How YouthMappers Shaped Our Journey to the Copernicus Master in Digital EarthChapter Involvement

Mary Muthee

My YouthMappers story began in 2021, when I joined the Technical University of Kenya YouthMappers Chapter. In 2022, I was honored to serve as Chapter President, leading mapping initiatives and capacity-building sessions that empowered other students to use geospatial tools for humanitarian and development work.

In 2024, I was selected as part of the YouthMappers Leadership Fellowship, an unforgettable experience that took place in Thailand, bringing together young leaders from across the globe to share, learn, and grow. In 2025, my YouthMappers journey reached a new milestone as I joined the YouthMappers Regional Ambassador team under the Technical Capacity Building team, where I now support chapters across East Africa in strengthening their technical and mapping skills.

Victor Ademoyero

My YouthMappers journey began in 2018, when I joined the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) YouthMappers Chapter. I had the privilege of serving as Chapter Vice-President in 2021 and Chapter President in 2022, where I led mapping initiatives and organized capacity-building sessions that empowered fellow students to apply geospatial tools for humanitarian and development purposes.

In 2023, I was selected for the YouthMappers Leadership Fellowship, an unforgettable experience held in Jamaica that brought together young leaders from around the world to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and grow together. In 2024, I was honored to be appointed a YouthMappers Regional Ambassador for Global Technical Support, a role that allowed me to train chapters on the use of open-source tools and provide technical support for their local projects, strengthening the impact of their mapping efforts.

CDE Journey

Mary Muthee

When I learned about the Copernicus Master in Digital Earth (CDE), it resonated with everything I had been building toward — using geospatial data to drive impact and innovation. The program brings together students from around the world to study at two leading European universities:

• Year 1 at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (Austria), focusing on Geoinformatics and Earth Observation

• Year 2 at the University of South Brittany (France), specializing in Geodata Science

How I Learned About the Programme

I discovered the program through a fellow geospatial professional, Leila Maritim, who had just been selected for it. I took time to read through the curriculum, explore past alumni stories, and visualize how the program aligned perfectly with my long-term goal of integrating geospatial science, AI, and community development.

How I Prepared for the Journey

Preparation went beyond gathering documents — it was about reflection. I revisited my past projects, refined my motivation letter, and highlighted the impact of community involvement through YouthMappers and other open mapping initiatives. When I was shortlisted for the interview, I reminded myself that every leadership experience, training session, and community project had prepared me for this very moment.

When the acceptance email came through, it felt surreal — a quiet affirmation that every contribution and effort mattered.

How YouthMappers Has Contributed to This

YouthMappers was more than a stepping stone — it was the foundation. The program values community engagement and international exposure, and my time in YouthMappers embodied both. Being part of this global network helped me collaborate with mappers from different countries, engage with open data communities such as OSM Kenya and the Red Cross, and lead initiatives that blended technical skill with social impact.

Through YouthMappers, I developed not just GIS expertise but confidence, leadership, and a strong sense of purpose — qualities that resonated deeply with the Copernicus program's values.

Victor Ademoyero

The Copernicus Master in Digital Earth (CDE) programme empowers students through a rich academic experience that combines technical expertise with leadership development in Earth Observation and Geoinformatics (EO*GI). As part of the Geovisualisation and Geocommunication track, I will be studying at two leading European universities:

• Year 1 at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (Austria), focusing on Geoinformatics and Earth Observation

• Year 2 at Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic), specializing in Geovisualisation & Geocommunication

How I Learned About the Programme

I first learned about the programme in 2020, during my undergraduate studies, through my mentor, Daniel Adebowale, who had been selected. After exploring the curriculum, I realized it aligned perfectly with my career goal of becoming a Geospatial Software Engineer, with a focus on leveraging web technologies to create, visualize, and analyze geospatial data.

How I Prepared for the Journey

Preparation for a milestone like this did not happen in a day. My journey began during my undergraduate studies, where I made deliberate efforts to build a strong academic record, actively volunteer in YouthMappers activities, and develop practical geospatial skills.

Through mapping projects, training, and conferences, I expanded my knowledge, network, and passion for applying geospatial technology to real-world challenges. I also made it a habit to document my achievements and reflect on how each experience contributed to my growth. When the application opened, these experiences became invaluable, especially with the support of the YouthMappers community, whose official reference affirmed my professional development and industry readiness. Looking back, the preparation was more than academic; it was a journey of self-discovery, consistency, and purpose as a YouthMapper.

How YouthMappers Has Contributed to This

Through this achievement, the YouthMappers community has once again demonstrated its vision, which is not only to create maps that support humanitarian and development goals, but also to nurture skilled mappers who can leverage open-source tools, lead data-driven projects, take on leadership roles, engage in meaningful global collaborations, and become opportunity-ready. YouthMappers helped me gain hands-on experience in mapping for impact, develop leadership skills, and connect with a network of passionate individuals working toward sustainable development. These experiences played a vital role in shaping my path and preparing me for this milestone.

Conclusion

As we begin this new chapter in Europe, we carry the spirit of YouthMappers with us — the belief that we don't just build maps, we build mappers. To every YouthMapper reading this: your journey, no matter how small it seems right now, has the power to shape your future in ways you can't yet imagine. Start preparing early, stay curious, stay involved, keep improving yourself, and never underestimate the impact of open mapping.

Opportunities will always find those who are ready, and YouthMappers is one of the best places to start getting ready.

About the Authors

Mary Muthe (https://mutheemary.vercel.app/) is a Geospatial Specialist and YouthMappers Regional Ambassador;

Victor Ademoyero (https://victorademoyero.com/) is a Geospatial Software Engineer and a 2023-2024 YouthMappers Regional Amabassdor