“The biggest indicator of team spirit is when someone wants to celebrate their birthday with their teammates. I want to,” it is David Shindyan, the advisor and head of the cartography team for the “WorldView” program, who desires to spend his day with colleagues.

Our colleague, who can effortlessly “travel” to various places and times through maps, reflects back to the end of 2020, when Hovhannes Ghazaryan, the Director of the Visual Armenia Development Foundation and the creator of the “WorldView” educational innovative platform, introduced the idea of the platform.

“At that time, it was still in the embryonic stage, but I was already excited by the idea of dynamic maps and the possibility that the world’s view could change before the observer’s eyes as the years changed. We envisioned the dynamism, but we didn’t know how it would be done technically,” David recalls.

David, a specialist in environmental and waste management fields, has managed to collaborate with public and private sectors and various NGOs throughout his rich professional experience. During the creation of WorldView, he also revived his cartographic skills. The initial phase of work involved active meetings and discussions with quality specialists in the field. Over time, the work format was developed, and they got to work. “In the beginning, we thought that 5-6, a maximum of 10 people would be enough to create the platform. However, with the increasing need, the team expanded, and the volume of work increased,” David notes.

One of the biggest challenges in the cartographic work of WorldView was finding specialists, as they are few in the. Experts in historical geography with cartographic skills were needed. “We aim to fill the bank of cartographers. We have developed a cartography training program where participants will study the work in detail and join the team,” David announces.

He is known for his critical approach in the team, reviewing both his and the Foundation representatives’ work from multiple perspectives, much like a favorite map. “I try to understand whether what is presented is correct or if it can be done better. I do the same in my work, constantly trying to find new ways and solutions. Of course, it doesn’t always work, but this approach is useful,” says David, mentioning his wish of having a platform like WorldView during his school years. “I would have been the kind of student who would find shortcomings in the platform, send them in a letter, and follow the changes. I encourage all students to do this to help improve the platform’s capabilities,” says the head of the cartographic team.

The achievements as of now are both inspiring and obliging for David. The platform offers several advantages: accessibility, accuracy, and the opportunity to view history in a broader context. The goal is not only to maintain quality but also to develop new projects.

“The Foundation sets a new benchmark with its activities. Those coming after us will already have a starting point and a foundation to build upon. Visual Armenia is doing important work, and I am pleased to be a part of it,” David notes.