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  "publishedAt": "2026-06-05T15:55:36.000Z",
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  "textContent": "Good day!\n\nI’m Erika from the Philippines, an open mapping advocate and member of UPRI YouthMappers. I actively contribute to OpenStreetMap and humanitarian mapping initiatives that support disaster resilience, risk reduction, and community-based geospatial data.  My journey with HOT began as a volunteer mapper through YouthMappers, participating in mapathons that create critical data for disaster-prone and vulnerable communities. Over time, I became a student leader in UPRI YouthMappers and later served as an Open Mapping Guru, helping train new mappers and support community programs within the HOT ecosystem. I also expanded my involvement in the broader open mapping community through local and international events such as Pista ng Mapa (Festival of Maps) and State of the Map. These experiences strengthened my appreciation for the power of collaboration, community building, and open geospatial data in addressing real-world challenges.\n\nHOT Mapping Gurus during the State of the Map 2025\n\nFor me, HOT is more than a mapping organization. It is a movement of a global community that transforms volunteer contributions into meaningful humanitarian impact. As a voting member, I hope to support transparent and inclusive decision-making while representing the perspectives of youth mappers, grassroots contributors, and local communities. I am committed to remaining actively engaged and helping strengthen HOT’s global network.\n\nIf selected, I plan to actively participate in the Community and Training Working Groups. I am particularly interested in the Community Working Group, which works to strengthen collaboration across the global HOT network and support the growth of local mapping communities. I am also drawn to the Training Working Group, as training has been a core part of my experience, and I believe improving and consolidating training materials is essential to sustaining high-quality contributions and empowering new mappers.\n\nOne of HOT’s greatest challenges is sustaining long-term engagement while continuing to grow a diverse and globally representative community. I hope to contribute by supporting training and mentorship opportunities, particularly through YouthMappers and other community-led initiatives, helping new volunteers develop into active contributors, community members, and future leaders.\n\nLooking back, I’m grateful for how the open mapping community has shaped my journey from being a student volunteer mapper tracing buildings during mapathons to training new contributors and engaging with mappers from around the world. As I continue this journey with HOT and the wider OpenStreetMap community, I look forward to learning, contributing, and helping more people discover the impact that open mapping can have on communities and humanitarian action.",
  "title": "Introduction as HOT Voting Member Nominee"
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