Botswana

Eswatini

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Worldwide

**🌍 Scenario 1: Mapping for Advocacy and Awareness**

Communities are experiencing a range of climate and environmental risks, yet decision-makers often lack localized, up-to-date data to respond effectively. Through participatory mapping using HOT’s Open Mapping tool, **ChatMap**, contributors document these risks and generate evidence to support advocacy, planning, and resource allocation.

🌧️ Flooding is one example of how climate risks manifest at the local level. Mapping blocked drainage systems, culverts, bridges, and flood-prone roads helps illustrate how infrastructure and environmental factors increase exposure.

**Key features mapped include:**

* 🏠 Infrastructure and buildings located in high-risk areas
* 🌿 Wetlands affected by encroachment
* 🚰 Water points (wells, tanks, boreholes)
* 🌾 Farmlands impacted by environmental changes
* 🌳 Forest areas experiencing encroachment or degradation
* 🗑️ Waste disposal sites affecting environmental and public health
* 🏫 Evacuation centres such as schools and community facilities

This open data enables local authorities, NGOs, and community leaders to better understand overlapping climate and environmental risks. By contributing and collaborating through open mapping, communities can advocate for improved infrastructure, environmental protection, and risk-informed planning that supports long-term resilience.

**🌱 Scenario 2: Identifying Climate Risks and Contributing to Solutions**

In addition to documenting risks, contributors support locally led solutions to address these challenges.

🌡️ In communities experiencing rising urban temperatures, contributors can:

* 🌳 Map existing tree cover and identify areas with limited vegetation
* 🌱 Support tree planting initiatives and document new trees using ChatMap
* 🗑️ Identify and map illegal waste disposal sites contributing to blocked drainage and environmental hazards
* 🤝 Collaborate on community clean-up activities to reduce waste accumulation

By combining mapping with local action, contributors generate data that informs urban planning, promotes greener environments, and reduces climate-related risks such as heat stress and flooding while actively contributing to solutions.

**🎯 Who is this activity ?**

This activity is ideal for anyone interested in exploring career opportunities in climate change 🌍, open mapping tools 🗺️, and gaining a deeper understanding of climate risks, resilience, and climate action using open mapping tool🌱.

**📘 What you will do:**

✔️Carry out a climate mapping Action or Map for advocacy

**⏱️ Time commitment:**

🕒 Approximately 3 hours — in person climate action, mapping using ChatMap.

**🏆 Certification:**

Upon successful completion of all modules and scoring 80% or above in the assessment, you’ll receive:

🎓 A certificate of participation

🏅 A digital Open Badge to share on your profiles

**🌐 Course background:**

This event is developed mainly for the Youth  for the Youth Force Project for the youth in Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini but will be open after the project closeout for use by other youth.

English

Climate Change Adaptation

Climate Change Mitigation

Digital Learning Technology

Environmental Analysis

🌍 Groups map climate risks and solutions using ChatMap documenting floods, waste, trees & infrastructure to support resilience planning 🌱

Opportunity 4: Climate Action - Field POI Mapping Using ChatMap