Just last month, Google was out doing a series of mapping parties in Kenya. And after that the Tech giant took a similar initiative in Kigali, Rwanda, and its surroundings. The whole function had government officials, land and mapping experts, students and other mappers in a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a visual map of Rwanda. The participants were just required to come out with their passion for mapping and Google equipped them with Google Map Maker to map businesses, schools, hospitals and roads, whilst networking with other students and professionals in the field.
The whole idea of Rwanda Bus Mapping Party was an initiative of Gilbert Mucyo who is a Google Ambassador at the National University of Rwanda. He was backed-up by Google Africa team and the Rwanda Development Board. I liked the idea of taking citizen mapping to rural areas with the help of “ICT Buses”. These buses, ferrying 50 participants, were each specially equipped with laptops and connected to the web. The buses did rounds in the eastern and western remote parts of the country for the map-on-the-go journey.
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