It all begins with this mail.
I have been using Google maps since late 2009. And I always imagine how on earth all these places are accurately mapped with real time details.
But in 2016 I noticed some pop ups come asking me to review a place or answer questions when ever I open map application. I always answer with out thinking twice.
Not until this faithful morning when a pop up came asking me to add a picture of a place which is National mosque Abuja. I snap and add the photo. The next thing I received a mail.
the first picture I added to map and immediately it has 22 views. Lol.
As scroll down I see that I’m invited to join local Guides.
I told to my self “who are local Guides?”
After reading I said wow. this is a great opportunity to help my community.
from that moment till today (3years+) I didn’t spend a week with out contributing to map. Why?
Because of what Google maps means to me:
I see local Guide program as a way of doing community service.
I have been doing one sort of community service or other and always they all come with different challenges, most especially funding challenges.
When I see local Guides program I said yes this is for me to kill 2 birds with one stone. In one hand I help local businesses and the other hand I help improve maps.
As I continued to contribute on Google maps, so also Local Guides continue to impact positively on my life.
Before I became Local Guide:
my life cycle is work, home and sports. My friends are my school friends whose I still have contact with and my colleagues at work. I love photography, food and I’m adventurous.
After I became a Local Guide:
All this aforementioned changed exponentially.
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My routine changes to: Work, home, sports, meet ups and Connect.
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I have many friends not only in Lagos or Nigeria but across the globe. All thanks to local Guide.
I made friends that I see them as my family whom I will barely spend a day with out been in contact.
- Because of local Guide program my photography skills has improved and before I didn’t own any camera aside my phone came but now I have a 360 camera, a professional camera and a small digital camera.
- Food. Yes I’m a foodie. It gives me opportunity to try many dishes across the country at different food crawls. And to take its pictures.
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I love traveling. Local Guide program makes me travel more and when ever I travel I always ensure that I contribute the best possible I can within that community.
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Local Guides program changes my way of seeing places. There are many things that I don’t observe in places before but now is different. I look at places with the mind that what make this place worth visiting or what am I going to tell others about this place.
Some of the key things I look on to in a place are: serenity of the environment, friendliness of the staff, and above all accessibility. And many other things.
Local Guides program has become part of me in such a way that I’m more happy when I’m with local Guides.
All this started with a single mail.
Kind regards
for you.
