Frequently Asked Questions
What is DIGI International Society? DIGI is a Washington State 501(c)(3) nonprofit launching in May 2026 that delivers a comprehensive Five-Pillar Youth Development Model integrating technology access, community outreach, cultural immersion, life skills, and mentorship for students, beginning in 8th grade with programming progression through 12th, in South King County.
Why does DIGI serve only 15 students in Year 1?Intentional pilot design in 2026. Serving 15 students allows DIGI to deliver all five pillars at full depth, including international travel, individual Chromebook and hotspot distribution, and 1:1 adult mentoring while building the evaluation data and partner relationships needed to scale responsibly. Year 2 doubles to 30 students; Year 3 reaches 60+.
How is the $32,467 per-student cost justified?Comparable high-dosage youth programs operate at similar levels: Year Up at $29,000/student and Treehouse at $28,000/student. DIGI’s cost includes international travel, full technology provisioning, and five integrated pillars. Without travel expenses, cost drops to $30,050; squarely within the benchmark for comprehensive multi-component youth development.
What does a corporate partnership look like?Corporate partners can engage through direct sponsorship ($10K–$100K+ tiers), employee volunteer mentors, in-kind technology and equipment, internship and job-shadowing hosting, or co-branded community impact initiatives. Partners receive brand visibility across DIGI events, impact reports, and media, alongside direct engagement with a pipeline of diverse, tech-literate, service-minded emerging talent.
How is DIGI different from other youth programs?Most youth programs address a single issue: tutoring, tech, or mentoring. DIGI is the only program in South King County that wraps all five pillars into a single, simultaneous experience. Students don’t choose a track, they experience everything, from coding bootcamps and FarmBot robotics to mindfulness practice and passport-funded international travel. A Youth Advisory Council gives students real decision-making authority over program design.
What school districts and communities does DIGI serve?DIGI serves South King County, spanning seven school districts: Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, South Seattle, and Tukwila. This region is home to over 127,000 K–12 students, 189 languages, and 181 countries of origin—and is where King County’s opportunity gaps are widest.
How does DIGI measure impact?WDIGI uses baseline, mid-year, and post-program measurement across academic, social-emotional, and service domains. An external evaluation partnership with UW or WSU provides independent validation. Year 1 targets include 85%+ retention, 95%+ school attendance, 1,000+ lbs of produce to food-insecure families, and 70%+ measurable SEL competency growth. In Years 2–3, a quasi-experimental design with a matched comparison group strengthens causal evidence.
What is the FarmBot Initiative?DIGI installs FarmBot Genesis XL robotic farming systems at Title-1 schools, paired with raised-bed gardens and a 3D printing module. Students program the robots using Python, analyze agricultural data, and work toward distributing 1,000+ lbs of fresh produce free to food-insecure families. It combines STEM education, food justice, and community service in a single project.
How can I get involved as an individual?Click the link