The Journey of Building the MST Map Website: A Platform for Military Sexual Trauma Survivors
MST map began as an idea that kept lingering in my mind… What if there was a map for MST survivors? I remembered seeing an amazing Me-Too map, and wondered what a similar platform for MST survivors might look like. I searched around the internet and didn’t see anything.
First Attempt: Navigating Uncharted Territory
Having very little prior web development experience, the prospect of building an interactive map and website was daunting. On top of that, dealing with shame issues made it difficult to pitch my idea to web design firms.
After some time I found a designer willing to take on the project. Sadly, the first attempt at creating the website turned out to be an expensive and disastrous endeavor. The company prioritized quick results over quality and charged exorbitant fees for even the smallest tasks. The cost was not sustainable.
Rebuilding a New MST Map Page
Determined not to give up, I took some classes and decided to try again on my own. I used the data collected from the original site to populate the new MST map. This project has been and continues to be a labor of love.
Hoping for Success
Every new marker placed on the map is heart wrenching. Each and every marker represents the pain of betrayal and a life forever changed. Success, in this context, means a way for survivors to feel less alone. It means telling the collective story of MST in a new way.
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