Disbelief. That’s what I felt when I read the email regarding my selection for the 2024 YouthMappers Leadership Fellowship in Thailand. Being one of the participants accepted from a large pool of applicants was a huge honor, especially amid the chaos of school work, deadlines, and upcoming exams. Getting selected for such a prestigious event was not something I had expected.
Months flew by after the announcement and I was getting nervous for my first international flight. Once en route to Thailand, I met the other participants selected to represent the Philippines, Anne and Hyacinth both in the same chapter and Joyce from another chapter. This initial encounter made the upcoming fellowship feel more real and exciting.
Fast forward… I was now in Thailand together with some of the participants from different countries and warmly welcomed by some of the cheerful organizers namely, Angela, Elodie, Jonathan, Marcela, and Patricia. One thing I observed was that the fellowship brought together a diverse group of individuals coming from different backgrounds wherein each of them are passionate about leadership and making a positive impact in their communities in the world of mapping. It had only been a day and before I close my eyes to sleep, I thought, “I am grateful for meeting such inspiring people”.
The next day's orientation session was led by Patricia and Marcela. We learned about our Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) team assignments and were introduced to the workshop facilitators, cohort navigators, special guests, and the support team. Of course, we also had the privilege to learn about the different programs and initiatives being carried out by local university researchers and USAID in Southeast Asia.
Now, did I already tell you about Bangkok? Because after the orientation, set out on a cultural excursion in Bangkok. We visited the famous Wat Pho where the 15m high and 46m long huge reclining Buddha and explored the city through it's intricate canal transportation system where we saw a much larger Buddha, also known as the Great Buddha standing 92m high and 63m wide. Our day concluded with a delightful dinner beside the majestic Rama VIII Bridge, where the stunning views of the illuminated bridge and the Chao Phraya River created a magical end to an unforgettable day, topped off with ice cream.
During the fellowship, we were divided into SDG teams: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), which focused on agriculture; SDG 13 (Climate Action), which addressed the heat; and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which focused on flood mapping and was my fellowship team! The YouthMappers Steering Committee and workshop navigators emphasized the importance of SDG 17 (global partnerships for sustainable development) and played a crucial role in guiding us.
In SDG 11, we worked on using open geospatial data for sustainable development. Dr. Brent led us in applying OpenStreetMap (OSM) in flood mapping. Over the span of two days, my team and I work on the components of a workflow to apply OSM data creation and use for sustainable cities and communities with Jennings, Richard, Elodie, and Marcela. The insights and skills they shared have profoundly improved our understanding and capability to contribute to sustainable development. Every session ended with a Kahoot! game, which I finally won after three attempts, adding fun to our learning experience.
Midweek…
Fieldwork Day meant learning and practicing gathering data with Mapillary, OSMAnd and Kobo Collect in real-time! In teams, we traveled by the local pickup trucks called “Songthaews” to Nong Mon Market to collect data on road networks and local businesses. My field work team included Chad and Ryan as the facilitators and each fellow was assigned a tool: Josè (the navigator), Salazar (the OSMAnd user), Karabo (the KoboCollect girl), and I (the translator), and we engaged in an adventure equipped with our water bottles, hats, and phones! As we navigated the market, we were often met by barking dogs. They really don’t like strangers. At the end of the field mapping activity, Angela, our local guide, shared local food products from the market with us. We ended the day at a Japanese-themed area in Bang Saen where we beat the heat with cold and sweet treats, and yes… more ice cream!
The next day was dedicated to leadership training and technical preparations for our group project presentations. We shared various challenges faced by our communities and YouthMappers chapters. Some of us spoke about struggles with limited resources and internet access, while others highlighted financial difficulties, knowledge gaps, and the need for more training for their chapters. Despite these hurdles, our determination to overcome obstacles and make a positive impact was profound. With the guidance of Marcela, Adele, and Rory, we received practical advice and strategies for addressing these issues. Additionally, fellows shared their own advice based on similar experiences they had faced. They also allotted time a mentoring session for the next day's discussion on these struggles so we could seek advice from experts in their fields.
Dr. Patricia Solis gave us valuable tips on creating effective presentations for the upcoming presentation day, ensuring we were well-prepared to communicate our ideas clearly and confidently. We discussed these tips as a group that evening. During the meeting, my fellows and I brainstormed and exchanged ideas, based on our expertise. Ideas flowed freely, and I was amazed by their creativity and insightfulness of my peers. We decided to focus on flood mapping in a specific area called Si Racha in Chon Buri province, Thailand. Our goal was to map buildings and estimate their vulnerability to flooding using GIS, employing tools such as the buffer tool to simulate potential flood scenarios of 100m and 200m.
But… It’s not always sunshine and rainbows.
My team faced some challenges as we came from different countries and communication barriers impacted our idea sharing sessions, with some members struggling to express themselves effectively and cultural differences led to misunderstandings in social interactions. Additionally, navigating leadership conflicts proved challenging as we brought different leadership styles and expectations to the table. In order to streamline our strengths and interests, we decided to split the team into two groups, one that processed the data and the other that mapped Si Racha buildings through TeachOSM. Despite facing sleepless for a night leading up to presentation day, we remained determined and resilient. Together with Alexis, Josè, Dibi, Brazil, Silvana, Mary, Anne, and America, I’m proud to say that we did it!
All three SDG teams showed effort, resilience, and determination, allowing all to deliver our presentations well. It was also inspiring to hear everyone individually share their reflections on their experiences during the event, especially how they plan to apply the knowledge they gained once they return home. It is amazing to be a part of a great team of youth committed to collaborating with local and international communities. Seeing everyone come together and witnessing the glint in our eyes as we took a photograph together was truly a moment of unity and accomplishment.
Nine days of fellowship passed in the blink of an eye. I still can’t believe that I attended such a prestigious event that surpassed my expectations. How wonderful that pictures can tell stories. It was all like flipping a switch—a week of culture, knowledge, laughter, friendships, and everything else that could be shared. The connections made and the memories created are treasures that I will carry with me for a lifetime.
As we wrapped up our time in Thailand, we all felt a mix of sadness and fulfillment. Saying goodbye to newfound friends was hard, but we left with a wealth of experiences, new skills, and a renewed sense of purpose. The memories of this fellowship will stay with us forever, serving as a reminder of what we can achieve when we come together with a shared vision and determination. Here's to hoping our paths cross again, and until then, we'll carry forward the spirit of YouthMappers in our hearts and our communities.
Ivy R. Perez is a senior student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering at Visayas State University. She is a 2024 YouthMappers leadership fellow and serves as an officer of Viscan YouthMappers.
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