Internship In Palestine (Human Rights, Palestinian Refugees, Law)

I only stayed for a week, but I feel like I really got to see life in Hebron firsthand. Every day was filled with meetings with human rights activists, discussions women's advocates and medical center directors, and tours of Hebron and the nearby al-Fawar refugee camp. My host family was incredibly welcoming (as was everyone else in Hebron), made us amazing Palestinian food, took us to meet all of their friends, and showed us their favorite cafes to hang out at. I was provided with a basic Arabic lesson so I could somewhat communicate with the residents of Hebron and my horribly accented Arabic was always met with excitement. Though I wish there were more opportunities to actually engage in volunteer work in Hebron, I was given the chance to teach an English lesson to teens which was extremely rewarding and gave me the opportunity to get the kids' perspectives on life in Hebron.

I began my time at the Excellence Center with a month of intensive Arabic classes, then began visiting local businesses and organizations and teaching English at the Center and in the villages surrounding Hebron. I had an outstanding Arabic teacher for my classes, and found that class time was spent productively. Because of this, as well as my engagement with the Khalili community, I made significant progress in learning the language.

The environment at the Center is warm and welcoming. Although in summer it became a bit hectic with the amount of international volunteers in attendance, the staff and teachers never failed in making me feel comfortable. The same goes for my host family. They made sure I was always provided for and never hungry. Although I lived a bit far from the Center, the family graciously provided daily transportation.

In my free time, I was also able to visit many places outside of Hebron, such as Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jericho, and Nablus. My experiences in all these places were great, transportation to and from was fairly simple and well-priced, and I always felt safe… but to be honest, I was always happy to return to Hebron.

The best part of Palestine is the hospitality and genuine kindness of the people. Despite the obvious and less-than-ideal circumstances of the occupation, I have yet to meet a Palestinian who isn’t welcoming, honest, strong-willed and incredibly good-hearted. This is certainly the impression of Palestine I will take with me back home. I would definitely recommend spending time in Palestine, especially in al-Khalil, if you have the chance!

I stayed at the center for 1 month through their journalism and media program. The center gave me all the basic connections to be able to hit the ground running and spend my short time in palestine following my passion and exploring the realities of the occupation. If you want to discover the truth in palestine, this program will provide you with a variety of resources to get to work! Although the struggles of Palestinians in Al-Khalil and the west bank are a realilty witnessed daily, never did I feel unsafe in my surroundings. If you come here for a with good intentions and with respect, that will be what you will recieve. Palestinians have been the nicest and most hospitable people I have had the good fortune to meet and I'm thankful for the experiences we've shared.

My name is Sarah Anderson. I am currently finishing my bachelors degree in International and Global Studies at the Univeristy of Central Florida. This summer I decided to do a human rights internship in Hebron, Palestine with the Excellence Center. It has been an immersive and expansive experience. We did activities such as visiting the old city & important religious sites such as the Ibrahimi Mosque, visiting the refugee camps, & speaking with local educators, business owners and artists in the city of Hebron.
My Arabic lessons were very helpful and my teacher was very patient. I learned a lot in the time that I was here. During my trip I decided to stay with a Palestinian host family. They were so sweet and kind. They showed me around the city and local cafes. We also took a trip to Bethlehem. I felt right at home with my host family.
Before coming to Palestine I was very concerned about my safety, however after living here for a month those preconceived notions no longer exist. I felt extremely safe walking throughout Hebron during day and at night.
It’s one thing to the read and hear about Palestine but another to actually experience it.
From the history, to the people, to the land, weather and the food… I loved it all.
Palestine is truly a beautiful country filled with an immense amount of life, beauty, strength, and courage.
This experience will live in my heart forever and I intend to return to Palestine.
I highly recommend anyone who desires to experience & learn more about Palestine to join the Excellence Center.

