Southern Leyte State University YouthMappers Named Among Top 10 Volunteer Regional Ambassadors for 2025 in Asia

In celebration of Earth Day 2025, two outstanding student leaders of Southern Leyte State University have been named as YouthMappers Volunteer Regional Ambassadors— a prestigious recognition awarded to only 10 students across all of Asia. As regional ambassadors, their role supports the sustainability and inclusivity of the global YouthMappers network through volunteerism and peer leadership.

Among the 2025 YouthMappers Volunteer Regional Ambassadors, 24 were selected from Africa, 10 from Asia, including 2 from SLSU, 9 from the Americas, and 1 from Europe—highlighting the truly global scale and diversity of this prestigious cohort.

Volunteer Regional Ambassadors play a vital role in sustaining the momentum of the YouthMappers movement by contributing across key operational areas, including project validation, chapter outreach and campaign support, onboarding of new members, and guiding users through OpenStreetMap (OSM) Teams. Through these efforts, they help maintain an active, connected, and inclusive global mapping community.

This year, Anne Marie Vic E. Lobo and Hyacinth Jane A. Villaverde, both Bachelor of Science in Information Technology students at Southern Leyte State University, have been selected as 2025 YouthMappers Volunteer Regional Ambassadors for Asia, representing the Philippines. Anne currently serves as Chapter President of the SLSU YouthMappers, while Hyacinth holds the position of Financial Manager. Since joining the organization in 2022, both have been instrumental in advancing local mapping initiatives among the youth, with a focus on disaster resilience, environmental stewardship, and community development.

As newly appointed Regional Ambassadors, they will continue to mentor aspiring mappers, support impactful projects, and foster an inclusive mapping ecosystem across Asia and beyond. Their selection is a proud testament to Southern Leyte State University’s ongoing commitment to developing globally conscious, socially responsible leaders who harness the power of technology for meaningful change.

This initiative directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by fostering geographic and digital literacy, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by enabling data-driven solutions for resilience and urban planning, SDG 13 (Climate Action) through the use of mapping for environmental monitoring and disaster preparedness, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by promoting global collaboration through the YouthMappers network. These efforts exemplify how student-led innovation can advance global sustainability and inclusive development.