Women & Allied Series: Meet Sumaiya, a Passionate Local Guide from Bangladesh! 🌍✨

Connections & celebrations
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Hello, Local Guides! :waving_hand:

Continuing our Women & Allied Series, today we’re excited to introduce Sumaiya, a passionate Level 9 Local Guide from Bangladesh.

Women & Allied Series Banner made by Isha , photo shared by Sumaiya in a Connect post
Women & Allied Series Banner made by Isha , photo shared by Sumaiya in a Connect post1200×620 199 KB

Sumaiya has been making an impact by contributing to Google Maps, sharing her experiences, and supporting her community in meaningful ways. Beyond her professional and academic pursuits, she is deeply passionate about technology, accessibility, and community development. She loves traveling, immersing herself in new cultures, and sharing experiences on Google Maps to help people discover reliable and insightful information about different places.Let’s get to know her! Here is a candid Rendezvous with @SumaiyaZafrin !

:rocket: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your journey as a Local Guide?

[Sumaiya]: My Local Guides journey began in 2015 with my husband, Pavel Sarwar. Together, we started contributing to Google Maps with the goal of helping people find accurate and accessible information. Over the years, this passion turned into a global impact, leading to numerous milestones:

  • 2015: Received my first gift as a top contributor of the month.
  • 2016-2019: Selected for Connect Live & Local Guides Summit (though I couldn’t attend due to visa issues, my huband attended 2017).
  • 2017: Featured on Google’s Connect and all social channels for International Women’s Day.
  • 2018: Featured on Google’s blog and Connect for Valentine’s Day—Meet the Couple That Guides Together, highlighting our shared journey as Local Guides.
  • 2019: Became a Connect Moderator.
  • 2020: Recognized as a Guiding Star – Helpful Hero for my contributions to the Bangladesh Challenge—an initiative to enrich rural maps during COVID-19.
  • 2023: Featured again on Valentine’s Day and Bengali New Year, celebrating my journey with Pavel.
  • Attended the Google Local Guides Connect Moderator & Contributor Summit in Japan 2023
    I was also one of the first beta testers for both versions of Local Guides Connect, and I hold multiple Google Maps badges, including Master Photographer, Master Trailblazer, Expert Fact Finder, Expert Reviewer, and Expert Director. Even when I had to take a break due to health reasons, my passion for helping others through Maps never faded. Now, I am back and continuing my contributions!

:light_bulb: What inspires you to be a Local Guide?

[Sumaiya]: I am inspired by the idea that my contributions directly help people—whether it’s finding accessible places, choosing a restaurant, or navigating new locations.

:globe_showing_europe_africa: What’s your favorite feature of Google Maps?

[Sumaiya]: My favorite feature is “Accessibility Information”, as it allows me to provide crucial details for people with disabilities, ensuring that they can travel with confidence.

:speech_balloon: What message would you give to other Women Local Guides or anyone considering joining our Local Guides program ?

[Sumaiya]: Your contributions matter—whether it’s a review, a rating, or a photo. Every small effort helps someone make an informed decision. Keep exploring, sharing, and inspiring! Never give up, travel the whole world, and live like Local Guides! Be local in this beautiful world!

:glowing_star: Join the Movement! :glowing_star:

Inspired by Sumaiya’s journey? Join the Local Guides community today and start making an impact! Together, we can create a more inclusive, accessible, and well-documented world through Google Maps!

#WomenAndAlliedSeries #LocalGuides #LetsGuide #MapsForAll #WomenInLocalGuides

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Thanks a ton dear @SumaiyaZafrin for taking out time and sharing your inputs with me ! You are a kind and beautiful soul Sumaiya and your good intent is seen in the work you do in Connect and beyond ! I will miss meeting you in person this time in Tokyo but hoping we will meet soon someday again in person ! Sending hugs sis ! Keep doing the amazing work that you are doing :blue_heart:

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Woww @SumaiyaZafrin you experience is immense and congratulations on being featured so many times. Nice to see you and your husband Paval contributing together even me and @Ssiddharth2000 my husband also started contributing together and we explore together

Thanks @Globe_trotter_Ish for sharing her story

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There is no doubt that @SumaiyaZafrin has a very prominent role, both as a Local Guide and in various other volunteer activities. I met her when we were participants at the 2017 Local Guides Summit, she came with her husband Pavel. A very inspiring couple! congrats @SumaiyaZafrin

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Congratulations on your long journey.

