This week’s Connect Live Attendee of the Week is Justine Edward ( @JustineE ), a Local Guide Level 8 living in Cairns, Australia, with her Sri Lankan husband and their three beautiful children. Justine works as an educational coach and has a master’s degree in guidance and counselling.
She was nominated by fellow Connect Live attendee David Tito ( @DavidTito ) who wrote, “I first recognized Justine’s ability to engage each individual member of the Australian Local Guides community and present their ideas in the post Aussie, Aussie, Aussie- Oi, Oi, Oi #teamchallenge #teamAustralia. She gives great courage and confidence to Local Guides. People like her help shape the Local Guides Connect family we have today. Justine brought two types of topics together in that one post: presenting the Australian Local Guides and raising awareness about accessibility. I found that quite unique.”
“I got involved in Local Guides because I found Maps so helpful,” Justine told us. “I used it all the time to get around and loved the convenience of having honest reviews and photos right there. I tend to go a lot of places with my kids, and I figured that perhaps I could contribute and help others, too. What I didn’t know about was the amazing community of Local Guides. Now I just feel like I have won the lottery. I get to do something that I love and be part of a wonderful community of like-minded people.”
In the Connect post and Google Maps list that she created for the Connect Live application, Justine focused on going places with her family. “I do believe that Google Maps can have a really positive impact on families going places with children who have a sensory disability,” she said. “By participating in #oneaccessibility championed by @EmekaUlor , Local Guides can let people know about accessible buildings, toilets and features. For example, our local cinema chain has movie screenings especially for children with modified sound and lighting. The more people look for these features and [share this information], the more we can help to empower others in our community.”
Justine wrote a book for children called ‘Shine,’ which was illustrated by 8-year-old Karl, a boy diagnosed with autism. She said she got the idea from Karl’s mum who shared that Karl was having difficulties at school, with teachers and other kids not being able to understand his behaviour. “‘Shine’ started as a letter, from my heart, to him (and his mum) to let them both know that, even if the world couldn’t see the incredible gifts inside of him, I could. I believed in him and I wanted him to know that. After writing it, I realised that I wished I had heard this message as a child. In fact, I wanted every child in the world to hear this message. So I turned it into a book,” wrote Justine.
When it comes to Justine’s expectations about Connect Live, she said, “I am really looking forward to meeting people from over 50 different countries and expanding my own view of the world. I am also super excited about getting to go to the Google campus and actually going inside Google. I love to learn and I really want to know how I can better contribute to both Maps and the Connect community. What better place to do that than Connect Live 2019?”
Tag Justine in the comments below to ask her a question and learn more about her!
Congratulations 