Being a Local Guide by far has been one of the most amazing things that happened to me. It is endless fun connecting with amazing people, discovering wonderful spots, impacting communities and personal growth. The few local guides I met taught me invaluable lessons about the program and how to better help others.
Also the joy I bring to small business owners’ faces once their businesses goes online and subsequently building them a strong presence on Google Maps is priceless! The perks of connecting them with more customers and discovering amazing features such as, lists in the saved tab and exploring has been a magic wand, bibbidi-bobbidi-boo. The recommendations have been super rewarding as well. Beyond the positive feedback, I have the opportunity to contribute as a local guide by giving others new exciting experiences beyond their imaginations. From updating business listings; adding photos/videos; writing reviews as I collect the lovely points; getting enlightened about the program’s diverse cultures, food, places and more through local guides connect; to sharing my lists and that of other local guides with friends, colleagues and family members is beyond my imagination. Through it all, I have found passion and a sense of purpose guiding.
Currently, I am a level eight (8) Local Guide living in Famagusta, North Cyprus since 2019 but I am originally from a sea side town called, Bakau, in The Gambia, West Africa. My homeland is surrounded by Senegal on the North, South, East and the West by the Atlantic Ocean. It is the smallest country on mainland Africa. More about my passion and beautiful small country here. What’s interesting is that Northern Cyprus with its population of 326,000 almost equals the number of internet/mobile users in The Gambia of its 2 million population. Also, in both cities (Bakau & Famagusta) which I have been a Local guide has a population of about 50,000.
Let’s start from the beginning of my journey as a Local Guide. I had goosebumps the first time I did edits on Google Maps in 2013 and it’s still the featured photo. But my passion was killed and buried by my then boss who was not only a bully, but a Luddite with an internet phobia. Although I learned some great things from him, he instilled fear in me about sharing photos on Google Maps which prompted me to stop adding on random places for almost 3 years. It wasn’t until 2016 when I had gone to Singapore for the Young Leader’s Fellowship
that I regained my confidence since I did not have a choice as all the navigation was on Google Maps. Almost everything was digitized which was overwhelming at that point but I swam through it. I made new local guide friends from the program and they restored my faith in sharing photos on Google and resurrected my passion. I immediately joined the Local Guide program and started to add a few photos. I then continued the momentum when I got back home.
In early 2017, I met Eduard, a level 10 LG & Trusted Street Viewer Photographer. Till date, @EduarddeBoer has been constantly guiding and mentoring me as a local guide. He has impacted me immensely and reignited my passion and knowledge, which he also shares with young Gambians in the country, by sharing his expertise.
Fast forward 2019, in my campus Local Guide life, I have managed to update many listings on and off-campus in Famagusta and also shared a solution Writing Great School, College and University Reviews. The transition here has been very challenging due to the language barrier, few local guides present, and the inability to add missing places for almost a year. However, campus life has been nothing short of epic and the spot where students gather to eat and drink has become the epicentre of the fun EMU Campus Foodies Spotlight list.
In 2020, I and my new team of Local Guides organized our first campus meetup after I was able to add missing locations. This was a rewarding experience for me. We now have a team of incredible Local Guides who are loving the program. Here is our recap: 1st EMU Meetup. In a nutshell, I am always excited to know that my contribution matters and it will impact people’s movements and communities at the time of need… Also, being part of a global community of people assisting people to navigate flawlessly and to learn about the sharing of knowledge with millions of Google Map users is what being a Local Guide means to me.
I wish you be part of Connect Live 2020
