Hello all, welcome back to my blog.

Today I will be discussing a new topic, for the past 5 weeks I’ve been taking part in an online program called “Soliya Connect Program”. During this program, I had a 2-hour session once a week where I met people from all over the world, and we discussed different topics every day. This program was one of the most insightful and eye-opening experiences I’ve had. Today, I will be reflecting on my experience in the program, telling you what I learned and how it felt.

I hope that this reflection could give you a better understanding of the whole experience!

1. Summary of Community Interviews

As part of the Soliya Connect Program, I interviewed two people from my community in Egypt, Nadia, a 22-year-old student who lives in Cairo, and Omar, a 27-year-old engineer from Aswan. The topic of the interview was stereotypes about and within Egyptian society.

Nadia spoke about her experiences studying abroad and being confronted by outside stereotypes about Egypt, including that Egyptians ride camels or live by pyramids. She spoke about internal stereotypes as well, including the idea people have of Upper Egyptians within Cairo. She highlighted the influence of gender stereotypes on what is expected of Egyptian women and mentioned the role of Egyptian media in strengthening social bias. Nadia felt that cross-cultural dialogue, like the experience provided by Soliya, can challenge these views.

Omar, who is from Aswan, spoke about persistent stereotypes that Upper Egyptians are uneducated or are extremely conservative. He explained how Nubian people are marginalized in the media and misrepresented. At his workplace, he experienced subtle discrimination in that he was bypassed for leadership positions based on what was perceived about his origin. He also touched on hurtful national stereotypes, including Egypt being portrayed as backward or underdeveloped.

Even though both of these participants are from different regions and have different life experiences, they understood clearly that internal and external stereotypes limit opportunities and shape perception. The one thing that stood out the most for me was that not only are stereotypes placed on people from outside the community, but they are also ingrained in local communities as well. Both participants were eager to reflect on their experiences and respond sincerely. They highlighted that conversations and narratives are essential for breaking these negative storylines.

2. Engaging with Different Perspectives

The process of developing these interview questions made me reflect even more intensely about exploring identity without making assumptions. I did not want questions that would lead the interviewee to specific answers, but rather create room for them to share their experiences. It was important for me to include both external global stereotypes and internal biases within their community, which was crucial in capturing the full picture.

Conducting these interviews made me reflect on my role not just as a listener, but as a facilitator of cross-cultural understanding. I learned that the right question isn’t one that receives an answer, but one that gives space for the participants to share their insights. I believe that I succeeded in this as the interviewees were able to draw connections between their experiences and larger societal trends. However, one issue I faced was ensuring that the answers I got didn’t become too surface level but rather ones that are based on deep reflection.

During the Soliya group discussion about this topic, these interviews proved to be essential. I was able to speak for my community in a real way and show that Egypt is not a single, uniform identity but a country full of diversity, contradictions, and change. Sharing these experiences helped bridge gaps between my culture and others in the program, and it made me realize how important my role is in building that bridge.

3. My Soliya Experience Reflection

Participating in the Soliya Connect Program was a different experience that altered my perspective on communication, identity, and global citizenship. I didn’t have high expectations going into the program, but I actually really enjoyed it and learned a lot from the experience wether it is from my peers and our conversations or from the facilitator. I gained different skills like empathy, active listening, and navigating disagreement.

What stood out to me the most was how insightful and rich our open discussions were. We all had very different worldviews and different mindsets because we came from all over the world, yet our conversations were always respectful, engaging, and rooted in a genuine desire to understand one another. Even when we disagreed, we were always open-minded, wanting to listen, reflect, and learn, something that made the experience not just educational but deeply human.

Confronting my own assumptions was one of the biggest challenges. Sometimes I would find that I had internalized certain ideas about others because of where they come from. I learned through dialogue to think before reacting, ask before judgment, and how rapidly we stereotype people based on religion, country of origin, or even looks.

There were times of actual impact. I recall one time when we were discussing a very controversial topic, and we had different views. Throughout our conversations, we all shared our thoughts in a respectful manner, and some participants even recognized that their views had been shaped by misinformation. This caused a shift in the atmosphere of the conversation, people went from being defensive to inquisitive. The small changes from discomfort to connection are where actual change occurs.

My ability to communicate with people from different cultures was also improved through the Connect Program. I became more confident not just in sharing my thoughts, but in holding space for others to do the same. I became more aware of how stereotypes can influence opportunity, how dialogue can counter ignorance, and how crucial it is to continue these conversations beyond the virtual room.

Soliya has taught me that dialogue isn’t really about talking, it’s about connection. Through my group sessions and interviews, I learned that dialogue and discussion it the first step in overcoming stereotypes. I am leaving this program with a greater understanding of myself, my community, and the global community I am part of. On a final note, the most beautiful aspect about my experience in Soliya is that it showed me how complete strangers with completely different stories, backgrounds, religions, and lives could all come together and share their stories openly, building genuine connections through empathy and respect. It reminded me of the profound beauty of humanity and showed me how, despite our differences, we truly can live together in understanding and harmony.