ODW in the Classroom - Operation Day's Work can tie in to any subject, bringing it to life through real world problem solving. From social studies and geography to arts, literature, health and science, ODW brings a mission to learning and gives students an opportunity to help build useful curricula.

Youth Development - Operation Day's Work enables students to develop leadership, confidence and analytical thinking. The students get to choose a mission and then solve the intricate problems of planning and implementation to complete their mission. They learn the value of teamwork, delegation, and taking responsibility for their part of the collective plan.

Civil Society - Operation Day's Work gives students an opportunity to participate in their own functioning democracy. Students learn consensus building, position advocacy, information sharing, and campaigning.

Service Learning - Students shape their own community service and work activities and develop the learning activities that surround the work itself.

Leadership and Philanthropy - Young people come together -- both in their school communities and across the country -- to make decisions about what to do, how to do it and how to best spend the money raised. By building support for their activities, students learn the structures of their school leadership, community leadership, civic organizations, and local business community.

International Education - Operation Day's Work provides a unique opportunity to learn about nations all over the globe. This knowledge becomes increasingly important for young Americans whose jobs will exist in a global economy and a world of political interrelation.

Helping Others - Students choose projects to support based on their lasting effects while being careful to avoid unintended and undesirable outcomes. By studying countries around the globe, many whose poverty is at least partially the result of civil war, political strife, and historical tyranny, students learn the importance of preventing conflict and to recognize conditions that lead to it. Students also learn about the links between health, nutrition, education and societal development, as well as how to think about using societal resources for maximum impact.

Taking Action - Students see that their actions can have a dramatic, direct and positive impact on their own community and individuals halfway around the world.