Jan Plan 2021 will be unprecedented in many ways, much like this entire academic year. Yet DavisConnects remains committed to supporting Colby students with immersive global learning and internship experiences — both remotely and in-person as conditions allow. 

Offered through a partnership with Omprakash — a global education nonprofit with Maine roots — the DavisConnects EdGE Jan Plan provides Colby students with a digital space for shared learning and mentorship while also connecting students with a vast network of opportunities for social impact internships.

 

 

What Is This?

 

Omprakash is a global education nonprofit that has partnered with Colby and DavisConnects to help students connect with social impact organizations around the world and engage in critical dialogue and reflection about the complexities of striving for justice while crossing differences of culture and power.

Mentorship and Learning Community

Omprakash runs an online learning platform called EdGE, and has built numerous custom EdGE programs for Colby. The EdGE Jan Plan is designed to provide extra structure to independent Jan Plan experiences and help Colby students connect with mentors and peers with similar interests and areas of expertise.

All EdGE Jan Plan participants will receive guidance and support from an EdGE Mentor and will engage in an EdGE online classroom (mostly asynchronous, with an optional Zoom component) to deepen their learning and reflection throughout Jan Plan. This also makes it easy for your faculty sponsor (should you choose to register for credit) to track your academic progress throughout Jan Plan.

Social Impact Internships

Omprakash also curates a network of 180+ social change organizations in over 40 countries, and provides a platform through which students can connect directly with these organizations and apply for internships.

Here are a few examples of virtual internship opportunities currently available with Omprakash Partners:

This is not an exhaustive list — please register below to browse more opportunities!

The EdGE Jan Plan program supports students as they browse and apply for internships across the Omprakash network, but students are not required to complete an internship with an Omprakash Partner.  It is also possible to intern with an organization outside of the Omprakash network.

 


Who Should Join This Program?

 

Are you seeking a social impact internship, but not sure where to start?  DavisConnects EdGE Jan Plan is the place for you! Already have your eye on an independent experience, but not sure how to structure it into an approved Jan Plan? Great — you're still in the right place!

Please register below if you plan to do any of the following during Jan Plan 2021:

  • Intern with a grassroots social impact organization (in the US or abroad) working in a field such as health, education, the environment, advocacy, migration, or social entrepreneurship. (Note: due to travel restrictions associated with COVID-19, most Jan Plan internships will likely be remote, web-based experiences only. However, it is possible that students will be able to travel within specific parameters.  Please continue checking this page for further updates on possibilities for domestic and international travel.)
  • Students who have been awarded a Goldfarb Center Sandy Maisel Student Grant, an Oak Institute for Human Rights Internship Grant, or Bunche Scholars who have been granted access to their funds will participate in EdGE as part of the grant program.

If you're not sure about your plans, register anyway! Admins from DavisConnects and Omprakash will review your information together and then reach out to you via email.  If you register and then end up deciding that this program is not a good fit, that's perfectly fine.

 

 

Next Steps:

 

  1. Read the rest of this page to learn more about this program, and join an upcoming info session! (Details below.)
  2. At the bottom of this page, create an Omprakash account (or login to your existing account) and register for this program. Use the Cohort Code: DAVISJP21
  3. Then on the next screen you will fill out a form to provide more details about your current plans.
  4. Then you will fill out of your Omprakash profile a bit more.
  5. Then you should check your email for further directions.

 

 

How Does It Work?

 

 

The Davis Connects EdGE Jan Plan is open for enrollment up until January 5th, 2021. We encourage students to register ahead of time to make the most of the opportunity.  Jan Plan technically runs from January 7th - January 31st, but students who register early will be able to start as soon as December 10th.

All EdGE Jan Plan participants will:

  • participate in an interactive multimedia online classroom exploring essential questions about social justice, privilege, inequality, and the complexities of trying to 'help others' or 'do good' when crossing differences of culture and power

  • complete a social impact internship (online or in-person) 

  • engage in ongoing reflection, dialogue, and digital storytelling via the EdGE online learning and community platform

Students will earn Jan Plan credit for successfully completing the program.

 

Please feel free to check out this video to learn more about the program:

 

 


What Do Other Students Think? 

 

“I thought the EdGE platform was awesome. I’m really glad Colby has organized an opportunity like this to have some form of structure when we travel independently through DavisConnects. I especially liked the EdGE curriculum, and I think Colby students should be required to look it over if going abroad to work or volunteer because it contained a lot of important information/philosophical questions to think through."

-2020 EdGE Jan Plan Participant

 

 

Read more testimonials about EdGE...

 

 

Upcoming Info Sessions

 

Please feel free to join one of our upcoming Zoom info sessions if you'd like to learn more about this program:

  • Monday, October 19th, 8 PM ET
  • Wednesday, October 21st, 12 PM ET
  • Thursday, October 22nd, 5 PM ET
  • Sunday, October 25th, 8 PM ET
  • Thursday, November 5th, 8 PM ET

All of these info sessions will be hosted in this Zoom room.  (Meeting ID: 852 7767 5448)

We hope to see you there!

 

 

Ready to Get Started?

 

Register below with Cohort Code: 

 

DAVISJP21