Hello everyone,
Who i am and where i come from
Name: Md. Mafujul Islam. (bdmafuz)
Level – 08 Local Guide
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
In Local Guides Connect I have earned 12 Badges so far,
Now I am also a Google Street View Trusted Photographer.
When I started contributing in Google Maps then I don’t think about any benefit, my intention was help people. Last year, when I have received my email, declaring that I wasn’t invited, I have shared my happiness for the people that was invited to attend and it inspire me to do more like the best one.
How I became a local Guide??
I used Google maps since 21 August 2011 so far, I still remember the date when I first used Google Maps. Wherever I am traveling, then just using Google Maps for navigation.
It’s a story in 2017, we have another home in Moishanbari, Salna, Gazipur, Bangladesh, It was 26/27km away from where we leave. My father everyday go there because building are under construction. Every day he come back before evening, one day he come after 4 hours from everyday time and phone was switched off, we fall in worry, There have a small market and everyone know my father. So I try to find small business near that place in Google maps for get some information but I don’t find because there was no data on Google maps.
After that I try to find out how Google Maps work, who import information, etc. I found Bangladesh Local Guides community on FB. After join with them I understand the value of our contribution.
Why I contribution on Google Maps.
I decided to contribution on Google maps because I think it’s very easy to harm someone but very difficult to help someone. To help someone I feel one unknown happiness and happiness is more then everything to me. Everyday millions of people visit Google maps and get help from it. So it’s a big platform to help someone by my small contribution, I think no other sector can help people as much as this one. From this thinking I open one unofficial Facebook group Gazipur Local Guides to increase new local guides and aware. I believe that one person can reach information some people but many people can reach information more people like geometrical way. My small contribution can help many new people who are unaware about a particular area/place. I love to meet with new people, learn something new from other, explorer new things, add new places, that’s why I am involving Local guides. I found all are in one platform.
Under the local guides programs mapping, reviewing, helping people and contributing it’s become part of my daily life. Day by day the local guide community is becoming my family and all around the world’s local guides are my family members. Sometimes my wife @bgmaksuda told me I love Google more than her.
I joined local guides connect in 12 March 2018. I started discovering so many nice people, so many places, so many foods and so many activates. I proudly can say, I have friends from every corner of the world, just because of local guides connect, the last year of my life is the best year ever, in one year I learn a lot of things about quality mapping and increased my photography skills, etc.
When any new Bangladeshi local guides join in connect and he/she see all Bangladeshi are same place then I think he/she will interested to connect. So I make a group [Bangladesh Local Guides Group](https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/Bangladesh-Local-Guides-Group/m-p/902537?advanced=false&collapse_discussion=true&q=bangladesh%20local guides group&search_type=thread) in connect, so that all Bangladeshi introduce each other.
Ones upon a time I was Top Kudoed Authors
What I love to share on Google Maps
Before I visit any new place then first I visit that place virtually on Google Maps and read all reviews so that I don’t face any problem over there and that place seems to very known to me. I love photography so wherever I go I try to take nice pictures/videos and upload on Google Maps. I write reviews which place I personally visit. I always try to answer the question and add missing information. I do check the facts very carefully, I write one post in Bangla in connect how to check the facts. I think correct information is very important and my small contribution can help million people in the world.
I joined some Meet-ups
**1.**We all know its digital world and need to learn more about Google maps, meet with people and sharing our knowledge with others. After the joining Bangladesh Local Guides community my first meet-up. It was an un-official event from Bangladesh Local Guides. I really enjoyed the day very much and made a fantastic connection with other participants in the event. That was a great experience for me. @mahbubmunna, @sajol, @asivchy, @aziz, @Polash0001, @RayhanKhoka, @RomanSyed, @SShuvo & many more…I learn lots of things from them.
Independence Day meet-up pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/5aHOHtGm1ItCojgF2
I think if every active local guides share their knowledge with others in the meet-up, local guides members will know what to do or not to do. So I decided to arrange meet-up and sharing my knowledge about local guide program with others. By regular meet-up I can learn about various tasks performed by other local guide which is very useful for me.
2. On 01-12-2018 I joined ‘Let’s Map Accessibility’ meet-up in Banani, Dhaka by Google Local Guides Bangla FB group. RSVP here. This is Accessibility Meet-Up and a part of ‘‘
Worldwide Accessibility Walk [WAW]’’ by EmekaHouse from Nigeria. This is also a part of the celebration of ‘‘annual International Day of Persons with Disability’’ 3rd December annually held by United Nations (UN). Basically, it’s a Powered by Local Guides around the world and in Bangladesh, we are participating in this great event to updating our Local Maps accessibility questions which are the best useful and reliable communication way for the disabled peoples.
