Students who seek “non-traditional” study abroad or international service-learning experiences frequently have to sacrifice intellectual rigor to get them. Existing companies offer standardized volunteerism opportunities at high costs, and typically provide little or no educational framework. Omprakash EdGE is a new kind of abroad experience that offers students a unique range of features:

An extensive curriculum. Omprakash has collaborated with experts in the field of international development and education, as well as university administrators, to create a rigorous 12-week online curriculum. Students will learn about the history, ethics, and economics of international aid and volunteering, leaving them well-prepared for their subsequent internship abroad.

Customizability. Omprakash is a network of over 140 grassroots organizations all over the globe. EdGE students will be able to customize their internship experience based upon the location, focus, and needs of their organization of interest. Omprakash encourages and facilitates communication between students and organizations, ensuring that both parties know what to expect.

Unlimited resources and mentorship. With a one-time modest tuition payment, students will have access to EdGE’s online classroom and vast collection of online resources. Omprakash staff members will also provide one-on-one mentoring throughout the entire experience.

University credit. Omprakash works with university administrators to create opportunities for EdGE students to receive academic credit for their work. EdGE culminates with the completion of a researchbased capstone project, which, in addition to being published on the Omprakash network, is designed to be evaluated for university credit.

Affordability. Omprakash seeks to expand access to formative international experiences to students of all backgrounds, so EdGE is designed to be a distinctly affordable opportunity. Students pay a one-time tuition fee of $750 for full access to Omprakash’s online classroom and resources. Omprakash does not charge overhead fees for internships, and offers travel grants for exceptional candidates to defray the cost of flights and lodging.

With Omprakash EdGE, we hope to usher in a new era of international volunteerism that is coupled with structured education and preparation. In this way, we aim to help students maximize their learning opportunities when they choose to volunteer or intern abroad. We are currently running our pilot season in three universities and are looking to expand our existing partnerships.

We encourage you to learn more online at www.omprakash.org or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.