Ayubowan from Sri Lanka,

My name is Hasna from Sri Lanka, and I bring over 3.8 years of experience in OpenStreetMap (OSM) and humanitarian geospatial work. I began as a self-learner with limited engagement, but my journey has evolved into sustained, impact-driven contribution at both national and global levels.

In 2022, I joined UNOPS Sri Lanka, where I worked within capacity-building initiatives for civil society organizations. In this role, I actively promoted OpenStreetMap, open-source GIS, and humanitarian mapping through HOT. Through the UNOPS Vriddhi Project, I directly trained over 100 civil society partners, strengthening local mapping capacity and enabling wider adoption of geospatial tools in development work. This experience grounded my understanding of how open mapping translates into real-world community impact.

A defining milestone in my journey was attending State of the Map 2025 in Manila. This experience significantly reshaped my perspective on the global humanitarian mapping ecosystem. It allowed me to connect with experienced mappers, mentors, and contributors, and establish a strong professional network. Since then, my engagement with HOT has become more structured, consistent, and purpose-driven.

Currently, I serve as the Country Lead for Sri Lanka under WOM Asia Navigators, where I support community engagement and capacity development in open mapping. Over the past seven months, I have completed more than 190 HOT tasks across disaster preparedness, disaster response, and recovery operations, demonstrating sustained technical contribution in humanitarian contexts.

What does HOT mean to you? HOT represents a global humanitarian ecosystem that transforms geospatial data into life-saving action. To me, it is not just a platform, but a collaborative force of mappers, organizations, and communities working to ensure that vulnerable populations are visible, supported, and included in disaster preparedness and response systems.

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I had the incredible opportunity to represent Vriddhi Project – UNOPS Sri Lanka at the State of the Map 2025 Conference, where I presented a talk on “Mapping for Impact: Introducing Open Mapping to Civil Society in Sri Lanka.”

During this session, I shared how Vriddhi Project empowers civil society organizations (CSOs) across Sri Lanka to harness data and geospatial technologies for better advocacy, planning, and community engagement. Civil society often faces challenges in visualizing, analyzing, and applying data effectively. Geospatial tools allow CSOs to map resources, identify gaps, track progress, and communicate evidence-based solutions, amplifying their impact at the grassroots level.

The session resonated strongly with the audience because it highlighted real-life applications, measurable results, and the transformative power of open mapping. Participants were inspired to see how geospatial tools can turn abstract data into actionable insights that drive social change.

Thanks to State Of The Map and Open Mapping Hub - Asia Pacific for creating opportunities

I had the incredible opportunity to represent Vriddhi Project – UNOPS Sri Lanka at the State of the Map 2025, held in Manila, Philippines from October 3rd to 5th, 2025.

As part of this global gathering of open mapping enthusiasts, I conducted a hands-on workshop titled “Getting Started with QGIS: Beginner’s Guide to Mapping with Open Source Tools.” The session introduced participants to the exciting world of open geospatial technology and its potential to create positive impact at community level.

During the workshop, we explored: - OpenStreetMap (OSM) and the HOT Tasking Manager for collaborative and humanitarian mapping. - Open data sources such as Planet OSM, Geofabrik, BBBike, and Overpass Turbo. - How to select the right data type, perform data cleaning, and integrate datasets into QGIS effectively. - Practical mapping exercises that turned open data into meaningful stories and insights.

The energy in the room was inspiring — participants from different backgrounds came together to learn, question, and create. The conversations around open data, inclusivity, and sustainable development reaffirmed my belief that maps are more than visuals — they’re bridges that connect people, places, and purpose.

Heartfelt thanks to the State Of The Map 2025 organizers, Open Mapping Hub - Asia Pacific and the passionate mapping community for this enriching experience!