This hands-on workshop is designed for beginners who are curious about Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and want to explore the power of open-source mapping through QGIS. Participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of GIS, the QGIS interface, and basic tools for creating, editing, and visualizing spatial data. The session will include a practical component where attendees will carry out a simple mapping task using real-world datasets. Whether you're a student, researcher, development professional, or simply GIS-curious, this workshop will equip you with the foundational skills to start your own mapping journey. No prior GIS experience required—just bring your curiosity!

Over the past few years, the open mapping movement in Sri Lanka has witnessed a quiet revolution—led not by tech giants, but by grassroots changemakers. In this talk, I will share my journey of introducing and integrating OpenStreetMap (OSM) and open geospatial tools into the workflows of 78 civil society organizations spanning all 25 districts of Sri Lanka.

From initial awareness sessions to hands-on training, the talk will walk through how open maps were demystified and transformed into powerful tools for advocacy, community development, disaster preparedness, and resource mapping. I’ll highlight real-life use cases where OSM contributed to amplifying local voices and solving local challenges, including navigating post-disaster recovery and environmental monitoring.

The session will also explore the barriers encountered—technical, institutional, and cultural—and the creative strategies employed to overcome them. By the end, participants will gain insights into the practical steps for initiating open mapping in grassroots settings, the importance of local ownership, and why civil society must be central to the open data conversation in South Asia.

Let’s map the unmapped—together, for change.