Map Kibera recently embarked on the training of high schools in using OpenStreetMap and basic skills in open mapping. In partnership with YouthMappers the training has been customized to go beyond mapping since it aims to promote capacity building that will prepare high school students to join the competitive tech world.
The pioneer school benefiting from this OSM training is called Kibera Girls’ Soccer Academy (KGSA). It is located in Makina village in Kibera.
The school is among the few in the slum that has a decently equipped computer lab in which the students can hone their technical skills.
KGSA Students taking a group photo alongside Map Kibera team and YouthMappers’ team representatives
Objectives
The aim of the training program is to achieve the following:
- To ensure inclusivity of marginalized groups i.e. girls (from Kibera) in the technical space of GIS mapping and more. In recent years we have seen lots of women getting involved in open mapping projects, through this training we anticipate having more girls joining the space and also starting them this early. We hope through this that the gender gap that has been experienced in the OSM community will narrow down.
- To equip the students with skills in open mapping specifically on OpenStreetMap
- To introduce high school students to careers in mapping(GIS), Geography, and technology. And whether they take a different path in their country, it’s good to remind them that they can be a doctor or a lawyer and still be an active contributor.
- To increase map coverage by involving more people in open mapping on OSM.
- To explore training different groups i.e. high schools other than universities and organizations on open mapping; so that we can use this as a module to train other similar groups in the country.
Students getting hands-on editing using iD editor walkthrough
Progress
For this training, we have borrowed the teachOSM module, which is geared at introducing OSM to high schoolers. We have so far covered seven modules out of the twelve in the past three months (May to September).
The training has been open to all students since OpenStreetMap is all-encompassing with regard to the application of open data.
Students use field papers to identify points missing on the map and what needs to be added.
Eye on the data.
Looking forward
- Our earnest desire would be to ensure continuity of the OSM training and probably scale up to other locations of the country.
- We also hope that by the end of the training program, the students will have been equipped with skills that they can build on after their high school diploma.
- The training is also wired to be closely tied to the school curriculum to ensure relevance and harmony with the Kenyan high school education system.