My name is Walter Mayeku, a postgrad urban planner and currently working as a geospatial engineer and a volunteer at the OSM Kenya working group. So initially when we were bidding to host this year’s conference all our hopes were revolving around having a physical conference you know… The interactive sessions and the entire networking platforms. Thanks to the entire SOTMA 2021 committees and the local community (OSM Kenya) for putting so much selfless efforts to see us have such a great first virtual conference. Personally I enjoyed and left enlightened because it was more that what I anticipated. If there is much I have learnt from the pitching, speeches and networking is that you can not underestimate the role of partnershipsand local government involvement in the development of bigger community based groups and projects. Listening to some of the most enlightening presentations has helped me on how to analyse existing community projects as we as a community plan to undertake bigger projects from this new phase. Thank you for making the event a success.