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Soliya is recruiting skilled volunteers to facilitate its Connect Program in the Fall of 2009. Soliya’s Connect Program is a unique cross-cultural education program that enables University students in the United States, Europe and the Middle East to collaboratively explore the relationship between their countries & regions with the aim of improving intercultural awareness and understanding.

Each Soliya facilitator is paired with a co-facilitator from the US, Europe or the Middle East. The co-facilitation pair “meets” online each week via Soliya’s online video conferencing software with a group of eight- ten students representing a cross section of participating countries and universities. The medium is remarkably intimate: facilitators and participants can see one another’s facial expressions, hear tone of voice, and even share a joke.

Over the course of the ten week program facilitators guide their students through an exciting and unique online learning experience. They help their group to build meaningful transnational experiences by facilitating the sharing of personal and cultural information, and helping them talk intimately about the influences—both political and personal—that shape their understanding of “Western”-“Arab & Muslim World” relations. Via the program students have a genuine window into the worlds of their group-mates, despite the distances that divide them.

To assist them in their work, facilitators are provided with an extensive collection of suggested activities, questions and readings. They also participate in an intensive online training program prior to the start of the program.

Soliya facilitators are an extraordinary group, drawn from a wide range of professions and backgrounds.
By the Spring of 2009 Soliya would have worked with approximately 32-36 universities. Participating universities will include Georgetown University, Al Akhawayn University in Morocco, University of Amsterdam, the University of Minnesota, and the American University in Cairo among others. We are currently recruiting volunteer facilitators for the Fall of 2009.

Facilitators are absolutely critical to the success of the Soliya dialogue. We would love to have you join our team!

Why Facilitate?
Through their experience with Soliya facilitators gain:
•An opportunity to get hands-on experience facilitating international conflict resolution dialogue;
•Personalized feedback and coaching on their facilitation skills and style;
•Extensive training relevant to both in-person and online group facilitation.
•An opportunity to work closely with a partner from across the globe and to be part of an extraordinary international team of volunteers.
•Experience working with a growing international non-profit organization


Ideal candidates will possess:
•Dialogue experience with groups from diverse cultural backgrounds, preferably as a facilitator or mediator;
•A knowledge of international affairs, particularly related to the relationship between the “West” and the “Arab & Muslim World”
•A passion for the issues that Soliya addresses;
•Flexibility, creativity, the ability to be honestly and openly self-reflective and a good sense of humor.
•Fluency in Arabic a plus.

Graduate students in conflict resolution, psychology, and international relations are encouraged to apply.

* Please note that the selection process for the facilitation team is highly competitive and we always have far more applicants than available spaces. All applicants should be committed to completing BOTH the training program and the 10 week dialogue program.

Logistics:
All meetings take place on-line, using Soliya’ customized internet-based interface.(see previous page). All that is needed to participate in the dialogue is a web-cam and headset (provided by Soliya) and a high-speed internet connection. Facilitators can work from home, school or their office- where-ever they have access to a computer with high-speed internet.

Schedule:
The Connect Program will run for ten weeks from early October through early December. During this period, facilitators will meet with their groups once a week for two hours, at a regular, predetermined meeting time that suits each facilitator’s schedule. We expect that facilitators will spend an additional 2 or 3 hours per week preparing for each meeting. There are also optional meetings with Soliya “coaches” and others in the facilitation team designed to provide facilitators with support and feedback.

In preparation for the semester, facilitators will participate in an intensive online training program. This will provide transferable skills in facilitation and conflict resolution. Training sessions will be held in the summer. The timing will be determined based upon facilitators’ schedules.

If you are interested in working as a facilitator, please send a brief cover letter and resume to facilitator@soliya.net by May 29th. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for the waiting list.