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It’s nice to know more about you, @SumaiyaZafrin . My best wishes to you for your future success.

Cheers!

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Wow! Such an inspiring story!
It’s truly heartwarming to see a passionate and dedicated Local Guide like @SumaiyaZafrin from Bangladesh being featured.

Her contributions, especially in highlighting places through thoughtful reviews and meaningful photos, are incredibly valuable to our community.
Wishing @SumaiyaZafrin continued success and more achievements in her journey.

Bangladesh is proud of you! :bangladesh:

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Nice to meet you @SumaiyaZafrin , your story is truly inspiring.

Thank you @Globe_trotter_Ish for sharing this wonderful story with us.

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Wow, amazing and inspiring journey, I feel motivated reading this story.

Thanks @Globe_trotter_Ish for sharing this.

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@SumaiyaZafrin āĻ†āĻĒāĻ¨āĻŋ āĻ¤ āĻĻā§‡āĻ–āĻŋ āĻšāĻŋāĻĄā§‡āĻ¨ āĻœā§‡āĻŽ! āĻ†āĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§‡āĻ° āĻĻā§‡āĻļā§‡āĻ° āĻāĻ¤āĻŦā§œ āĻāĻ•āĻœāĻ¨ āĻ•āĻ¨ā§āĻŸā§āĻ°āĻŋāĻŦāĻŋāĻ‰āĻŸāĻ°āĻ•ā§‡ āĻ†āĻœāĻ•ā§‡ āĻŽāĻžāĻ¤ā§āĻ° āĻšāĻŋāĻ¨āĻ˛āĻžāĻŽ āĻ•āĻŋ āĻĻā§‚āĻ°ā§āĻ­āĻžāĻ—āĻž āĻ†āĻŽāĻŋ!āĨ¤
bangladesh local guide community āĻ¤ā§‡ āĻ¨āĻžāĻ‡ āĻ•ā§‡āĻ¨ āĻ†āĻĒāĻ¨āĻŋ? :roll_eyes:

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This was such an inspiring read! @SumaiyaZafrin’s dedication as a Local Guide, especially her focus on accessibility and her journey with Pavel, is truly heartwarming.
Thanks for sharing her story! @Globe_trotter_Ish

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Congratulations @SumaiyaZafrin and thank you @Globe_trotter_Ish for introducing her in connect through this lovely post.

I had the pleasure of meeting Sumaiya in person back in 2017 when she visited Kolkata from Bangladesh. I still remember the lovely dinner we had at a restaurant here. She’s a wonderful person and a dedicated Local Guide.
Wishing her all the very best for the upcoming Connect Live 2025 event in Japan!

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Yes yes yes @SumaiyaZafrin, I would love to meet you in person one day. Your advise to live like Local Guides is a go for me. It is nice to know a little bit about you. Keep smiling and keep contributing!

Thanks @Globe_trotter_Ish for highlighting Sumaiya!

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What an inspiring story, @SumaiyaZafrin.

Can’t agree more on this. And every quality contribution makes Google Maps richer and richer. I am so proud of you Sumaiya and I am glad that I had the opportunity to meet you in person, even though for a short time, but I learned what a wonderful person you are as a friend too.
Thank you @Globe_trotter_Ish for sharing this wonderful story.

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@SumaiyaZafrin guaaaa impresionante historial dentro de la comunidad,todo un ejemplo. Una gran Local Guide. Saludos :100:

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It’s truly an inspiring story and congratulations @SumaiyaZafrin Apu