Bottom-up maps that make a difference

As in many other cities of the world, Kibera Narobi’s biggest slum (1 million people) was a blank spot in the official maps and databases. MAPKIBERA is a bottom up approach that intends to map put everything which happens in the area (health, education, water, sanitation, security, etc). The driver force is the understanding that “without basic knowledge of the geography and resources of Kibera it is impossible to have an informed discussion on how to improve the lives of residents”.

According to William Underhill the map is intended for much more than just navigation. Its backers see the project as part of a wider drive to empower the slum’s residents, providing the data they need to deal with the authorities and take control of their own future. A second phase in the map’s development, now almost complete, envisions its wider use as a media tool that push awareness of its problems” .