When I finished high school, I joined the Rwanda Red Cross because I have always loved humanitarian work and felt a strong duty to help people in any way I could. Becoming a trainer with Rwanda Red Cross gave me a sense of purpose in humanitarian action. I first encountered Humanitarian OpenStreetMap (OSM) during a disaster response for landslides and flooding in Rwanda, where many lives were lost. As a volunteer with the Rwanda Red Cross, I was part of the response team. After witnessing the destruction of buildings and roads by the floods, I began to wonder how people could be helped to avoid living in areas prone to such disasters. I thought about the potential of maps to identify unsafe places but didn’t know how it could be done.

One day, a friend introduced me to OSM Rwanda after I expressed my curiosity about maps. I joined the community, and on my very first day, I was trained on the importance of mapping for humanitarian response. I learned how to map roads and buildings, and though it wasn’t easy at first, I was deeply motivated. My curiosity had found a solution, and I was determined to continue contributing to mapping.

I started attending more mapping sessions and OSM events, learning and growing my skills. Eventually, I became a trainer in OSM Rwanda, teaching newcomers about mapping. This role allowed me to learn even more, as teaching others exposed me to different aspects of mapping. Over time, I made significant contributions and applied for a scholarship to attend the State of the Map (SOTM) conference in Nairobi. I believed it would be a great opportunity to expand my knowledge, and I was thrilled when my application was accepted.

Attending my first-ever SOTM event was incredibly exciting. As the time approached, I was filled with expectations and excitement. When I finally arrived in Nairobi, I had the opportunity to meet people from different countries, learn from them, make new friends, and experience such an event for the first time.

SOTM Nairobi brought me a deep sense of fulfilment and motivation to continue contributing to humanitarian actions. I was happy to connect with fellow participants, share thoughts, and discuss how OSM projects were making an impact in their countries. It was especially inspiring to talk with young people and women who are also making contributions to OSM. Seeing their passion for mapping filled me with pride, especially as the highest female contributor to OSM in Rwanda. It made me feel that I was truly making a difference.

During the conference, I learned many new things, including how to use tools like Every Door and QGIS for analysis, and many innovations presentation. SOTM Nairobi was an amazing experience meeting friends from around the world who are driving humanitarian action together, especially my fellow women, was inspiring.

I had fun, gained knowledge, made friends, and shared experiences. I am committed to continuing my impact through mapping and improving my skills in OSM tools. I also aim to retain my position as the highest female mapping contributor in Rwanda and to train more volunteers even beyond Rwanda to global scale. I am incredibly grateful to Humanitarian OpenStreetMap for this opportunity, and I look forward to more opportunities to learn and make an even greater impact.