Previous EnCompass Experiences

Expand All
  • 2018-19

     

  • 2019-20

    (Additional experiences were affected/postponed by the global COVID-19 pandemic.)

  • 2021-22
  • 2022-23
  • 2023-24

    Sustainability, Social Justice, and Sport: Fall Break in Costa Rica for Spider Athletes
    Because of their intense training and competition schedules, Spider athletes often are unable to study abroad. During Fall Break, eight student-athletes traveled to Costa Rica on a program tailored to their schedules to explore themes of sustainability, social justice, and sport. Site visits had them in an indigenous reserve, learning Caribbean folk culture, and conducting youth sports clinics. One student wrote in a note of thanks, “I never expected to have this experience and can now see what I was missing. I woke up to spider monkey calls and went to sleep grateful for learning about a new place and new capacity within myself.”

    Richmond to Richmond: Maymester in London
    Ten EnCompass students took on local-global learning this spring as they examined river conservation efforts along Richmond’s James River and the Thames River in London’s Richmond borough. Led by Dr. Joyce van der Laan Smith (accounting), the group had multiple class meetings in the Spring semester, including a hike and walking tour led by the James River Association before traveling abroad in late May. In London, the group spent time along London’s canals and the Thames, including a full day in Richmond dedicated to learning about tidal flooding and local efforts to preserve river views as they appeared decades and even centuries ago. Their day in Richmond Upon Thames concluded by climbing Richmond Hill to see the view and river bend that became RVA’s namesake, which is nearly mimicked along the James atop Libbie Hill.

    “I never knew they were doing so much work toward sustainability here in Richmond, VA and in the UK. One thing that really struck me was how the Thames River overflows every two weeks. It’s an obstruction of life and can be very dangerous.”

    Environmental Racism: Maymester in South Africa
    Eight students spent portions of their spring exploring topics of environmental justice, including parallels between challenges in post-Apartheid South Africa and issues faced by formerly redlined cities in the US – Richmond included. During their trip to South Africa led by Dr. Shannon Jone (Biology), the group visited Johannesburg and Cape Town to better understand how the oppressive apartheid regime have led to vast, continuing inequalities among Black South Africans. They also explored many of the environmental injustices faced by South Africans, including significant exposures to air and water pollution and severe drought and food insecurities brought on by the current climate crisis.

    “Initially, I believed it would be difficult to create change on a large scale as one person, so I did not understand how beneficial it was to be a global citizen. However, after this program, it is clear that by spreading ideas of change to other people and inspiring them, being a global citizen is important.”

    “The trip allowed me to learn a lot more about myself as an individual and how I fit into and work with groups. I even discovered a new passion for politics regarding health and sustainability, so much so that I want to pursue a career involving these things.”

"We went on a bike tour in Soweto. The tour guide said that people usually come through on tour buses like it’s a safari. We could talk to people who are going about their daily lives." Amaya, 2019