This Project Aims to Involve More Young Women in Mapping

Maliha Mohiuddin, a 26-year-old from Chittagong, Bangladesh, who is currently based in Morgantown, West Virginia, recently devised and led a study that interviewed displaced women in a slum in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area about responses during life-threatening events. The study explored the impact of geographic knowledge, and also mapped indicators of mental stress and stress triggers. In the study, she and her team used street-view imagery and collected geolocated survey data and tools to easily move from a paper-based system to an online mapping database.

This work was part of her participation in Everywhere She Maps, an effort launched in November 2020 that aims to address the underrepresentation of women in the geospatial field and grow women’s experience with the rapidly expanding industries that utilize geospatial technologies, especially in ways that improve women’s economic prosperity. The project supports female student mappers by building their technical capacity, enhancing their professional and networking skills, and contributing to mapping projects focused on adding data relevant to women’s needs. Everywhere She Maps is part of YouthMappers, an international global community and network of 242 university-student-led chapters of humanitarian mappers in 55 countries addressing development challenges by creating and using public geospatial data.

Mohiuddin told the FBomb about her experience with Everywhere She Maps and YouthMappers.

How did you get involved in Everywhere She Maps?

I joined YouthMappers in 2016 as a member of the inaugural YouthMappers chapter at Dhaka University. In 2017 I wrote a blog for YouthMappers and was selected for the first cohort of Leadership Fellows. Throughout the years I have represented YouthMappers in different international programs and conferences. In 2019, I became a regional ambassador for YouthMappers.

As a YouthMappers regional ambassador, I also trained some university students in Bangladesh, Japan, and the Philippines on geospatial technologies so that they can increase their technical capacity.

My experiences with YouthMappers has encouraged me to motivate female mappers to participate in mapping and to pay attention to how the act of mapping can especially support the needs of women and girls around the world.​ From my perspective, I believe that the Everywhere She Maps initiative is going to create a revolutionary history of mapping by reflecting women’s contribution in terms of leadership in the geospatial sector.

Why did you want to get involved?

Before the cyclone disaster in Bangladesh in 2019, rural women in the country faced a daunting decision: to stay at home or to leave for shelter.

A changing climate is already affecting millions of women who are experiencing increasing intensity and frequency of large hurricanes and cyclones. One of the women, named Sofia, has said to me that she didn’t go to the shelter because it’s hard for them to navigate the shelters. The whole circumstance made me realize that not only girls’ education but also girls’ empowerment in the geospatial sciences is much needed for the enhancement of my country.

I believe that special attention should be paid to women who most often are in charge of care for their households and children, including that they are aware of the location of shelters, have transportation access, and communication warnings in advance.

That sparked my passion for creating inclusive mapping communities for females. Increasing threats from climate change, natural disasters, and migration are placing greater pressures on women’s issues. Through effective capacity building, these situations can be mitigated by strengthening women’s resilience.

The enormity of these challenges, and their long-term implications of achieving sustainable development goals through the development of women in geospatial technological skills of women, cemented my commitment to humanitarian mapping. Being part of the Everywhere She Maps YouthMappers campaign has taught me the holistic approach between women’s education and international development.

What projects are you currently working on?

I am doing a Ph.D. in geography at West Virginia University. I am working as a graduate research assistant in the USAID research project named the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative. I will be conducting training and field-based research in developing countries, including Bangladesh, on women’s economic development in the geographical information systems. I am the only member of this research team from Asia. I will not only be conducting my studies but also will be a critical team member. I was determined to apply to this university and I am eager to work on this research topic.

Anything else you’d like to add or think people should know?

Believe in yourself! Try to lift other women by empowering them through your work. Some people will give you the best guidance in life. Try to hold them in life.

But don’t be discouraged by the criticism in life. Keep smiling and create more spaces for other women to flourish in their lives too.