Maps have always fascinated me. As a trained geologist, my world revolved around geological maps, and carefully drawn lines that told stories of rock formations, mineral wealth, and the mysteries beneath our feet. But in the heart of my CorpsAfrica/Kenya journey, I discovered a new kind of map that charted not rocks, but relationships; not minerals, but potential; not the earth’s crust, but the soul of a community.
It began as a blank sheet, much like the untouched soil of a field waiting for seeds. Guided by the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, our community mapping session brought together young and old, men and women, to sketch their world, not just as it was, but also as they dreamed it could be with a self-driven change.
The first strokes highlighted the assets they loved: the plantations they cherished, the community borehole that provided life-sustaining water to all, and the primary school teeming with children whose curiosity promised a brighter future. These were not just places; they were lifelines.
We then traced where the community spent most of their time. The coffee plantations, unsurprisingly, were the heart of activity, along with the local church compounds and a football field where youths gathered for games and camaraderie. Yet, as the map grew, so did the silences, the places people avoided, and the unloved assets. An abandoned facility came up. These gaps became the canvas for areas of improvement. What could be done with the disused facilities? Could the borehole on the outskirts serve not just for water but for irrigation projects? What about the football field, could it host more than games, maybe community forums or mentorship programs?
As we probed deeper, we uncovered assets within their reach, including human assets, and how some were of necessity in solving the gaps that were noticed. The mapping exercise revealed more than diversity in age, it illuminated the richness of the community’s population. From the elder who told stories of the village’s past to the adolescent dreaming of coding classes, everyone had a role to play. This kaleidoscope of perspectives underscored the importance of inclusion, ensuring every voice mattered.
To turn this vision into action, the community formed a culminating committee. Comprised of respected elders, enthusiastic youth, and professionals, this group took up the mantle to champion solutions linked with the assets identified. Their mandate? To explore the needs highlighted in the mapping exercise and spearhead initiatives with the resources already within their reach.
Through this process, I realized how limited my geological maps had been. They traced the earth’s secrets but couldn’t reveal the depths of human potential. This new map wasn’t static, it was alive, dynamic, and brimming with the community’s resilience and dreams. It taught me that development isn’t about imposing solutions but about celebrating and activating what’s already present.
Sometimes, the most powerful maps are not those etched in stone but those drawn from the heart, maps that connect people to their potential and communities to their purpose.
