The Journey Thus Far

Every journey has a first step.

For me, that step was May 10, 2024.

Figure 1: Photo from X, Unilag YouthMappers Chapter, 2024.

I didn't document the day then (I didn't even keep a diary at the time), but looking back, that was the day I was inducted as a YouthMapper. The session, led by the then-president and now Regional Ambassador, Iyanu Gbiri was engaging and eye-opening. Still, at that point in my life, my focus was elsewhere. I was deeply caught up in the chase for financial stability (still chasing, by the way), so although I attended meetings, I often left before they ended. What I did do consistently, however, was talk about YouthMappers and recommend the community whenever I had the chance — something I still do today.

Figure 2: Photo of me onboarding new members, taken by Max, Unilag YouthMappers Chapter, 2025.

Somehow, and largely thanks to the encouragement of my friend Oyindamola, now the Assistant Trainer, my involvement deepened. One role led to another, and before I knew it, I became Vice President of the chapter. That transition alone forced growth, but it wasn't until much later, while working on our end-of-year report alongside Aliya (my graduate friend and current Community Coordinator) and Oyindamola, that I paused long enough to reflect.

And in that reflection, I realized something important: I have grown, beautifully.

This year stretched me in ways I didn't fully appreciate at the time. Learning happened both within and outside the YouthMappers space, sometimes intentionally, sometimes by stumbling into the right resources at the right moment.

One such moment was discovering Spatial Thoughts. Although I didn't complete every course as originally planned, I covered about 85% of the content that aligned with my interests, and more importantly, I applied what I learned. Every concept found its way into practice in one form or another. Huge credit to Ujaval, whose depth of knowledge and willingness to share made learning feel accessible.

Along the way, I completed all the YouthMappers Academy courses, became a UN Mapper (even if not as active as I hope to be yet), supported friends with OpenStreetMap resources, and grew socially — learning how to communicate, collaborate, and lead more effectively.

I also began building tools of my own. Using Python and Streamlit, I developed a few web applications, including a Coordinate Converter (https://coordinateconverter.streamlit.app/), a Batch Geocoder (https://batchgeocoder.streamlit.app/), and a Levelling Computation Tool (https://levellingcomputation.streamlit.app/) — small projects, but meaningful milestones in my journey.

Figure 3: Screenshot from my (Favour Taiwo) HOT Dashboard.

There is more I could say, but growth doesn't always need a long list to be valid.

Looking Forward

What matters most to me now is not just how far I've come, but the clarity of where I'm going. YouthMappers has been more than a community; it has been a space for learning, accountability, and quiet transformation.

As the year draws to a close, this is my way of saying compliments of the season, and also a reminder to myself and anyone reading: growth often happens while we are busy showing up imperfectly. I look forward to the coming year with renewed curiosity, deeper commitment, and the hope that when I write again, it will be with even more stories of learning, impact, and shared progress.

About the Author

Favour Taiwo is a surveying and geo-informatics student at the University of Lagos and an executive member of the YouthMappers UNILAG chapter, currently serving as Vice President. Through YouthMappers, he actively contributes to OpenStreetMap projects, supports peer learning, and engages in initiatives that promote the use of geospatial tools for social impact.