As a part of month-long celebration of Connect’s 5th Birthday, I recently hosted a Local Guides , Maps and Connect Virtual meet-up , which was a part of the Unofficial LocalGuidesConnect Worldwide Birthday Celebrationsby @KashifMisidia and @AdrianLunsong . This meet-up was also a part of#mapsforall series 2021 (which focuses on helping local businesses, map Accessibility information, learn, share tips & do fun Map edits to reflect Inclusivity for all).
The meet-up was a fun celebration of Connect’s 5th birthday with 35 Local Guides across the globe coming together , sharing their experiences and journeys of being a Local Guide ! The best part of the meet-up was that along with fun props, party food , cake cutting , music, local guides singing and dancing, we also learned about so many amazing initiatives happening on Connect, how amazing and diverse Connect is and how yet there is a space on Connect and the Local Guides program for each one of us for our passions and interests !
The meet-up started with a “Share your Local Guide Journey and what you like about Connect” session where many Local guides shared their journey as a local guide and what is the section they love to write on Connect the most ! They also shared how Connect has evolved and how the pandemic helped them connect with people across the globe via virtual meetings. @jayasimha78 shared how Connect helped him meet so many wonderful local guides around the world and how much he enjoys being a local guide ! He is currently active via State Challenge meet-ups. He said his passion for photography led him to be a local guide and active on Connect.He also mentioned how Connect helped him know more Local Guides and new initiatives. @TravellerG shared how local guides are like his family and what he likes and what he would love to be improved about Connect.He also shared about his new initiatives that he is going to start on Connect. @doc_dells shared how she loves Connect and being part of the wonderful initiatives happening on Connect. @Tejal ben shared her journey as local guide and as accessibility Champion. She is happy that Connect can also be used to create awareness about topics like accessibility and education. @Shrut19 tai shared she is happy to be a local guide and thanks to Connect and meet-ups that we are able to meet and be a part of a huge diverse family which would have not been possible without Connect ! I shared about the #mapsforall initiative started by me , how Connect keeps us connected as a global family , help us follow our passions , spread awareness about noble causes and how it helps us connect with Local Guides across the world having similar interests! @JMD9 shared his journey about being a local guide and how he has been a part of some fun projects earlier.He feels more perks should be given as local guides really out their heart into what they do. Erna shared she loves being a local guide and now that she is also an accessibility Champion, she feels she has become more responsible in what posts to put on Connect and how she can spread awareness about accessibility. @EmekaUlor shared his local guide journey and how he and other passionate accessibility Champions started the One Accessibility initiative and how happy he is to be a part of a huge family and is proud of how far we have come and how much we have achieved as local guides around the world ! You can see the full recording to know more.
Post this amazing session, we had a small fun virtual cake cutting , food and music party. I brought the cake, Deliana brought waffles (supporting a local business) , Rosy ma’am and Shruti tai got party food too ! We all sang happy birthday to Connect along with the Mouth organ played by Deepak Modgekar @ModNomad . Special thanks to Deepakji for being part of fun celebrations and playing happy birthday song and a special song on his mouth organ which was dedicated to all Local Guides ! Thank you for bringing joy to the meet-up with your passion for being a local guide and a musician ! Thank you Rosy ma’am and Indah for wearing lovely party head gears and bringing the party mood on ! A big thanks to all the attendees for coming and being part of super fun celebrations, bringing party food, grooving to the music, having fun and showering your love on Connect ! Check out the cool party pics here in the photo album.
Below is a fun gif showing a quick recap of how we celebrated Connect’s 5th birthday with joy , happiness, food , music and smiles !
Let’s keep supporting each other, follow our passions and help make this world a better place to live in by being part of amazing initiatives by the Local Guides community seen on Connect ! Happy birthday Connect