Learn and Connect
Empowering a global network of mappers and community leaders with the skills, knowledge, and connections to drive local humanitarian impact and build long-term resilience
About the Program
The value of open map data is only realized when local communities have the skills and agency to create, maintain, and use it to solve their own challenges. Historically, the open mapping ecosystem has faced barriers: a fragmented and confusing journey for new volunteers, a lack of inclusive participation for women and youth, and underinvestment in the local leaders who are best positioned to drive sustainable change.
The Learn and Connect program is HOT's strategic answer to these challenges. We are unifying our diverse training and engagement initiatives into a single, cohesive ecosystem. Through this program, we provide clear learning pathways that guide a contributor from their first edit to becoming a certified expert. We foster a supportive global community through mentorship and peer-to-peer networks, and we cultivate the next generation of leaders through specialized fellowships.
By investing in people, we ensure that our most valuable asset - our community - has the tools, skills, and support needed to create high-quality, locally-relevant data and lead the charge in humanitarian action and sustainable development.
Stats
7,000
learners enrolled in the HOT Learning Center
100+
fellows trained in specialized skills for climate action, data quality, and education
300+
mentors and mentees engaged in our global mentorship program
300+
Open Mapping Gurus ready to support global projects
Goals
Empower Skilled and Inclusive Local Leadership:
Build the capacity of local contributors, with a focus on youth and women, to lead and sustain their own mapping ecosystems.
Cultivate a Connected Community:
Foster a vibrant global network where mappers can connect, collaborate, and learn from their peers.
Provide a Unified Learning Journey:
Offer a clear, standardized, and high-quality learning pathway, from beginner courses to advanced certifications.
Create a Global Network of Mapping Experts:
Develop a skilled pool of Open Mapping Gurus who can provide quality assurance and training support to partners worldwide.
Strengthen Local Impact:
Equip mappers with the skills to use data for advocacy, climate resilience, and local development.
Projects
Meet Our Partners