@ShafiulB @ShahMdSultan @MojammelR @Mohammadalauddin @Minhazul and many more. It was the finest moment when we all walked towards the roads and everyone noticed our movement. The pedestrians, shopkeepers, building guards, authority and everyone was inquiring about our walking and this point was great for making any awareness.RECAP]
Map Accessibility’ meet-up pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2auYfg82TsweDntj6
3. On 08-03-2019 I joined Dhaka meet-up March 2019 “Photo Walk” in the famous and one of the most accessible places in Dhaka, Hatirjhil [RSVP here]. We takes lot of photos and upload on Google Maps, we also tasting new food items from the cart.
@imran1986 @Nigar_sultana @GolapM it was their first meet-up so I got opportunity to teach them how to contribute on Google maps. They are inspire by me and told me they will increase their contribution. I also discuss how to apply in Connect Live 2019 and share my previous year application experience RECAP].
Dhaka meet-up March 2019 pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/XdANC2cAYKVwMgN29
My hosted some meet-ups.
1. Let’s meet-up in Bangabandhu Safari Park (Gazipur) on 28-06-2018 it was my 1st Hosted meet-up, that time I don’t know how to apply for meet-up, so before meet-up I just post on Let’s Meet-Up! board on Connect here.
I meet with two group of local guides who leave in Gazipur [detailed on RECAP]. We share our knowledge, update and edit information etc. We split up to cover the whole safari park. We discuss general discussion, Maps editing/contribution and how can we improve our community.
Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1HDHR3f6J9sDMBbR6
2. Knowledge Sharing Meet-up at Dia Bari Uttara on 15-12-2018 it was my 2nd Hosted meet-up in Uttara area [RSVP here] That time I jointly arrange this meet-up with Google Local Guides Bangla (FB group). We introduced each other, make general discussion, talk about local guides program & Google Maps, and take group photo.
We also connect with other local guides around the world via video conference (@DavidTito @NABILazeez @Jayalakshmi_Rao_S @NareshDarji @ambrishvarshney @Md Helal Bds they also share their knowledge withdetailed on RECAP].
That meet-up main Attraction was my Surprise Gift Box, I provide it every participant, they are very much happy to found this.
Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/sjNaH4sVFA7Dt2Kh8
3. Map editing Meet-up on 05 April 2019, it was my 3rd hosted meet-up in Gazipur Chawrasta area (RSVP here). We try to add some information, check the facts, take some photos etc.
@Siddiqui-BA @meshtarua join with me. @imran1986 join with us via video conference. We exchange our experience each other and discuss how can we make better maps.detailed on RECAP].
More photos here : https://photos.app.goo.gl/H4WrQkT2GmpJno8e6
Inspired from Local Guides and used in Real Life
1. One Chines man who don’t believe in Google maps information, so try to understand him, now it’s time to believe. Finally do it. Connect Post link & Pictures
2. I do real time location sharing campaign with pilgrims in Bangladesh in Hajj Camp. I try to understand them how to Google Maps real-time location sharing work. If they lost the group then how they find each other by using Google Maps. I also told their relatives when their relatives in abroad (Makkah) then they can see from Bangladesh where they are. I think it’s the best way to use Google Maps to connect family members and friends with those doing their Hajj. Connect Post link & Pictures
How to Mapping in Bengali language for Bengali new local guides. Every members of my community not good in English, so I make one tutorial post in Bangla Language how to start contribution on Google Maps, what we can do and what we can’t do, What is local guides program etc. [LINK]
Video Tutorial Live Location Sharing Feature How to Use || Bangla
I do real time location sharing campaign with pilgrims. Everyone was very busy so I give them one Bangla video tutorial. Hope they can easily do it by seeing this tutorial. Not only them anyone can get help from this video tutorial. [LINK].
Why I give Gift Box in my Hosted meet-up:
It was a story, I was new in Local Guide program, I went Uttara area to take pictures and update Google maps, when I went inside one shop (in respect of this shop I don’t mention shop name) and asked to take pictures for update Google maps then owner told me show your Google ID card or anything from Google. I can only show him my Google maps contribution profile but he insult me and don’t give permission to take photos. After that I thought what item can I use and people will welcome me. Then I found one Base from Bangladesh Local Guides Group, when I wear it and go for take picture then people take it other way with respect and ask about Local Guide program. Then it will be very easy to do my work. I decided to make my community Facebook group Gazipur Local Guides ‘Base’ and give it to every meet-up I hosted. So that no one will face that type of problem. It also inspire new Local Guides.
My future plan.
I love to add picture on maps. I think 360 degree photo/video more helpful from normal photo/video. My future plan is add Street View roads so every month I try to save money for buy latest 360 degree camera.
Help and support from others:
To finish with, I would like to thanks @TraciC @MegS and others in the team to give us this type of opportunity to introduce our community to everyone.
My special thanks to all Connect Moderators, @DavidTito @JeroenM and many more for help me a lot and always support me, without their support I can’t learn and continue till now, and also my Bangladeshi Local Guides Communities member without their help I am nothing. First I make mistake because of unawareness now because of their help I try to do my best without making any mistake. Thank you ala
Regards
Md. Mafujul Islam (bdmafuz)
Level-8 Local Guide
Bangladesh.
dear