Overview

The Widening Circles: Global Social Impact Program is a funded opportunity for UC Davis students to explore ethical global engagement through a robust online curriculum. Participants receive dedicated mentorship and engage in critical reflection and dialogue on the complexities of striving for mutual understanding across culture and difference.

Participants will take part in a social impact internship, volunteer opportunity, or globally-focused research project—locally or abroad—to pair alongside the curriculum. The program can support existing commitments or guide students towards exciting new opportunities.

This program will take place during Summer 2026 through a collaboration with Omprakash, a global non-profit organization.

Funded by generous donor support, this program covers the full program fee and provides each student with a $2,000 grant to support the activities associated with the social impact experience. More information on the funding tab.

• Program Dates: June 22–August 21, 2026

Program Structure

This program combines the following core elements:

• The EdGE Classroom – students will dive into curated modules asynchronously through the Omprakash EdGE platform, and follow a structure that encourages critical reflection and dialogue.
• Synchronous Discussion Group Calls – Periodic Zoom sessions where students will process their learning alongside fellow students and EdGE Mentors.
• Digital Storytelling – A platform for students to document their lived experiences, share ongoing reflections, and ult build a multimedia Digital Portfolio.
• Mentorship – Ongoing engagement with a personal EdGE Mentor, including asynchronous interactions within the classroom, and intermittent 1:1 calls.
• Social Impact Experience – Participation in a social impact internship, volunteer opportunity, or globally-focused research project, either through an Omprakash Partner or through other opportunities of the student’s choosing.

Eligibility

• Current UC Davis undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines.
• International students are eligible.

Application Process

• Application dates: January 6–March 16
  • Undergraduate students: check back on this webpage in early January.
  • Graduate students: apply through the Social Impact Track of the Global Grad Grants in early January.
• Students will be notified of the outcome of applications  in mid-April.

As part of the undergraduate application, students will be asked to respond to the following prompts:

• How will the Widening Circles: Global Social Impact program enrich your studies? How do you anticipate applying what you learn in the program to your studies? Max 300 words.
• Please share details about your first-choice social impact opportunity. Use the following questions to draft your response: which organization it is with; what you will be doing; whether it engages with communities, organizations, or institutions outside of the U.S. and, if so, who those are and where they are located; if you have already applied; (if research-based) how will your research engage with one or more local communities; and how you plan to use the $2,000 grant to support your activity. Then, please share how your chosen activity relates to your studies as well as to your personal, professional, or academic goals. Max 400 words.
• Review the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). List one (or more) SDGs that are most relevant to your preferred social impact experience. How will you work to address this goal(s) in an equitable and sustainable way in your internship/volunteer/research work? Max 400 words.

Criteria for Undergraduate Student Selection Process

• Demonstrated connection between the Widening Circles: Global Social Impact program and the student’s studies.
• Demonstrated connection between the social impact experience and student’s studies/goals.
• Demonstrated connection between one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals and the goals of the social impact experience.

Additional weight will be added for:

• Students that have a demonstrated financial need.
• Students with limited previous opportunities for travel.
• Students engaging with social impact experiences/organizations that are based in Latin America or Africa to meet strategic priorities of Global Affairs.
• Students engaging directly with communities, institutions, and/or organizations outside the U.S., a condition of the funding donor.

Graduate Student Selection Process

Apply through the Social Impact Track of the Global Grad Grants in early January.

Contact Information

Chelsey Hawes

Experiential and Intercultural Programs Coordinator
Global Learning Hub, Global Affairs
chawes@ucdavis.edu