Knowledge sharing has a great power to change our communities and perspectives we have on different issues that affect us day by day. The State of the Map Africa virtual conference was just what we needed Malawi and Africa at large. Sometimes we may have helpful knowledge and skills, but sharing is far more important.

During the conference, Christine Mhone showed us how the knowledge and skills in mapping is very important in health, environment and risk and disaster management. Considering the state of Malawi’s health care and out vulnerability to climate change related disasters, indeed mapping can help in relief, search and rescue as well as post disaster activities such as tracking household affected and relief items delivery, through among others monitoring conditions of roads in the affected areas.

Innovations are also more important and encouraged in mapping. I took inspiration from the developer of Maproitette. This is making a visible difference to the communities we live and the world at large and I’ve been inspired a lot during the conference.

There is a great need to make people aware of the impotence of mapping as well as knowledge sharing as vulnerability of one location affects us all in one way or another.

We all have different stories and reasons to do open street mapping and the talk by Willy Franck on how OSM changed his life, we all can learn a lot from his experience and this should help us make positive impacts in our communities.

The speech by Monica Nthiga on technological development and improvements within the OSM communities was insightful and learnt a lot from her.

A big thank you have to go the organisers and moderators, all participants and all who spoke during the conference. I have gained more knowledge through attending the conference and I am looking forward to more of the same in the near future. Thank you all.