Ushahidi

Ever wondered how your tech skills can do more than just solve bugs and build code? What if we told you they could help create real-world impact and drive meaningful change? In her latest article for the Mozilla blog, Angela Oduor Lungati, Ushahidi’s Executive Director, shares her journey in open-source development and offers practical advice for anyone looking to make a difference. She highlights how open-source isn’t just about writing code; it’s about building communities, collaborating with others, and crafting solutions that truly empower people. Angela’s story is a testament to how getting involved in open-source can lead to growth, learning, and leadership opportunities, ultimately shaping the future of tech for good. 🔗 Read the full article here https://lnkd.in/dqWWQRc4 Let's chat. How are you making your mark on the world of technology? #OpenSource #TechForGood #Ushahidi #EmpowerThroughTech

Ushahidi is a not-for-profit pioneering open-source software platform originally developed in Kenya that has revolutionized how communities report and respond to crises. Ushahidi was born out of necessity during a period of political instability in Kenya following the disputed 2007 presidential elections. Since then, it has evolved into a global leader in crowdmapping technology and data collection, empowering individuals and organizations to visualize and act upon critical information in real time. This tool simply enables users to collaboratively track events on a map using social media, SMS, or email. Since its inception, Ushahidi has been deployed in over 160 countries for various purposes, including humanitarian response, election monitoring, and human rights reporting. Ushahidi played a vital role in coordinating disaster response efforts for the Haiti Earthquake in 2010. Ushahidi stands as a testament to the power of community-driven innovation and the potential of technology to address pressing societal challenges.

What happens when you align your skills with your values? For BLESSING EJOGBAMU, it opened the door to an enlightening journey. Blessing joined Ushahidi through the Outreachy program, diving into an accessibility project she felt deeply connected to. She didn’t know much about accessibility testing at first, but her curiosity and determination led her to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact. Her advice? “𝘼𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 - 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.” Curious about how passion and purpose come together to create change? Read Blessing’s inspiring story and see how small actions can make a big difference. https://lnkd.in/dcq_URwR

Today, the safety of women in public spaces remains a pressing concern. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 1 in 3 women globally have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. (https://lnkd.in/eFikncF) In urban environments, the situation is particularly alarming. In Sydney, for instance, 90% of women feel unsafe at night, and 30% feel unsafe even during the day, as cited in this article by WSP in Australia. (https://lnkd.in/gyJ3vEX4) To address these challenges, initiatives like OpenHerMap are crucial. Developed by the OpenHerMap Team, in collaboration with The Open Mapping Hub - Asia Pacific and Perkumpulan OpenStreetMap Indonesia, this platform empowers communities to map women-only spaces in public facilities. By identifying and promoting these safe havens, OpenHerMap not only enhances women's safety but also fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment. The need for such initiatives is underscored by global statistics. In the United States, 68% of women have reported being harassed in public spaces (https://lnkd.in/dHQKjhtV). In addition to this, UN Women UK indicates that almost 9 in 10 women in some cities worldwide feel unsafe in public spaces (https://lnkd.in/dHfrdSXC). By contributing to OpenHerMap, individuals can play a pivotal role in transforming public spaces into areas where women feel safe, respected, and valued. Visit the OpenHerMap Guidelines to learn how you can contribute. https://lnkd.in/d_ehaGry and explore the deployment here https://lnkd.in/dZxyfG-c

How can technology amplify voices and transform communities around the world? For Fanying Xu, volunteering with Ushahidi was an opportunity to answer that question while contributing to a mission she deeply believes in. As a volunteer, Fanying worked on integrating external survey services into Ushahidi’s platform, creating scalable and secure solutions that strengthen how communities gather and act on critical data. Her work supports Ushahidi’s vision of advancing data equity and ensuring that every voice, especially those often unheard, can drive meaningful change. Fanying’s contributions illustrate how volunteers bring fresh perspectives and technical expertise to help Ushahidi grow and create solutions that leave a lasting impact. Curious about the transformative role volunteers play in shaping the future of tech for good? Here's her story: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dSn4shdG

Timor-Leste ranks 20th on the World Risk Index, making it one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. El Niño amplifies these risks, leaving communities to face severe droughts and floods, food insecurity, and water scarcity. But in the municipalities of Bobonaro and Covalima, resilience is being mapped - literally. World Vision Timor-Leste, supported by the Australian Government and G-SIG Timor-Leste, is leveraging the Ushahidi platform to empower local communities to take charge of their futures. By identifying vulnerable households and children, this deployment ensures that those most impacted by climate change have the tools to document challenges and co-create solutions. This is the power of data equity - local voices driving strategies that address real, immediate needs while building long-term resilience. 🔗 Explore how mapping is shaping a better future: https://lnkd.in/dDen3VhK #DataEquity #ClimateAction #Ushahidi #TimorLeste

What if the communities most affected by El Niño and other effects of climate change had the power to map their own future? In Bobonaro and Covalima, Timor-Leste, World Vision Timor-Leste is leveraging the Ushahidi platform to put the tools of change into the hands of those who need them most. By empowering local voices, especially vulnerable households and children, they are helping to unlock real solutions, turning data into resilience and action. With support from the Australian Government and the G-SIG Timor-Leste, this effort highlights that data equity is essential for real, lasting change. We believe everyone deserves a seat at the table, and communities should have the power to shape the solutions to their own challenges. Our platform helps ensure that the voices of the most disenfranchised are not only heard but drive the decisions that impact their lives. 📍 Learn more about the deployment here: https://lnkd.in/dDen3VhK

"Innovation doesn’t happen on the rational path. Instead of striving to fit in, consider what unconventional path could lead to the outcomes you want to see." – Angela Oduor Lungati, #MozFest House Zambia Watch the full conversation here: mzl.la/47Gkbug

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲? Meet Felicity Essien, one of our QA volunteers. When Felicity joined us through the Outreachy program, she saw an opportunity to combine personal growth with meaningful impact. Drawn to Ushahidi’s mission to empower disenfranchised communities through technology, she embraced the challenge of learning QA skills while contributing to real-world solutions. Her journey highlights the essence of volunteering at Ushahidi, building expertise, solving critical challenges, and being part of a global community dedicated to driving change where and when it’s needed most. Read Felicity’s story and discover how volunteers like her are shaping the future of tech for good. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/diBxMQBU #UshahidiVolunteers #TechForGood #CommunityContributors

Data is shaping policies, driving innovation, and fueling the future. But what if it’s incomplete? What if it’s excluding the very voices that need to be heard the most? As tech and AI evolve faster than ever, we face a critical question: 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻? At Ushahidi, we’ve spent years working to amplify the voices of disenfranchised groups and communities, transforming their experiences into powerful tools for change. As Angela Oduor Lungati shares in this video from the World Economic Forum, data equity is the key to building a fairer, more inclusive world. It’s time to bridge the gaps and build a future where everyone is seen, and every voice counts and is heard.