My 10-Year Journey from Google Maps Maker to Connect Live Attendee: A Cambodian Local Guide’s Story

Back in 2010, digital maps of Cambodia were limited — many streets were missing, and local landmarks were nowhere to be found online. That’s when I began contributing as a Google Map Maker, with one simple goal: to help make my country visible on the map.

What began as mapping roads and places soon turned into a journey of community, impact, and global recognition. I became a Map Maker Trainer and Regional Lead in Cambodia, later a Local Guides Community Moderator, and eventually one of the few contributors selected among thousands of applicants worldwide to attend Google’s international summits.

From 2016 to 2019, I was honored to be selected four years in a row to join the global Local Guides events at Google HQ in California. And now, in 2025, my journey continues as I prepare to attend Connect Live Tokyo 2025 — a new milestone I never expected. This is the story of that journey.

[Collage] Chamnan Muon at Local Guides Summit 2016-2019

How It All Began: Joining Google Maps as a Map Maker

When Google Map Maker launched, it gave local people a chance to shape their country’s map using firsthand knowledge. In Cambodia, this was a game-changer. I began contributing places like pagodas, schools, clinics, and even narrow streets that didn’t exist on any digital platform.

As one of the earliest active contributors, I took part in local mapping competitions and even documented one memorable experience — mapping while caring for a baby nearby during a mapping event! That moment reminded me how personal and meaningful this mission is. You can read more about that story here: Cambodia Mapping Competition with a Baby Nearby.

“Every pin, every photo, every edit tells a story — and I’m proud to tell Cambodia’s.”

These early contributions helped put Cambodia more clearly on the map, making it easier for both locals and travelers to find essential places.

Becoming a Local Guides Community Moderator in Cambodia

After Map Maker was retired and integrated into Google Maps, the Local Guides program opened a new path in 2015 to contribute and connect. I became a Community Moderator in Cambodia, supporting and growing the local Local Guides community.

Email invitation for Local Guides Unofficial Community Moderator Training 2016

From helping users write quality reviews to encouraging photo contributions and edits, we created a space where Cambodians could share their knowledge and celebrate their local culture with the world.

Cambodia Local Guides's First Meetup and Sharing to Community

Selected for Local Guides Summit 2016: A Global First

In 2016, Google announced its first-ever Local Guides Summit in Mountain View, California. Thousands of applicants from around the world submitted their stories. I was incredibly honored to be one of just 75 Local Guides selected globally to attend this historic summit.

Chaman Muon at Google HQ for Google Local Guides Summit 2016

It was my first time visiting Google HQ — and the first time Cambodia was represented in this global Local Guides event. The summit brought together passionate contributors from around the world to share ideas, learn from Googlers, and build lifelong friendships.

From Summit to Connect Live: Selected Four Years in a Row

After 2016, the program grew — and so did the events. I was thrilled to be selected again in 2017, 2018, and 2019, each year among thousands of applicants worldwide.

2017 – Local Guides Summit (150 Participants): I returned to California with an even larger and more diverse group — and this time, Cambodia was represented even more strongly with three of us proudly attending. We participated in product feedback sessions, shared regional insights, and explored how Local Guides could help improve features like accessibility, reviews, and business listings.

2018 – Connect Live (200 Participants): The summit was rebranded as Connect Live, welcoming more contributors from more countries. I met Local Guides from all continents and shared Cambodia’s progress in mapping lesser-known places and cultural landmarks.
2019 – Connect Live (200 Participants): In my fourth year as a summit attendee, I was proud to represent consistency, passion, and the impact of long-term contributions. We focused on building sustainable communities, mapping for accessibility, and supporting local economies.

Key Takeaways from 4 Years of Global Summits

Local knowledge has global impact: Even small edits make a big difference when they’re shared on a global map.
Community building matters: Leading Local Guides meet-ups and online groups helped others learn and contribute more.
Maps are personal: Every place we add or review represents a story — a memory worth sharing.
We’re stronger together: The friendships formed with other Local Guides became lasting connections that continue today.