I recently had the privilege of embarking on a one-month internship at the Excellence Centre in Palestine, and I cannot emphasize enough how profoundly positive and enriching this experience was for me. From the moment I arrived, I was embraced by a warm and supportive community, and every aspect of my internship surpassed my expectations.
First and foremost, my time at the Excellence Centre helped me get my Palestinian Colloquial Arabic to a much higher. The highly qualified instructors at the centre and especially professor Rasha demonstrated an exceptional commitment to teaching, making every class engaging, interactive, and tailored to my individual learning needs. Her expertise, combined with their genuine passion for sharing the Arabic language motivated and inspired me to push my language skills to new heights.
Secondly, as part of the program, I was honoured to join the centre and other participants on excursions to several human rights groups and refugee camps where we learned much about the difficulties Palestinians face.
The Excellence Centre's dedication to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment was evident in every interaction. The staff members were not only highly knowledgeable and skilled professionals but also caring and compassionate individuals. They went above and beyond to ensure that my stay was comfortable, offering guidance, support, and a genuine sense of friendship that made me feel like part of their extended family.
In summary, my one-month internship at the Excellence Centre in Palestine was an extraordinary experience that exceeded all expectations. It provided me with a comprehensive linguistic education, invaluable teaching opportunities, and eye-opening encounters with human rights groups. The supportive and caring atmosphere, along with the warmth and hospitality of the staff, made me feel like part of a close-knit community. I leave with a transformed perspective, cherished memories, and lifelong connections. Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend the Excellence Centre to anyone seeking an unforgettable and impactful internship experience and will definitely coming back as soon as possible.

The excellence center provided great insight on the lives of Palestinians through guided tours around homes, villages, and holy sites. I was also provided with thorough and comprehensive arabic lessons each day for my first week here which really helped me navigate and communicate with my colleagues, host family, and locals. The enevrioment was super welcoming, warm, friendly and it felt like I was at home. I loved my host family so much. They felt like a second family. Hospitality was outstanding and I felt safe at all times.

I stayed with the Excellence Centre for one month from mid-May to mid-June 2023 and I can honestly say it's been one of the best month's ever! The centre helped me facilitate my master's degree disseration research in Hebron, while at the same time, I also enrolled on an Arabic class and began teaching some English with local children at the centre. The staff are incredibly helpful and there is a really strong community vibe in the centre. I would strongly recommend the Excellence Centre!!!!!!!!

My name is Leiko and I am from Japan. I did the program teaching English and learning Arabic at the Excellence Center for one month. I joined this program during my summer vacation of master's study.
At excellence center, besides Arabic lesson, I usually joined English club. There are two types of English club: for beginner and for advanced person. The center offers two days and three days a week respectively and while giving students informal English lesson with other volunteers, I could learn how to teach English effectively with fun. I also joined informal English lesson at Al-Arroud refugee camp. Al-Arroud refugee camp located between Hebron and Bethlehem. At the camp, I taught English with other volunteer twice a week to about 50 students at a local community centre, replacing a school that had closed due to a strike.
As part of my learning Arabic, I took Arabic lessons three hours a week, and my class had
usually two people, so it was based on our level and curiosity which was very helpful. All
teachers in here are so nice and kind, they teach and talk to participants during and outside of the class.
The environment is very good in terms of people, opportunities, and location. Not only the
people at the centre, but also the people of Hebron are very kind and welcoming. They help all the time, and they treat us as one part of their family. The location of center was also nice which is in a main street and the street has plenty of place to eat, cafes, stationaries, supermarkets, ATM, and so on.
The center offers us many short trips. I visited old city and went to historical mosque called Al-Ibrahimi Mosque, traditional Kufiya factory, and glass factory. Also, with other volunteers in the center, I’ve visited other cities in Palestine like Jericho and went to Dead Sea and Red Sea.
Host family which center arranged to us were also very nice. I live in a house 15 minutes’ walk from center which was nice location and host families and neighbors were so kind. They sometimes offer me traditional food and they showed me their job place and shared me with Arabic culture.
Before I came here, I was a little scary of safety because of many terrible news and severe political situation. However, Hebron is quite safe and peaceful town and there was no problem even I walked alone after 21 or 22 o’clock. During one month in Hebron, I’ve never felt fear or heard threaten situation from other volunteers as well.
The hospitality of the Palestinian people is what we like most about Palestine. They often
approached us on the street, and at small local shops they served us tea and coffee and told us many stories. It is a precious memory that not only on the street, but they invited us straight to their houses and served us food and tea.
My experience at the Excellence Centre made me realise how important it is to examine the current state of education in Palestine and the extent to which what is reported in the news is presenting the current situation. I highly recommend visiting the excellence centre, as there are many things you can't understand unless you are there.