Among many other privileges we take for granted in the ‘West,’ the simple gift of electricity is one we rarely think about. While nearly every U.S. citizen is connected to the grid, many in the world have never even seen a light switch – access to electricity isn’t just a boost to standard of living, it’s a paradigm shift. So when a group of ASU graduate students provided the village of Domeabra with light for the first time, one could hear the door of opportunities open as the sun would never set again.
When a handful of ASU faculty traveled to Ghana in 2007, they knew that the poor villages needed sustainable ways to meet their basic needs. However, they also knew that the only way to truly lift them from the economic bottom and become self-sustainable, the villagers needed to be taught how to recreate the projects and sell their solutions locally for a profit. So began ASU’s ‘GlobalResolve’ initiative.
As an option, students of a new course at ASU’s College of Technology and Innovation that teaches about global innovation and social entrepreneurship can take a trip to the village of Domeabra, Ghana with the GlobalResolve organization to put their ideas to use. Students’ projects, based on the mission of building sustainable business opportunities, are collaborations of eco-friendly plans they design for the class.
In the past, students have brought Gelfuel production plants, low-cost stoves, and water purification systems. This year, they’re bringing “Twig Light” technology to bring eternal light to Domeabra. The project uses water, a thermoelectric generator, and LED lights attached to twigs to generate enough light for small room.
The program hopes that returning to the community each year will dramatically improve the villagers’ lives, as well as make the public aware of the poverty and the solutions available. A student of the class and participant in the program is maintaining a daily blog to spread awareness and keep the entrepreneurial community interested in sustainable business practices. Follow it here to learn more about this year’s project: http://entrepreneurship.asu.edu/blog and GlobalResolve.
GlobalResolve
- Sustainable technologies and programs in areas of energy, clean water, and local economic development for rural communities in the developing world
- Organization Type: For-Profit
- Website: globalresolve.asu.edu
- Founder(s): Mark Henderson
- Founded: 2006
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona
- See complete company list here
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