CGIS hosts second YouthMappers leadership workshop

Posted on January 23, 2019

The Centre for Geoinformation Science at the University of Pretoria’s hosted the second YouthMappers Leadership Fellowship workshop in January 2019. The nine-day workshop was attended by 19 international students from 15 countries.  

The YouthMappers Leadership Initiative is a 6-month fellowship program for undergraduate and graduate students who are members of YouthMappers chapters with plans for activities and innovative ideas to promote leadership in YouthMappers that address the themes of youth leadership, open mapping techniques, data visualization, science communication, inclusive community participation, capacity building, and international partnerships. 

22 Fellows were selected from 15 different countries across the world. One fellow was selected from the University of Pretoria, Tristan Payne. The students got to engage with each other over sessions on technical training in open mapping techniques, building leadership potential and professional development all while being mentored by international and local experts in these domains. The Leadership Fellows were not kept in the labs the whole nine days but instead got to experience the cultural side of South Africa. The Fellows had the opportunity to visit the Cradle of Human Kind and the Sterkfontien Caves to learn about human evolution and the origin of man, a game drive in the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve where they got to see many different animals in their natural habitat including lions, elephants and giraffes as well as a traditional South African braai.

The students enjoyed themselves all round with many of them not wanting to go back home and even more wanting to come visit South Africa again. Many new friendships were formed with each student having grown as an individual in the nine days. 

Thanks to USAID for sponsoring the event. 

- Author Centre for Geoinformation Science

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