Ideas worth spreading

My journey mapping the uncharted world

1,371,679 views |

Tawanda Kanhema |

TED Salon: Brightline Initiative

• November 2020

Significant pieces of the globe are literally not on the map: they're missing from the most widely used mapping platforms, like Google Street View, leaving communities neglected of vital services and humanitarian aid. In this globetrotting talk, photographer Tawanda Kanhema takes us along on his journey to map 3,000 miles of uncharted areas in Zimbabwe, Namibia and northern Canada -- and shows how we can all contribute to building a more connected world.

Significant pieces of the globe are literally not on the map: they're missing from the most widely used mapping platforms, like Google Street View, leaving communities neglected of vital services and humanitarian aid. In this globetrotting talk, photographer Tawanda Kanhema takes us along on his journey to map 3,000 miles of uncharted areas in Zimbabwe, Namibia and northern Canada -- and shows how we can all contribute to building a more connected world.

This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with Brightline Initiative. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TED Salons.

Start mapping. Help communities by participating in Humanitarian OpenStreetMap's open-source mapping exercises.

About the speaker

Tawanda Kanhema

Tawanda Kanhema

Photographer, digital strategist

See speaker profile

Tawanda Kanhema puts cities on the map with the goal of improving digital inclusion by accelerating the distribution of technology solutions in places where they are most needed.

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About TED Salon

TED Salons welcome an intimate audience for an afternoon or evening of highly-curated TED Talks revolving around a globally relevant theme. A condensed version of a TED flagship conference, they are distinct in their brevity, opportunities for conversation, and heightened interaction between the speaker and audience.

Read more about TED Salons

This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with Brightline Initiative. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TED Salons.

Start mapping. Help communities by participating in Humanitarian OpenStreetMap's open-source mapping exercises.