All of us have skills that can be used to serve God & serve the poor. For those with engineering or architectural abilities, eMi² is a great way to do just that, while at the same time gaining valuable experience & broadening your cultural horizons. Over 150 people have participated in the internship programs over the years, not one has left without being impacted by God in some way through serving with us in India.

No. EMI & eMi² are non-profit organizations operating on a purely volunteer basis. Each intern & volunteer is asked to cover his or her own costs to participate, helping us continue to provide non-profit design services to approved charities. Most people raise financial support from friends & family to cover their cost. It sounds challenging, and it is. But seeing God provide for you to serve Him is an invaluable part of the experience. We are also able to help guide you through the process.

In the late 1990's former EMI architect & CEO Glen Woodruff and family were called to India to expand EMI's vision. In 1998, they traveled together to Mussoorie & settled at the long-time site of our office: The Oaklands Estate. Over the next two years they worked to make Oaklands an office & home on top of the mountain that many staff, interns, volunteers, friends, travelers & guests have enjoyed. You can read about the first ten years of eMi² by ordering the Anthology.

In 2011, the Lord led us to move eMi² from Mussoorie to Delhi, signaling a new phase of growing & maturing the ministry in India's capital.

Delhi, India's capital, a thriving megacity & hub for politics, travel & business. If you have never lived in Delhi before, there's endless opportunities & over a hundred metro stops to see the different sides & sights of the city. Delhi covers the extremes of living in North India – from brisk & foggy winters to the peak temperatures of dry summers to the daily humidifying rainstorms of monsoon.

No. The office environment is generally in the English language, though Hindi is also spoken. The majority of client interactions are also in English. Both Hindi & English are official languages of India, and many Indians speak English well or would love to practice it with you. If you're interested in learning, Hindi is not an extremely difficult language & knowing some Hindi can be an asset. You can take initial steps to learn during your internship and make a practical plan for your time in Delhi.

Daily working hours are 8:30 to 6:00 Monday-Friday. We start each morning with a devotion and the dress code is sharp-professional. North Indian food is provided for lunch breaks at 12:30-1:30, followed by a second break at around 3:30 for chai. It is a team-based, open-office atmosphere where interns fill just about every conceivable office role in addition to helping within their field of study. The primary task is to help produce the concept report for the project trip(s) they participate in. Using Excel / Word / AutoCAD / Sketch-up / Photoshop to develop or make red-mark revisions to reports is common. Technical guidance & mentoring comes from staff & volunteers that attend your project trip or manage design work in the office.

Yes, we would highly recommend it. It's the easiest way for you to manage, though there are a number of desktop computers available for use in the office if you don't have your own laptop to bring.

Delhi is a huge city to explore with layer upon layer of history & so much that's happening now, there's always something new for tonight. Getting involved in the Christian community through a local church is great way to bless people & explore your gifts in ministry. Some interns have taken Hindi classes or tutoring to start learning the language. During Intern holiday, there are plenty of destinations to choose from – Golden Temple, Taj Mahal, wildlife parks, Himalayan treks – all India is accessible from Delhi.

Yes. In fact, we highly recommend it. However, since project trips, publishing deadlines & other events are scheduled well before your internship starts, the flexibility in visitor timing may be limited or visitors may need to come during your holiday period. Giving advance notice of possible visitors works best. Having someone from home or a good friend visit will deepen your relationship & also build understanding about what you are experiencing.

The EMI website contains more intern resources and information for your use.