Hy Local Guides, 
As we step into the second week of Pride Month 
, our celebration of diversity, community & belonging moves forward with incredible momentum. Creating a world that is genuinely safe, welcoming & accessible requires continuous effort & this week, we are turning our spotlight toward another remarkable voice 
who is actively transforming how we connect with our surroundings and each other.
For this 2nd spotlight in Pride with Local Guides series, we are honouring a local guide who beautifully demonstrates that mapping isn’t just about gathering points - it is also about building community & cultural bridges.
True inclusivity means ensuring that no one is left behind, whether that means mapping a wheelchair-accessible ramp or championing local cultural preservation. When we share our diverse perspectives on Google Maps and Connect, we break down invisible walls and build spaces where everyone can feel a profound sense of pride in who they are.
Meet Nunung
@NunungAfuah, a level 
Local Guide from Malang, Indonesia who is a dedicated contributor on Google Maps since 2016 and a passionate & active Connect Moderator in our community. Her journey has transformed how we explore our surroundings, attending Local Guides Summit 
2017 and ConnectLIVE events in 2018, 2019 & 2025. As a passionate advocate for inclusivity 
, sustainability 
& eco-tourism 
, she embodies the collaborative spirit that drives our community forward. On Connect, she frequently shares stories that resonates with the community 
, environmental care , local culture 
& the unique heritage gems 
, while also actively organizing effective meetups 
focused on building the community and helping new contributors 
find their own path in mapping. She also conducts interactive meetups on how to support local women-owned 
businesses on Google Maps.
Let’s get to know more about on how Nunung contributes on Google Maps:
- Every Local Guide has that one special spot that holds a piece of their heart. What is your absolute favourite place to visit & what is the story that makes it so meaningful to you ?
Answer: Nunung shared that her absolute favourite place is Masjid Ar-Rahman 
in Blitar, a beautiful mosque designed to resemble the Nabawi Mosque in Saudi Arabia. She felt it was special because of its incredibly welcoming and hospitable nature as she shared the experience through her visit in Blitar. She considered practical details: they provided fantastic facilities for all visitors, including free drinks 
, spotless restrooms 
& affordable wedding venues for the local community. She realized that it truly feels like a place built for everyone, where hospitality knows no bounds.
- When you visit your favourite local spots - whether it’s a cozy zero-waste café, a serene community park or a bustling traditional market, what are the specific details you look for to capture the true “soul” of that place in your reviews
?
Answer: Nunung explained that for her, the true soul of a place lies entirely in its inclusivity 
. When reviewing a spot, she always paid attention to thoughtful, often overlooked details that make everyone feel genuinely welcome 
. She looked for practical traits: a restaurant going the extra mile by providing free diapers for kids 
or a venue equipped with accessible wheelchair ramps & dedicated restrooms. She emphasized that highlighting these facilities and showing how a place cares for people is exactly what she loves to focus on to help reduce uncertainty for visitors.
- If a local guide were visiting Indonesia for the very first time and wanted to experience it sustainably, which favourite hidden gem of yours would you tell them they must visit to truly understand local pride
?
Answer: Nunung noted that it was hard to choose just one specific location because green, breathtaking nature spots 
are everywhere across Indonesia. Instead, she highly recommended diving into a cultural experience, like learning to make traditional batik 
, a sentiment she further explored in her post on how batik is made. She believed sustainability was also deeply rooted in preserving living heritage. She observed that every single town has its own unique batik story, and when travellers visit these local artisans, they directly support the neighborhood economy 
& keep ancient culture alive. She felt that is where true local pride resides.
- You have been a part of massive meetups in Indonesia, like Meet Up Nusantara, bringing over local guides together. What is the secret to building a local community that is both passionate about the environment and deeply supportive of one another ?
Answer: Nunung explained that the community success was deeply rooted in Indonesian culture, where people naturally love to gather and stay connected 
. Because of this beautiful cultural trait, she noted that hosting a massive event like Meet Up Nusantara (MUN) becomes highly possible. She shared that “Nusantara” itself is another word for her nation, which is vast and stretches across more than 17,000 islands 
. Because online meetups are often not enough to satisfy their community spirit, she observed a powerful desire to meet face-to-face. She concluded that they are tightly united by a massive shared mission: helping local businesses close the digital gap 
by getting them on the map, a movement that continues this year with MUN 5 in Bali bringing together around 200 Local Guides.
- As a Connect Moderator, you have said that you love connecting with local guides from all over the world without any borders, languages or cultural barriers. How does the Local Guides community foster a safe, inclusive space where everyone can feel proud of who they are
?
Answer: Nunung shared that Connect is an incredibly welcoming space that empowers everyone, noting that it has especially boosted her confidence as a woman coming from a smaller city outside the main metropolis. She emphasized that in this community, boundaries simply do not exist and members are never judged by their backgrounds . She felt that their shared identity as Local Guides unites them in a completely safe, equal, and respectful environment. To take this inclusivity even further, she highlighted that she started the “Connect through Stories” meetups 
this year to bridge geographical gaps and allow anyone to join without being hindered by physical borders.
- You are highly passionate about sustainability and eco-tourism. Why is it so crucial for Local Guides to highlight eco-friendly practices like bamboo straws, zero-waste management & support local organic shops on Google Maps ?
Answer: Nunung suggested that being part of this global community makes us realize that we are all global citizens who need to protect our planet together . She noted that facing severe environmental challenges like seasonal flooding motivated her to manage waste properly and always carry a reusable tumbler 
since becoming a Local Guide. She believed that highlighting eco-friendly practices on Google Maps is vital because it directly helps everyday people make greener choices. She concluded that when they review and share these sustainable places, they help local eco-businesses grow and inspire the entire community to take care of the earth together.
Thank you @NunungAfuah, for your continued dedication to making our communities more open, accessible & inclusive for everyone. Let’s keep building a world that welcomes us all, one edit at a time.
Like Nunung, may we all continue to champion kindness and sustainability in everything we do. Happy Pride Month .
