ODW is governed and organized in accordance with the ODW Constitution by the ODW National Student Committee and staff. There are four key components to each years activities including: 1) an Annual Convention, 2) a National Project Selection Vote, 3) International Days in Member Schools, and 4) Workdays at Member Schools. These activites are described below. You can also view a calendar of this years program.

Your School's ODW Organization

Each school can organize its ODW effort as thay see fit. In many schools, ODW activities are organized by students in an ODW Club. In others, entire classes, teams or grade levels make organizing ODW a rallying point for their year's study. In either case, a successful year of ODW is achieved when the organizers reach out to others in their school, as well as, leaders and members of their community for support.

The ODW Annual Convention

Each year, schools who completed the previous year's ODW program send delegates to the ODW Annual Convention. At the convention students gather to: a) select a country or focus area for the new school year, b) make any necessary amendments to the ODW Constitution, and c) elect a national student committee to lead in the new school year.

Project Selection

After a country has been chosen at the convention, ODW staff solicit project proposals from non-profit organizations that will help young people in the selected country or focus area. These project proposals are then distributed to all schools who have joined ODW for their review. Before they recieve the project proposals, students at each ODW member school work to learn as much as they can about that year's country or focus area. Students then review the proposals in the context of what the have learned. After their review, ODW students across the nation vote for the proposal that they believe will provide the most effective assistance to their peers. The money raised during workdays in all ODW schools in America will go to fund the winning project.

International Days

Before their workday, ODW member schools hold one or more International Day's. ODW organizers use International Day's to raise awareness and recruit workers among the student body. Often, ODW students and advisors teach classes or lead activities designed to highlight the history, culture and economic disadvantage of the focus country. Using this web site, ODW schools across the country can share ideas and experiences to organize their International Day.

Workdays

Finally, ODW member schools have one or more workdays to raise money for the project they have helped select. These workdays can be organized in many ways. Some schools hold workdays on a school day whole others work on the weekend. Some schools have students work at a business for the day while others organize a community service project with sponsors to pay students for their effort. From car washes to tutoring younger students in reading, anything worthwhile can become the basis for an ODW Workday. Using this website, ODW member schools can share insights and advice on organizing their workday. The web site also provides other resources to help you plan and implement.