Response and Evacuation Routes for University of Dhaka to Promote Disaster Preparedness and Support Post-Disaster Response Activities
The University of Dhaka, a venerable institution with a century of history, boasts a sprawling urban campus covering 600 acres. It accommodates over 37,000 students, 2,000 faculties, and a vast staff population, making it a bustling hub of academic activity. However, the age of its infrastructures and the absence of building codes during their construction pose significant risks. Compounding these challenges is the university's proximity to seismically active fault lines, making the campus susceptible to high-magnitude earthquakes. Additionally, the urban setting increases the potential for fire incidents. Historical records include incidents such as earthquake-related injuries in 2008 and building collapses in 1975, along with fire outbreaks. The individuals exposed to these risks are among the most educated and dynamic members of the nation. The campus holds immense significance for its geographical location, historical importance, and the presence of an independence museum. Thus, the absence of an emergency response and evacuation map during a disaster is a critical gap that needs to be addressed. However, the necessary data for such a map is readily available.
The primary deliverable of this project will be an emergency response and evacuation map, delineating escape routes, exit points, and emergency evacuation sites within the University of Dhaka campus. This map will serve various stakeholders, including inhabitants and first responders, by providing clear routes for evacuation and identifying locations for decision-making during emergencies. Furthermore, the map will highlight essential facilities such as healthcare centers, fire stations, and water sources, facilitating timely responses and assistance. First responders will have a clear plan for entering the campus, deploying their resources, evacuating individuals from vulnerable areas, and providing assistance effectively. Any gaps in OpenStreetMap (OSM) data will be rectified, benefiting the broader community and enabling the replication of this project's idea in other locations, both within the country and internationally.
SLSI Project 9 | Mapping of public health facilities supporting Polio eradication in Banda Aceh city and Bireun district, Indonesia
In 2018, Southeast Asia was jolted by the resurgence of Polio cases, with Indonesia being one of the affected nations. In response to this public health crisis, Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) launched the Polio Preparedness Program, receiving vital support from USAID through the IFRC. The primary mission of this program is to significantly bolster Polio immunization coverage in the region, with a particular focus on Aceh.
This initiative embarked on a data-driven approach, commencing with an in-depth baseline survey involving over 1,000 local respondents. The results were enlightening, revealing that a significant portion of the population lacked information on Polio immunization, with 41% reporting no awareness within the last six months. Furthermore, 30% of respondents from Aceh expressed concerns that led to their refusal to vaccinate their children, citing safety and halal considerations. This underscores the critical role of healthcare staff in each region, who must undertake the vital task of educating communities on the importance of Polio immunization. However, a glaring challenge lies in the absence of spatial data and maps, which are indispensable for informed decision-making and efficient immunization distribution. To address this issue, this project seeks to empower healthcare staff with geospatial tools, bridging the information gap and enhancing the impact of the Polio Preparedness Program.
The project's core mapping focus will be on health facilities and community houses in the Aceh region, significantly enriching spatial data in the target area. These findings will not only benefit ongoing health initiatives but also serve as a valuable resource for service coverage analysis within the region. Additionally, data findings on community houses will be pivotal for mapping the communities that align with the criteria for the Polio immunization socialization program. The health facility coverage analysis map will be a critical reference point for decision-making in the Polio preparedness program. If successful, this project has the potential to serve as a pilot initiative that can be replicated in other target regions, expanding the impact of the Polio Preparedness Program across Indonesia. This endeavor will not only promote the growth of the OpenStreetMap (OSM) Movement in Sumatra but also provide a valuable introduction to geospatial tools and mapping for various public health stakeholders. PMI, as the largest volunteer organization in Indonesia, will greatly benefit from training and capacity-building activities, enhancing its capacity in the health sector. In essence, this project will make significant contributions to OSM promotion and public health in Indonesia.
SLSI Project 10 | Mapping of Hospitals and Basic Health Units (BHU) in Bhutan
Bhutan, a charming but geographically challenging kingdom, is characterized by its mountainous terrain and a network of roads connecting various regions and towns. However, these roads can become perilous, particularly during heavy rainfall, snowfall, or due to the formidable Himalayan landscape. A growing concern in Bhutan is the alarming increase in motor vehicle accidents, which has become a pressing public safety issue. Data from the Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) paints a stark picture, with 1,450 recorded road accidents in the 2018-2019 period. These accidents resulted in tragic outcomes, claiming 110 lives in 2017-2018 and 109 lives in 2018-2019, with the number of injuries rising from 557 to 692 during the same time frame. Notably, 79% of road crash fatalities and injuries affect individuals in the economically productive age groups, as reported by the Global Road Safety Facility.
These accidents can occur across the entire country, and tragically, many casualties fail to receive immediate medical attention due to a lack of awareness regarding the nearest hospital or Basic Health Unit (BHU). To address this critical issue, the proposed project aims to comprehensively map all hospitals and BHUs in Bhutan. By equipping passersby with the knowledge and tools to swiftly locate the nearest health institution, this initiative holds the potential to save lives and alleviate the suffering of individuals injured in road accidents. These mapped health institutions will serve as a valuable resource for both government agencies and ordinary citizens, enhancing access to essential healthcare services. Moreover, the project contributes significantly to the OpenStreetMap (OSM) movement, promoting a culture of community-based mapping. It will involve a team of approximately 100 participants, who will receive training in OSM, fostering engagement and participation in mapping various other locations. The project will also involve collaboration with relevant stakeholders, ensuring its usefulness and productivity.