People helping each other put together some solar panels

GlobalResolve

Solving challenges, impacting lives

What is GlobalResolve

GlobalResolve, an international service learning program at Barrett, started in 2006 as a social entrepreneurship program designed to enhance the educational experience for ASU students by involving them in real-world projects that positively impact communities with need around the world.

Today, our student project teams, led by ASU mentors in collaboration with community partners in Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean, develop projects that address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Projects are people-centered, utilizing a human-centered design approach to ensure the community and its voice guide our work and identify our goals.

Sustainable Development Goals image

GlobalResolve's main objectives

Group of people helping each other in the forest

Make a positive impact

Expose Barrett students to life-changing and culturally immersive experiences that make a positive impact in the world.

Several students working together

Design solutions

Design people-centered solutions and build mutual understanding.

Group of people on top of and next to a jeep, posing for the camera

Empower

Empower grassroots communities with solutions and skills that increase community resilience.

Who students work with

As part of their project, Barrett students work with international universities, residents of rural villages, local governments, financial institutions, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), to find solutions to the most pressing issues identified by key stakeholders in the partner community.

Current mentors for student project teams in GlobalResolve are: Jason Briggs, Jose Moreno, Ana Murphy, Georgette Briggs, Kendon Jung, Sarah Porter, Amanda Ellis and Brian MacCraith.

Jason Briggs along with a bunch of his students in a room

How to get involved

There are a few ways to get involved with GlobalResolve shown below. For more information, please contact Jason Briggs at jason.briggs@asu.edu.

 

  1. Join a project team by registering for HON-394

    GlobalResolve (3 credits). The course is offered in fall and spring, open to sophomores or higher and all majors are welcome as we value interdisciplinary teams.
  2. Register for HON-494 GlobalResolve Lab

    Students who have completed the HON-394 course, and who want to continue working on projects in the program, may register for HON-494: GlobalResolve Lab (1 credit). This course may be repeated.
Students walking down a sidewalk on a cloudy day in Mexico
San Pedro el Saucito, Hermosillo, Sonora, México March 2024

Recent projects

Water sources are reaching dangerously low levels in the Sonora desert due to climate change, private federal siphons, and general waste. Both Arizona and Mexico are experiencing accessibility and affordability issues when it comes to obtaining water. The goals of this project are to research the proposed Binational Water Desalination plant's economic feasibilities, use GIS data to map routing and piping for effective humanitarian aid, creating a proposal that outlines research and brine disposal solutions, and explores community-based solutions to address water challenges in Sonora Mexico. This is a joint project with faculty and students at Tec de Monterrey-Hermosillo.

GlobalResolve currently partners with two nonprofit organizations in Barbados: Walkers Institute for Regenerative Research, Education and Design (WIRRED) and Biocultural Education and Research Programme (BERP). The project teams are assisting with the restoration of Walkers Reserve and conserving plant biodiversity through education and research. Follow on project work will include GIS analysis and waste management, along with the implementation of a medicinal garden and continued education outreach to local schools with BERP.

The program has partnered with Naco Wellness Initiative (NWI) since 2018. The first project focused solely on addressing community health issues, such as diabetes, first aid/wound care and hand-washing/dental hygiene. The student project team also worked with children and parents in the community on better understanding the benefits of healthy lifestyles and a community garden project. An engineering by design curriculum utilizing 3D printing was developed and delivered for implementation to the local technical high school. Future projects will help support NWI’s community farm project.

This project analyzed the host city proposed plans to address the following issues and their impact on unsheltered populations, city resources and the FIFA fan base: displacement, security, and stress on the system. After completing the analyses, the project team wrote reviews of the city proposals and additional recommendations for future action to address their city-specific weaknesses. The project team presented their report and findings to FIFA.

The project team addressed the issue of the lack of global and transferrable solutions for disability accommodation at Mega Sporting Events (MSEs).  A study on disability accommodations in transportation was proposed, focusing on Phoenix Valley Metro's programs for disabled individuals. Data was collected through interviews, surveys, and through reviewing existing policies, juxtaposed with the needs of individuals. The goal was to identify best practices for enhancing disability accommodations, in particular, during the 2026 World Cup. Initial findings and analysis were presented to FIFA for their reference and consideration.

Project nameLocationPartner
Water TransportIndiawellowater.org
Biochar For AgriculturePeruAndes Libres
Low-Cost Home ConstructionBoliviaEsperanca
Safe StoveNicaraguaEsperanca
Solar Plateau ProjectNavajoIINA Solutions
AqueductBoliviaEsperanca
Drip Irrigation SystemBoliviaEsperanca
Kuroiler Chicken BrooderUgandaGates Foundation, ASU
Water PurifierIndiaIIT Delhi, SCOPE, Intel
Fish SmokerGhanaceesdghana.org
Water Purification SurveyGhanaWaterIsLife
Weather Warning For FishermanGhanaceesdghana.org
Solar PV For Open UniversityGhanaOpen University
Building Matls From SawdustGhanaAprotech
Craft Paper From WasteGhanaAprotech
Local RestaurantMexicoTec de Monterrey
Organic Bakery ProjectMexicoTec de Monterrey
Organic Micro-BreweryMexicoTec de Monterrey
Community Nutrition and Physical EducationMexicoTec de Monterrey
Energy Bar ProductionMexicoTec de Monterrey
Bike SmoothieMexicoTec de Monterrey
Prosthetic Foot Fatigue TesterIndiaASME, Penn State, MIT
Microbial Fuel Cell Pit LatrineGhanaGates Foundation, UMass
Health Clinic Solar MicrogridHonduras 
Biochar and Solar IrrigationNepal 
Building Island ResiliencySt. LuciaRainforest Foods
Blue EconomyTrinidad and TobagoFondes Amandes Community Restoration Project
Community Engagement CenterMexicoAmor
Community HealthMexicoNaco Wellness Initiative (NWI)
Massai Automotive Education CenterKenyaMara Guide Association (MGA)

Partners

  • Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Lab 
  • Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation 
  • Culturally Intelligent Training & Consulting (CITC) 
  • Zero Waste ASU 
  • Walkers Institute for Regenerative Research, Education and Design (WIRRED) 
  • Bicultural Education Research Programme (BERP) 
  • Naco Wellness Initiative (NWI) 
  • FIFA 
  • Ashesi University
  • Esperanca 
  • National Peace Corps Association 
  • University of the West Indies 
  • Groningen University 
  • Tribhuvan University 
  • Tec de Monterrey 
  • Kumasi Polytechnic 
  • The University of Trinidad and Tobago
  • ASU Office of Government & Community Engagement – Mexico Relations

Donors

  • Mark Henderson 
  • Chris Jaap 
  • VentureWell 
  • The Kauffman Foundation Grant to ASU 
  • Women & Philanthropy, ASU 
  • NSF 
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 
  • Mark Kerrigan 
  • Jim Ameduri

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