A great experience

I have spent the last month at the Excellence Centre in Halle, completing the Refugee Resettlement internship and I can safely say that the time has flown by! The programme is incredibly eye-opening and rewarding, whilst the community atmosphere of the Excellence Centre makes each day enjoyable.

What is really unique about this programme is the vast array of opportunities you will receive as an intern. I spent the first week receiving German classes and began to teach both English and German to students from Syria and Turkey. I had never taught English or German as a foreign language before but found it an incredibly rewarding experience. I was touched by the levels of motivation and enthusiasm shown by each student, and I really enjoyed getting to know them better. The next few weeks were focused on gaining a better understanding of the situation of refugees. There were sessions and tours of the city which focused on Germany’s response to the refugee crisis as well as opportunities to meet and speak with refugees living in the area. I also had the opportunity to conduct an interview with a Syrian refugee, which provided the basis for a presentation I delivered about the integration of refugees in Germany. I feel as if I have a much deeper understanding of the situation of refugees after completing this internship.

The centre itself was always a very positive environment. There were a lot of opportunities to get to know each other better thanks to all the activities organised by the centre, from football matches to tours of the city. I made so many friends in such a short amount of time.
Outside of the centre, I enjoyed staying with a host family in Halle. My host mum was brilliant and made myself and the other volunteer she hosted feel right at home. We met her family, went to Halle’s chocolate museum, and had film nights together. It was also an excellent opportunity to speak German.

Overall, I would recommend this internship to anyone who is interested in learning more about the situation of refugees in Europe and who wants to do something positive for the refugee community. I am really grateful for the experiences I have had at the Excellence Centre.