My name is Mami, I am from Japan, currently I undertake a postgraduate study in migration and development. I participated in “Volunteering for Palestinian Refugees” program between 8th January to 21st January 2023.

Homestay
During my 2 weeks, I was at a homestay with a family in Hebron, with another Dutch girl also volunteering for the excellence centre. My host family was absolutely amazing, one of the warmest people in the world with a lovely sense of humour. They have experience hosting over 11 years, to more than 40 people from all around the world. In their apartment, myself and another Dutch girl shared a bedroom separate from the family’s house and provided us with a private shower and toilet for us to share. We were often invited to eat with them and have a chat in the evening around their fireplace, and the living room was always filled with laughter.
Spending time with this lovely family, I started to think a lot about what it means to be happy, what we should seek in our life. It was so nice to see many people visiting every day, and relatives having tight knit communities. They also mentioned how children are raised by the whole family and relatives, which is very different from what mothers experience in Japan or in the West. I deeply appreciate all the kindness they have given me through the homestay and thank also the excellence centre to introduce this family to me.

Safety in Hebron
Although the situations for Palestinians are complicated, I felt very safe in the city as a foreigner. There was not one moment when I felt in danger. In my opinion, this is the most welcoming place I have ever been as a foreigner, with people saying hi, welcome to you everyday on the street with smiles, and I never experienced any racism nor those pushing to make you buy something / trying to rip you off. 3G network works well in most places, although you need to get a SIM card from here (the one from Tel-Aviv didn’t work in Hebron).

To the Excellence Centre
Thank you so much for everything. It has been a wonderful 2 weeks here in Hebron.
I don’t know how I can give back all the kindness you and people I have met here have offered to me, but I would like to share the stories I have heard during my stay and encourage others to also come to Palestine to experience for themselves.

Just one tip for travelling – Don’t come on Friday night / Saturday morning. There is no public transportation and private taxis could be very expensive. All other days, you can travel by affordable trains from airport to Jerusalem and then shared taxi from Jerusalem Damascus gate to Hebron.

I spent three weeks at the center and I came in not knowing what to expect. It was the first big/ long trip I have taken on my own, and I could not have asked for a better experience. The center is full of kind and welcoming people, who took me throughout to city to learn more about Palestine and the struggles of the people who live here. My time here was so informative and such a wonderful overall experience. Additionally, I stayed with the most wonderful family who took me in and treated me like a daughter. I hope I have the opportunity to come back soon!

I am Amelia, age 31, I spent a week going the Women's Rights programme. Every day was an incredible chance to be immersed in the culture, politics, people, joy, laughter and sadness that the amazing city of Hebron has to offer. The staff were some of kindest, most passionate people I've met, I felt fully supported. I felt completely safe as solo female traveller, the locals couldn't do enough to help you. My hosts became family to me. This is a life changing trip -I can't recommend your visit enough!

I came to Hebron for 1 week to understand the Human Rights issues between the Israeli and Palestinenian people. The week was an eye opener and I got to visit many places including the refugee camps as well as womens centre and spoke to Palestinian families in the H2 area of Hebron.
The Excellence Centre are a fantastic programme who raise awareness through international students/volunteers and show the issues that the people are dealing with. Marwa and Osama are great people! I have really enjoyed my time here and hope to come back again soon!
It is very safe in Hebron and at no point did I feel i could not travel alone or in a group. I came across no issues and would absoloutly recommend this program.

I was able to join the program only for 2 weeks, and was afraid it would not be long enough to learn much. It was certainly not long enough, but it was still very rich experience, and I feel I learned a lot through the stay. I was very warmly welcomed by the staff at the center as well as the host family, and the team tried to make my stay comfortable and meaningful. I was able to visit various organizations, sites, and had some time to do tourist visits as well, and the whole time I felt very safe. I am really glad I came, even if it was only for two weeks.

My time at the Excellence Centre has been one of the best experience I ever had.
Osama and Marwha are so welcoming and make sure you are set up for success from the first day you walk through the centre door.

My host family were absolutley amazing and I consider them part of my own family.

We participated in various activities, we visitied a school for blind children, we visited refugee camps and we were taken to see the wonderful views around Hebron.

An experience that stood out most to me was meeting with lawyer, Osayd Awawada, he was a really Informative source in explaining about the history of Palestine. Having a legal background myself this was really surreal for me.

Saja and Duha were amazing Arabic teachers and now my friends for life, there teaching methods for Arabic made it super easy to pick up and I found myself engaging in conversation within a couple of days.

I made great friends in and around the centre, I already cant wait to return for an even longer visit to the Excellence Centre.

I love my palestenian family here in Hebron, Palestine and I will miss them all so much!!

I was very excited to visit the Excellence center after deciding I wanted to go to Palestine to see what is going on first hand. I was not dissapointed, Upon arrival my friends and I were made feel extremely welcome by everyone in the Center, I felt immediatley at home.
Having completed the Human Rights program I feel really satisfied with the course.
Osama was amazing from day one, every trip he orgainsied for us was well thought out and gave a great insight into the stuggle facing the people in Palestine. From meeting activists and visiting refugee camps to sampleing the local food and culture. We were even lucky enough to attend a Hebron wedding, something I will never forget. I found the Arabic lessons with Duha to be extremley engaging, informative and certainly helped us get around.
I can not fault me experience at the Excellence Center and have every intention on returning in the future.

My name is Conor, I am a 24 year old International Affairs graduate from Ireland and I have completed the Human Rights programme at the Excellence Center. I have had a great time during my stay in Hebron, participating in many engaging activities such as visits to local activists, refugee camps, governmental departments and local schools all the while learning about the situation in Palestine. I also got the chance to teach English to local students and had a great experience learning Arabic with the fantastic teachers at the Center. There is also an amazing atmosphere at the Center and all the staff and students are so welcoming, creating a really fun environment every day. During our stay we also got to visit many amazing places such as Bethlehem, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem to name a few. I also found our accomodation was perfect for our my here and we were helped with everything we needed from our landlord and were made to feel so welcome. Furthermore, not once did I feel unsafe in Hebron, with a very calm and peaceful atmosphere around the city. It is difficult to say what I enjoyed the most, as the food, people, culture and general hospitality were unparralled and like nothing I have ever experienced before. Some of my favourite times here were actually just hanging around the Center and having a laugh and fun with students and staff alike. My lasting impression of Palestine is that it is a place filled with beautiful people with such a rich and vibrant culture and something that I believe anyone would be lucky to experience and I can't wait to come back again.