• Undergraduate
• Graduate
• Young Adult

Soliya’s Connect Program is a virtual exchange program for young people to discuss global and social issues online in the presence of trained facilitators. Participants develop greater global awareness through facilitated discussions on a wide range of topics, including potentially divisive ones, such as religion, gender, current events, social culture, media, and the environment. Participants build critical 21st century skills and attitudes, including cross-cultural communication, leadership, empathy, collaborative problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Activities

Participants are placed in small, diverse groups for the duration of the program. During the first week, participants begin by identifying what they believe are the most pressing global issues and build a list of topics they will explore together. Each session begins with a skill building activity that leads into a discussion on a selected topic. Participants share their perspectives and life experiences, explore others’ views, and practice engaging with differences constructively. The live dialogue sessions are supported by a curated list of required readings, assignments, and offline activities designed to support participants’ learning process and enable them to practice the skills and attitudes developed during their live exchanges.

Program Details