At Soliya, our goal is to prepare the rising generation to approach differences constructively by bringing diverse groups into live dialogue.

We empower participants with essential skills, such as cross-cultural communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

We aim to shift attitudes towards greater empathy and understanding, while also preparing participants to take active roles in their communities.

  • Cross-cultural communication & collaboration

  • Empathy & critical awareness

  • Engaging with difference constructively

Key Components of Our Virtual Exchange (VE) Design

Key Components of Our Virtual Exchange (VE) Design

Synchronous

For the virtual exchange to foster deep engagement and learning, the synchronous experience is crucial. Soliya’s programs are predominantly synchronous, with participants meeting weekly for 2-hour sessions throughout the course. This live engagement is complemented by less intensive asynchronous activities and engagement.

Small, Diverse, Balanced Groups

We divide participants into small groups of approximately 10, which are diverse and balanced across various lines of difference. This way, every participant has a chance to engage more actively and be exposed to a variety of cultures, backgrounds, and opinions.

Embedded in Existing Educational Programs

Our programs are primarily embedded in curricula at higher education institutions, where partner professors allocate a portion of their grade to the Virtual Exchange (VE). This integration reinforces the rigor of our VE programs while ensuring participants' commitment. Additionally, collaborating with educational institutions allows us to access a diverse cross-section of society by partnering with institutions across various regions and types, such as community colleges, HBCUs, and others.

Multilateral & Multidisciplinary

Unlike traditional exchanges, which tend to be binary - classroom-to-classroom or country-to-country - Soliya’s programs offer the opportunity for multilateral exchanges by connecting participants from multiple regions and countries around the world. Our programs are not theme-based and do not cater to any particular discipline or topic; instead, they are open to participants from various disciplines and backgrounds. This unique approach allows participants to engage in dialogue on a wide range of issues that matter to them, and to learn how to engage across multiple lines of difference.

Facilitated

A core aspect of our model is that all dialogues are facilitated by trained facilitators, who have completed Soliya’s UN-certified facilitation training process. The facilitators ensure that the learning process progresses and remains constructive. They guide participants through activities and in-depth conversations to help them develop the intended attitudes and skills. Additionally, they ensure that the learning goals of the programs are met.

Sustained

The exchange is sustained over several weeks because we know that shifts in attitudes and skill-building take time; they cannot be accomplished through one-off engagements. Having the same group meet multiple times over several weeks allows for greater reflection and sustained learning. Soliya recently conducted a longitudinal study of our flagship program, and the results showed that the impact lasted up to 18 months after program completion. The sustained process also enables participants to connect the experience with their own context—such as family, friends, and community—fostering a lasting shift in the culture of engagement.

Process-Oriented Curriculum

The exchange experience is grounded in a curriculum that is primarily process-oriented. Participants take the lead in deciding "what" they want to talk about, while facilitators use the curriculum to guide "how" these conversations unfold, deepening the discussions, creating space for reflection, and connecting the conversation to participants' personal experiences to maximize learning.

The combination of these elements in our program design ensures that exchanges are inclusive and accessible to diverse demographics, while also creating a space for deeply authentic and engaging interactions.