I am a college student in Social Psychology. For me the Local Guides program is a college field work. Because we do surveys to edit maps, collect data, and gain hands-on experience. This is a completely sociological academic study.
(Connect Live 2020 Application video - Yasumi Kikuchi)
We consider the program to be an activity that can solve future social problems through the study of guides. The keywords are “aging society”, “lifelong learning” and “prevention of social isolation”. Local Guides programs may meet all these needs. My contribution focuses on that future.
Aging society
What is important for the elderly is healthy life expectancy. “Frailty” starts with a walking disorder. Local Guides are walking. What a matching!
When I had a severe injury to my foot in a traffic accident, my doctor recommended a walk with the AR application for rehabilitation. I would promote the program to the elderly based on my lasting experience.
Lifelong learning
It is the most modern fact that I re-entered college. In the future everyone will belong somewhere and continue lifelong learning. My department is medical psychology. However, I study social psychology and statistics for the perfect Local Guides contribution. Local Guides are my motivation to learn. Again, I can share my experiences with everyone.
Preventing social isolation
Social isolation is a major problem in the world, especially in Japan. The biggest benefit of Local Guides Connect is that it brings together people who are working towards the same goal. And be non-profit. These two factors are one of the conditions for making lifelong friends.
What a strong relationship! We have no faction consciousness. We will gladly help others. We can easily meet foreign friends far away. Such a group would be rare.
Therefore, I have been seriously contributing to the development of Connect over the past year.
I am looking academically
My opinion may be severe at times. That’s because I don’t consider my own benefit from the Local Guides program. Everything is focused on the future.
Much of this year’s Connect activity was spent on Idea Exchange. Because I keep insight into the hidden issues between Connect and a map contribution guide.
Let’s use your native language! We are “Local” Guides. ＝母国語で投稿しましょう＝
I would like to introduce one of the opinions in that.
I recommend a multilingual exchange using Google Translate on Connect. Why? Google Maps is an application mainly used for automatic translation. I believe that embodying that is also one of the contributions of the Local Guides.
Thus, I always think it is important that everyone has a chance to participate.
“Eliminating the hidden features that distinguish between those who can and those who can’t” is my recent contribution. The above language issues are one of them.
Because for me, the program is not for myself, but for someone’s future who not yet joined.
Of course, I continue to contribute to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics!
[TOKYO2020] Tokyo Vegan Vegetarian Shops
Google Official Local Guides Olympic Volunteer 2020
Thank you as always Local Guides and Team!
Thank you very much for sharing it here! 
