SLSU Youthmappers receive $1000 grant from Open Mapping Hub-Asia Pacific

The YouthMappers of Southern Leyte State University chapter received a financial grant worth $1000 or Php 56,000.00 from Open Mapping Hub-Asia Pacific (OMHAP).

The grant can be used for a wide range of activities such as training, seminars, and workshops to expand the map in the locality, increase membership, and promote interest in OpenStreetMap (OSM) and open mapping.

OSM is an initiative to create and provide free geographic data.

OMHAP actively supports and promotes the use of OSM and open mapping activities in universities across the Asia Pacific region through student club sponsorship.

Aside from the financial support, OMHAP also provides orientation, coordination, and knowledge-sharing support to the recipient student organizations to help ensure the sustainability of the OSM community and open mapping activities in the future.

Ms. Louise Yvonne Paje, President of the SLSU YouthMappers said that the being one of the recipients of the grant, it opens opportunity for the organization to implement OSM and other open mapping activities for one year.

"With this support, we can promote the organization and increase our numbers, expand the map in the locality, and explore the potential to integrate OSM in the classroom and research," Ms. Paje said.

The grant was able to support some activities being conducted by the student-led organization such as Women in Mapping Our Nation (WOMAN): Empowering Women through Mapping and Geospatial Technologies and GIS Quest: Empowering Student Researchers Through Quantum GIS Training. 

Ms. Jannie Fleur Oraño, SLSU YouthMapper Adviser, ensures that they will organize more activities that will promote OSM and open mapping. 

SLSU Youthmappers was established on October 2022 and this is the first financial grant they received from an international organization.