Youth Cohort Conducts Ground-Level Needs Mapping in Eastlands
Youth volunteers conduct ground-level needs mapping in Nairobi's Eastlands area.
As part of its ongoing community cohort, the Innovation For Humanity Foundation supported a team of 18 youth volunteers last week to conduct ground-level needs mapping in Nairobi's Eastlands area.
Using simple community surveys and walk-abouts, the youth mapped water access points, waste disposal sites, and areas lacking safe play spaces for children. The exercise aimed to help participants better understand the specific needs of residents in targeted neighbourhoods such as Babadogo and Kariobangi.
Volunteers worked in small teams, recording observations with GPS maps and structured questionnaires. Local elders and community health workers also shared insights on seasonal challenges — such as flooding, which affects water quality and sanitation.
Next, the cohort will compile this data into a visual community "needs atlas" that can be shared with local partners, including youth groups and county planners. Organizers emphasized that while the mapping project is not a comprehensive survey, it provides useful, community-generated evidence to guide practical action planning.
"One of the strengths of this process is that residents themselves helped frame the questions and interpret results," said a programme facilitator. Participants noted that this grassroots mapping helped them see everyday challenges more clearly, especially where infrastructure and services are limited.
The Foundation plans to host a community feedback session next month where the youth will present initial findings and invite suggestions for small follow-up actions that residents can take together.