November 17-21, 2025

The annual Ecochallenge event is run in coordination with International Education Week - a weeklong celebration run by the UR Center for Global Engagement. Each year, the Center for Global Engagement chooses a country to be the focus on this week. This year, we will be taking a deep dive into Ghana!

The International Education Week Ecochallenge is an opportunity to learn more about the culture, history, and current challenges and successes of Ghana, specifically taking a deeper dive into environmentalism and sustainability. This is an opportunity for us to make connections between our actions and experiences here at UR with communities in another country. 

In addition to learn more about Ghana, this is also an opportunity to connect with friends, colleagues, neighbors, or acquaintances, and together, commit to sustainable actions as a team or as an idividual to win points and earn prizes through the daily actions in the Ecochallenge! That's right, prizes will be given to those who earn the most points at the end of the Ecochallenge week. 

Daily Themes

Day 1: Rethink Waste

Explore how waste is managed — both here at the University of Richmond and across the globe in Ghana. We’ll rethink how we sort, reuse, and reduce waste while looking at key Ghanaian challenges in sectors such as the fashion industry and electronic use. 

 

Example Actions:

Learn about waste challenges and initiatives in Ghana
Visit the Spider Exchange
Live the refill life

Day 2: Preservation & Conservation

Together, we’ll explore how local stewardship and global and local partnerships can restore ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and inspire a new mindset for preserving what is essential to life, our well-being, and Mother Nature.  

 

Example Actions

Learn about indigenous tribes' relationship to the land
Take a photo of a native plant
Volunteer for an Invasive Species Removal

Day 3: Food & Agriculture

The United States and Ghana are working toward a more sustainable, just, and resilient food system. From soil health to agricultural production, from local gardens to cuisine commonalities and specialities, this day is all about celebrating our shared connection to food and the earth.

 

Example Actions

Learn about the Farm Bill
Attend the International Dinner
Try a Ghanaian recipe

Day 4: Community & Climate

Dive into the importance of connection, conversation, and collective action. Starting the day with a dynamic talk on climate change in Ghana, we will then examine ways to come together and address climate issues of our time.

 

Example Actions

Learn about Bus Rapid Transit
Read about the Stop Galamsey Movement
Walk with a friend in the Eco-Corridor

Day 5: Nature Immersion

Friday invites us to slow down, reconnect, and reflect. Today celebrates our shared relationship with the living world — from the Eco-Corridor to Ghana’s lush forests and coastal plains.

 

Example Actions:

Attend a Forest Therapy Walk
Explore health benefits of being outdoors
Practice gratitude 

This week is a phenomenal opportunity for learning, engagement, and partnership across campus. Find new ways to incorporate sustainable living into your daily life, connect with new peers, and earn points to win prizes! Sign up for this year's Ecochallenge starting on November 1. 

Ecochallenge Events