What is Participatory Asset Mapping?

The first Step in Mobilizing a community is Mapping completely the capacities and assets of individuals, citizens’ associations and local institutes.

How do I even attempt this? Participatory Asset Mapping!

What is Participatory Asset Mapping?

Imagine moving into a new neighborhood or community, and not knowing where anything is. As a new resident you’re going to want to know the location of the closest grocery store, library, the schools your children are going to go to, community center, best local restaurants and your shortest path to work. You may have many options for finding this information but your best option is to ask someone who lives there in which you can relate to with similar life struggles. They will probably direct you as well as offer a wealth of information, contacts and personal experiences about them.

Now imagine working with a group of your neighbors to identify the locations of these on a map, with information and personal experiences about each. This would be the beginnings of your own Participatory Asset Mapping activity.

Participatory Mapping is the process of creating a tangible display of the people, places and experiences that make up a community, through community members themselves identifying them on a map. Asset mapping is the general process of…