My Journey to HOT Voting Member Nomination

Posted by Brazil Singh on 18 May 2025 in English.

Brazil Singh on a Field Mapping, Supporting HOT & Open Mapping Hub's Dhaka Thrive Project in Bangladesh

Hello OpenStreetMap and HOT Community,

I’m Brazil Singh, from Bangladesh, and I’m honored to be nominated as a 2025 Voting Member of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). I want to take this opportunity to share my story, what HOT means to me, and how I hope to contribute as a voting member.

I currently serve as an Open Mapping Guru at the Asia Pacific Hub and as a Regional Ambassador of YouthMappers. Through these roles, I’ve been able to support my community and contribute to open mapping efforts across the region. I’m also actively involved with the OpenStreetMap Foundation’s Communications Working Group, where I help strengthen global community engagement and communications.

What HOT means to me

To me, HOT is more than just a mapping organization, it’s a global movement that empowers people to make a real difference in their communities using open data and technology. HOT gave me the tools, the training, and the global community to turn my passion for maps into a purpose-driven mission.

How I got involved in HOT

I first heard about HOT during a university mapathon where I was introduced to the HOT Tasking Manager. Curious about its impact, I started exploring more and discovered the strength of the HOT community and its working groups. I soon joined the Community Working Group and later the Tech & Innovation Working Group to learn, collaborate, and contribute more meaningfully. That’s how my journey with HOT began.

Why I Want to Be a Voting Member

I want to be a voting member to amplify youth engagement, promote next-generation and sustainable leadership, and help bridge the gap between community and technology. Through my involvement in the Community Working Group and the Tech & Innovation Working Group, I’ve seen the potential of collaboration. I believe HOT should continue to evolve with young voices, inclusive values, and tech-driven solutions that truly reflect community needs, especially in underrepresented regions like mine.

My involvement in HOT, mapping, and/or humanitarian response

My mapping journey began with YouthMappers, where I grew from a chapter member to a Leadership Fellow, and now serve as the Regional Ambassador for Asia. Through this path, I’ve led numerous collaborative mapping projects, training sessions, and outreach efforts focused on empowering young mappers across the region.

In my work with HOT, I’ve contributed extensively through both mapping and community engagement. As a member of the Community Working Group, I’ve led a Skillshare session, received mentorship through HOT’s mentorship program, and now serve as an Open Mapping Guru under the Asia Pacific Hub, where I support training and community growth. I’ve worked on impactful projects like Dhaka Thrive and the Climate Resilience Fellowship, both supported by HOT. I’ve also validated many tasks in the HOT Tasking Manager, ensuring high-quality map data for humanitarian efforts. Beyond HOT, I am involved in OpenStreetMap’s Communication Working Group, supporting global communication strategies. I also collaborate locally with a grocery company in Bangladesh to improve OpenStreetMap-based routing systems.

What I See as the Role of a Voting Member

As a voting member, I believe my most important responsibility is to champion youth engagement within HOT. Young people bring fresh ideas, energy, and new perspectives that are vital for the growth and sustainability of the community. I want to ensure that youth voices are heard in decision-making and that we create more opportunities for the next generation to lead, learn, and contribute.

Working Groups I’m Interested In

I am particularly interested in contributing to the Community Working Group and the Tech & Innovation Working Group. The Community Working Group aligns with my passion for fostering youth engagement, building sustainable leadership, and strengthening collaboration among mappers worldwide. The Tech & Innovation Working Group excites me because I want to help bridge the gap between technology and community needs, promoting innovative solutions that enhance humanitarian mapping efforts.

HOT’s Biggest Challenge

I see HOT’s greatest challenge as ensuring sustainable and inclusive community engagement, especially maintaining active participation from youth and underrepresented regions. It’s vital that HOT grows in diversity and leadership to meet evolving humanitarian needs. To help address this, I plan to work closely with the Community Working Group and Open Mapping Hubs, as they are already well-structured and effective platforms. By collaborating within these groups, I can support ongoing efforts to strengthen youth engagement, leadership development, and the integration of technology with community needs, helping make mapping tools more accessible and relevant for local mappers.

Thank you for considering my nomination and for the opportunity to contribute to this incredible community. I look forward to collaborating with fellow members to advance HOT’s mission of empowering communities through open mapping and humanitarian action.