Blog

Maria Eduarda Almeida is a Psychology undergraduate at the State University of Maringá, Brazil. As a MITACS Research Assistant in the GoHELP Laboratory at the University of Waterloo, she contributed to international projects such as CANVAS, which examines the impacts of everyday violence on children in vulnerable settings. Her work emphasized the value of interdisciplinary and qualitative research, highlighting how collaboration and cultural context shape efforts to improve health, human rights, and well-being. Learn more about her experience here! 

Learn about Pascal’s experience as a Teaching Assistant with the Queen Elizabeth Scholars (QES) program in Ghana, where he supported University of Waterloo students in adapting to a new culture while engaging in field-based learning. This unique exchange showcased the power of collaboration and experiential education in tackling complex environmental challenges.

Read about Pascal's experience at the 75th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG), where he presented his research on gender-transformative health policymaking in Ghana. The 2025 conference theme was “Confluence” which generated discussion from diverse perspectives in geography, fostering collaboration and dialogue on global issues. Learn more about Pascal's inspiring opportunity to explore health equity challenges, and connect with leading scholars in the field.

The Write-Life project utilizes equity-centered resources to promote fair and inclusive participation in global health research. Every aspect of the project aimed to cultivate a diverse and inclusive learning community, valuing varied perspectives and positionalities among both the research team and participants. By adopting a relational approach, the project emphasized that meaningful change occurs through relationships, highlighting the importance of allyship in advancing equity in global health.

Alexa Bennett, a PhD candidate and GoHelP Lab member, recently returned from Ecuador, where she collaborated with WASHCanada and Engineers in Action on a community-based water supply project. Working in the mountain community of El Progresso, she gained hands-on experience in designing gravity-fed water systems, conducting water quality testing, and engaging with the local Water Board.

For over two decades, Dr. Susan J. Elliott has been a leading WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) researcher, focusing primarily on Sub-Saharan Africa. Her recent project, funded by REACH, delves into the intricate links between water security and gender-based violence (GBV), especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Collapsed pit latrine on the left and Emergency pit latrine constructed with aluminum roofing sheet on the right in a dispensar in Kisumu, Kenya.

In spite of all the challenges the Covid-19 pandemic triggered over the last several months, two of the welcome gifts it also afforded me has been 1) time to reflect and 2) the ability to continue with my studies in an atypical way. My experience as a graduate student in the School of Planning had already unceasingly tested my motivation and self-direction but working as a Research Assistant (RA) and powering through electives over the Spring term helped me recognize how important it is to foster supportive relationships and prioritize your own wellbeing during uncertain times.

“What’s a hackathon?”

As we shared our research plans with colleagues and potential participants, we were asked this question many times over the last 6 months! Even after spending so much time learning what to expect through the planning process, the hackathon experience and its outcomes exceeded my expectations.

I am stepping back to write this post after receiving an acceptance note for the final version of my thesis on UWSpace, a University of Waterloo thesis repository.