A New Chapter: Connect Live Tokyo 2025 🇯🇵

Just when I thought the summit journey had come to an end — I was surprised and deeply honored to be selected again, this time for a new regional event: Connect Live Tokyo, happening on July 24–25, 2025.

“Your participation in the Local Guides community and helpful contributions to Google Maps have helped us shape the Map over the last decade.” — Connect Live Tokyo Invitation

This event brings together top Local Guides from across Asia-Pacific for two days of collaboration, workshops, and celebration. It’s a fresh experience in a new region — and one that reconnects me with the mission I began 15 years ago.

Email Invitation by Google to Chamnan Muon for Connect Live Tokyo 2025

📌 Stay connected — I’ll be sharing my full recap and behind-the-scenes highlights after the summit!

🎯 What I Gained in These 4 Years

Attending four global summits—Connect Live and Community Summits—was more than just a privilege; it was a transformative experience. Here’s what I’ve gained along the way:

Global Exposure: From Phnom Penh to the world stage — sharing Cambodia’s story with an international audience
Product Knowledge: Learning directly from the Google Maps team, including community leads, product managers, and engineers
Community Voice: Becoming a trusted voice to advocate for better local content and accessibility in Cambodia
Friendship & Collaboration: Building lasting connections with inspiring Local Guides across continents

These summits weren’t just events — they were moments of growth, learning, and connection that continue to inspire my contributions.

📚 Continuing the Mission: Training and Empowering Others

My journey with Google Maps didn’t stop at contributing places or attending global summits. Over the years, I’ve continued to support and train a wide range of users — including professionals, students, business owners, public servants, and people with disabilities — on how to use Google Maps effectively and contribute as Local Guides.

From helping professionals navigate advanced features to teaching business owners how to manage their online presence, or guiding people with disabilities on using accessibility-friendly features, my goal has always been to make Google Maps more useful and inclusive for everyone.

These training sessions, held both online and offline, reflect the heart of the Local Guides program: people helping people through knowledge and local insights.

Chamnan Munon - Continuing the Mission: Training and Empowering Others

📸 Featured in Local Media

Over the years, my Google Maps contributions and summit stories have been featured in several Cambodian media outlets, both in English and Khmer. These stories helped raise awareness about the Local Guides program and inspired others to get involved.

These recognitions aren’t just personal honors — they’re reminders that local contributions truly matter.

🙏 Acknowledgments: Thank You to the People Behind My Journey

Behind every map contribution, review, photo, and summit experience is a network of people who supported me — both online and offline. I want to take a moment to say thank you:

To my parents and family: Thank you for your love and encouragement throughout the years. Your support made this journey possible.
To my friends and colleagues: Thank you for your motivation, enthusiasm, and for believing in my work.
To the amazing Local Guides community in Cambodia: Your spirit, energy, and collaboration have made our local impact truly meaningful.
To the Googlers and the Google Maps team: Thank you for creating this platform, for your vision, and for welcoming Local Guides from all backgrounds to help improve the world through maps.

🧭 Final Reflections: From Map Maker to Global Advocate

Looking back, I’m proud of the journey — not just for the events I’ve attended, but for the people I’ve helped, the places I’ve mapped, and the friends I’ve made.

Google Maps is more than a navigation tool — it’s a living, evolving story of our communities. And as Local Guides, we are the storytellers. Whether you're updating business hours or adding a remote waterfall in Cambodia, your contribution has power.

If you're reading this and wondering where to start, the answer is simple: start with your local knowledge. Add that café you love. Write a review. Upload a photo. You never know — your journey might take you somewhere incredible, too.

📣 Want to Join the Journey?

Are you ready to put your knowledge on the map? Sign up to be a Local Guide here.

Already a Local Guide? Join the global community at Local Guides Connect — a space to share your stories, tips, and feedback with other contributors and Googlers.

Let’s keep putting Cambodia — and every corner of the world — on the map, together.