CaucasusMap

Check out our blog and see photos from this project on Flickr.

JumpStart International is continuing it's mapping program in the Republic of Georgia with a pilot project in the Shida Kartli region which surrounds the city of Gori, 20 kilometers south of Ossetia.  This time around we're harnessing the power of community-sourced data, engaging volunteers and training them in GPS mapping and the OpenStreetMap approach to data collection.

Community Organizers are leading the way forward, organizing volunteer youth, delivering trainings and presentations, and conducting outreach to community organizations in the region.

While we're pursuing a volunteer approach that emphasizes education, community, and fun, organizers will ensure the quality and accuracy of data collected.  After the two month pilot Shida Kartli will be mapped, a strong network of mappers and organizations will be in place, and best practices for community outreach will be developed.  Toward the end of the project we'll pursue opportunities fo putting the data to local use, and with luck the program will expand throughout Georgia and the Caucasus.