Efforts in Establishing YouthMappers in Western-Most Nepal and Its Response

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YouthMappers, a global network of university-led students is always dedicated to building resilient communities of efficient mappers. Having faith in the objective of building mappers, not just maps, Nishan K. Aryal, the regional ambassador of the Asia-Pacific region embarked on a mission to establish YouthMappers throughout different universities across the area beginning with his home country.

To date, there are seven officially registered chapters of YouthMappers spread across seven different locations around the country. While the Kathmandu chapter, Dhulikhel chapter, and Chitwan chapter are located in the central region, the Lamjung chapter and Pokhara chapter are spread out to the western region. Moreover, the Pakhlihawa chapter is spread out in the eastern region of the country’s geography.

Indeed, these chapters have been actively involved in facilitating mapping, conducting training and workshops related to OpenStreetMap (OSM), Geographic Information System (GIS), data validation workshops, and much more to enhance field mapping skills and give back to the community. However, a significant milestone has been achieved after expansion of YouthMappers' community to the Mid-Western and Northwestern universities of the country. It also marks positive progress in the YouthMappers' initiatives to broaden its impact and inclusivity in the communities.

Why Expand the YouthMappers Chapters?

After covering the main cities of Nepal, it was crucial to establish the YouthMappers community in Mid-Western and Northwestern universities for several reasons. The first and foremost reason was that students from these areas were very keen to know about and be involved in OpenStreetMap and OpenTech technologies. We wanted to give them access to resources and training related to OSM with the hope this will aid the locals in preparing for disaster risk reduction and crisis management as well as promote environmental conservation and sustainable development.

Another reason to push this expansion was to foster a sense of community and collaboration among students through the network of YouthMappers. This will also encourage the students to engage in projects that have real-world applications and benefits.

Efforts to Establish YouthMappers at Mid-Western University

After releasing the essence, YouthMappers' Regional Ambassador made a series of efforts to establish community chapters at Mid-Western University. It began with coordination with students in that region and virtual training on OSM, GIS, and related tools, which increasingly developed student enthusiasm.

• Initial Coordination and Virtual Training

After a brief communication with a few student representatives, YouthMappers Nepal recognized the interests of students from Mid-Western University in OSM and open tech technologies. As an initial step, we began coordinating with technical experts experienced in the streams of field mapping, OSM technologies, data analysis, and visualization with an aim to disseminate their knowledge among the curious future mappers. 

Several virtual training sessions were organized to cater to the needs of these young minds. The sessions intended to introduce the fundamental concepts of OSM, GIS, and related tools among the participants as well as provide them with the knowledge and skills required for contributing to mapping projects.

• In-Person Visit and Collaboration with Mid-Western Training Unit

Though a virtual session can disseminate the information, the actual networking can happen only after one-to-one interactions. Intending to meet the enthusiastic students in person and encourage them, the team of YouthMappers Nepal visited Mid-Western University on June 14, 2024. We had an interactive session with the students to discuss what YouthMappers is, what it does, and how students can establish a YouthMappers community in their university to support the community.

During this visit, the team also met with the Mid-Western Training Unit (MUTU), a special unit of the university that is responsible for managing training, seminars, and workshops. The meeting focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration, coordination, and cooperation in organizing future training sessions and workshops across the university. After the productive discussions with MUTU, both parties agreed on a framework for a collaborative approach, which is currently in action. The framework included an agreement on conducting regular training sessions, workshops, and seminars at the university by leveraging the expertise of YouthMappers Nepal and the extensive resources of MUTU. Summing up, this partnership aims to create a sustainable model for continuous learning and capacity building in the field of mapping and GIS technologies.

• Student Engagement and Enthusiasm

The enthusiasm of students from Mid-Western University was palpable during the in-person visit. Many students expressed a strong interest in becoming part of the YouthMappers community and contributing to mapping projects. This enthusiasm was further fueled by the interactive sessions and hands-on training provided by the YouthMappers team.

Efforts to Establish YouthMappers in Far-Western University

Following up on the successful establishment of YouthMappers in the Mid-Western region, we progressed to expand this kind of association to the Far-Western region of the country too. In this course, we collaborated with students of the engineering and agriculture stream at Far-Western University, held an introduction session, and planned for the future of the YouthMappers chapter in their university.

Interest from the School of Engineering and Agriculture

Students from the Far-Western University, particularly the ones from the School of Engineering and the Agriculture Studies department, have shown very strong interest in establishing a YouthMappers chapter in their university. Recognizing the potential for successful progression of the chapter and being inspired by the enthusiasm of these students, YouthMappers Nepal organized a 'Get-to-Know' session through a virtual platform. These sessions had the sole purpose of making these students accustomed to YouthMappers Initiative, the objective of this community, and the perks of being associated with this global community.

"Get-To-Know" Sessions and Student Engagement

Two different introduction sessions entitled “Get-To-Know” were organized on April 17, 2024, and July 27, 2024. Not only was there good attendance, but the students actively participated in the sessions and engaged in the discussions too. YouthMappers fellow provided an overview of OSM, GIS, and the various tools and technologies used in mapping projects. Additionally, the sessions highlighted the real-world applications of these technologies in disaster risk reduction, environmental conservation, and sustainable development.

Through these active sessions, students also had the opportunity to interact with experienced mappers and got to learn about ongoing projects and initiatives. Without a doubt, these sessions built a sense of community among the students and motivated them to actively participate in mapping activities. Such a positive response from the students laid out a strong foundation for the establishment of a YouthMappers chapter at Far-Western University.

Future Plans and Establishment of the YouthMappers Chapter

Following the successful "Get-To-Know" sessions, plans are underway to formally establish a YouthMappers chapter at FarWestern University. The new chapter will be supported by YouthMappers Nepal and the university student committee. Once established, the chapter has a series of events planned to empower mapping enthusiasts in this cornered region of the country.

Summing Up the Expansion of YouthMappers Chapters

It is well known that YouthMappers is a network of students who are enthusiastic about mapping and helping out the community through openly accessible maps. With the same intent, the Asia-Pacific regional ambassador of YouthMappers envisioned expanding this network throughout the country.

Starting with Nepal, the future goal is to make this network even wider by establishing collaboration across these chapters, without being limited by the borders. As of now, the Mid-Western and Far-Western Universities have come on board but there is hope for further expansion in the future too.

Seeing the positive response and enthusiasm of students, the succession of these chapters is certainly guaranteed. 

About the Author

Nishan Kumar Aryal

YouthMappers Regional Ambassador for the Asia Pacific Region - Community Engagement