At the same time interviews are taking place, the entire community and any infrastructure or resources will be mapped out. This is done with a process called participatory mapping which includes the community in the process, and can be done either by walking with a few members of the community and having them point out important resources or infrastructure, or by having the community come together and draw out the map as a group.
These maps are very important for many reasons. They serve to show HydrateLife what, if any, water and sanitation infrastructure already exists in the community. The maps can also show land ownership boundaries so if we’re installing infrastructure, such as piping, we will know who to talk to, or areas we need to avoid. The locations of water collection points, where people go to the bathroom, agricultural areas, and livestock will also be labeled. These maps will be instrumental in developing a solution that will work for the entire community.