How Data Management can Promote Positive Change

“My experience with the Ayin team has been truly inspiring”. - Shannon Long, ERM Foundation

Shannon Long has been a key player in data management and its correlation to positive change by educating the Ugandan team on how to utilize convenient geospatial software to organize their data. 

For the past thirty years, the ERM (Environmental Resources Management) Foundation has worked to provide support to hundreds of nonprofit organizations across fifty countries. This includes organizations seeking assistance in funding, engineering, and data management. There is a software that contributes to the data analytics called ArcGIS (‘Arc’ descending from early GIS concepts like vector “arcs” (lines/polygons) and GIS standing for Geographic Information System). ArcGIS takes layers of points, lines, and polygons and assigns them a spatial reference. It has the platform to store and manage these points, then visualize them in map form. Furthermore, the data can be queried and analyzed, thus changing how it is viewed on the map - it can filter out what you do and don’t want to see for specific circumstances. 

Greg Isles is the link between the ERM Foundation 🔗 and The Ayin Project (thanks to a generous grant and probono support from the ERM foundation), which began in September of 2024. It was Greg who introduced Shannon to the Ayin team. Shannon has an Undergrad in Geography and Planning with an emphasis in GIS. Her certifications in GIS and 3D modeling contributed to her skills in expanding the Ayin team’s knowledge on how to use the ArcGIS software and introduce them to ArcGIS dashboards and Story Maps. Previously, the team in Uganda had been using ESRI’s ArcGIS Survey123, which displayed pre-intervention data where readers could select specific areas and see all of the data related to that specific niche. ArcGIS isn’t just tabular data in a table format - nor is it paragraphic summarizations. It is visual information displayed in such a manner that the user may digest it quickly. For example, data has been color-coded to signal whether or not it meets the desired standard. For TAP, this technology and training is crucial because the data collected through ArcGIS is assisting our local team in both understanding water accessibility challenges, and creating data-informed solutions to such challenges.

“In my limited scope and exposure to The Ayin Project over the past year, they’ve impacted over 4,000 students in Uganda”. - Shannon Long, ERM Foundation

Elijah Nsubuga, a Ugandan team member, has shared how the training benefited him: “It has broadened my understanding of remote and hybrid data collection methods, allowing me to explore and leverage ESRI resources such as Survey123. I am now able to create effective surveys, collect data, and develop informative dashboards on ArcGIS Online, presenting complex data in a clear and comprehensible manner. This skill has not only enhanced my professional capabilities but also empowered me to contribute more meaningfully to our organization's goals." He goes on to say:

"Overall, my experience with ArcGIS has been transformative, and I am excited to continue exploring its potential to drive positive change.” - Elijah Nsubuga, TAP Lab and Field Technician, GIS Specialist

Naturally, the software has aspects that make it slightly tedious. The nomenclature of the data entry is very sensitive and specific. For example, a school could be unintentionally counted twice, based upon the capitalization or spelling of the entry. So ArcGIS has minor setbacks and nuances, but the convenience of the data mapping and the time investment in the training and learning process makes it worthwhile. 

Shannon notes that while she appreciates the importance and potential of the ArcGIS software, she has found the most enjoyment in getting to work with The Ayin Project. Though the initial objective was to simply deliver the ArcGIS training to the Ugandan team, Shannon was struck by their eagerness to learn. The team wanted to learn more about the software and discover how they could implement it into the projects that were in progress. Shannon was able to witness first hand the enthusiasm that the team had in their commitment and determination to create a positive impact on their community: “While the team has expressed deep gratitude to ERM Foundation and to me personally, I firmly believe that I'm the one that gained the most from this experience.”

Shannon expressed the dedication shown by the team has been remarkable. Sometimes, team members would be on the road and joining the training calls - making it a point to be present. There would occasionally be talk of whether or not a storm would prevent team members from getting home, or there would be connectivity issues -  but despite the hurdles - they never wavered. “They were constantly happy and engaged in these training calls no matter where they were or what situation was upon them. All of those elements and all of those variables were pretty eye-opening to me”. 

"While the team has expressed deep gratitude to ERM Foundation and to me personally, I firmly believe that I'm the one that gained the most from this experience.” - Shannon Long, ERM Foundation

Working with The Ayin Project has been a pleasure so far - but what excites Shannon the most about the collaboration is the ability to witness firsthand the positive impact that Ayin has made on people: “In my limited scope and exposure to The Ayin Project over the past year, they’ve impacted over 4,000 students in Uganda”. The ripple effect it has created leaves a lasting impression on those who come in contact with The Ayin Project and its mission to improve lives through water accessibility. Shannon has played a cardinal role in the data collective process, and though she feels she has gained the most from her experience, helping TAP’s Ugandan team utilize this software to its fullest potential - with the mission of safe, clean water for all- has been a blessing! Thank you, Shannon. 

Additional Content: View more from the interview 🎙️