“The training and maps provided by the GIS section of Pitchandikulam to teachers of the primary and high schools of Nadukuppam was the instigator for a project undertaken by the school children of Nadukuppam. Using a base map provided by the GIS team the school children in the ‘Getting to know my village project’ drew, described and edited features on the map important to them. This information was then used by the GIS section to draw up a new village map completely in Tamil. The map and information was also used to paint a large mural of their village on the wall of a building in the primary school. A presentation of the map and a description of its features were made by the children to the community as part of the project. The result is the children and the community are now much more aware of their village and have a permanent reference point via the mural map from which to discuss future development in their village”

Village school teachers learning mapping concepts to teach in class

Children learning about maps and their village as part of the school curriculum

Poster map of rural village as part of "Getting to know my village" project

Village map mural painted on the primary school wall compiled using participatory mapping methods

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