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The Excellence Center

4.87 Rating
1001 reviews
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Why choose The Excellence Center?

Founded in 2011, the Excellence Center/Engage in Palestine offers intensive Levantine and Palestinian Arabic courses, online Arabic lessons, and a variety of volunteer, internship, and community programs in Hebron, West Bank. Participants can learn Arabic, meet new people from around the world, and engage with local communities, contributing to meaningful educational and social projects that make a lasting impact on Palestinian children, refugees, women, and youth.

In 2018, the Excellence Center expanded to Halle, Germany, offering volunteer and internship programs that allow international participants to develop intercultural skills, contribute to community development, and support local initiatives, while connecting with locals and international peers. Both Excellence Centers empower participants to learn a new language, make a meaningful impact, and foster cross-cultural understanding in Palestine and Germany, providing a unique global experience for students, interns & volunteers

Join Our Family In Palestine & Germany In 2026

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Website
excellencenter.org
Founded
2011
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Community Photos

Volunteers in Dresden
Halle
Cards
Breakfast
At the Excellence Centre in Hebron
Dresden with other volunteers
Breakfast all together
Family
Visit to Umm Al-Kheir
Lunch after teaching and visit Al Aroub
Teaching at Al Aroub
blind school
boys orphanage
masafer yata
Hebron City from Tell Rumeda
Al Fawwar Refugee Camp

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Community Awards

  • Go Overseas Award
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  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award

Impact 🌎

With all our Arabic courses and volunteer programs, we aim to make a long term difference for the Palestinian local community through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. Our programs and courses foster shared learning, for both our community and you. During your Arabic course, you will get to learn so much more than just the language. You will also get to learn a lot about Palestinian culture and customs and the political situation in Palestine. Additionally, you will have many opportunities while outside the classroom to practice your Arabic in a natural and authentic way while navigating your new life in Hebron. Your time with us in Hebron will also provide you with many opportunities of cultural exchange and mutual learning, both with local Palestinians as well as with our other international participants.

Reviews

Jaylen
25
Male
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Volunteer Teaching English Abroad in Palestine

Amazing experience

Jun 7, 2026

I had the pleasure of staying in Palestine through the Excellence Center and it was amazing. Seeing the country and learning about everything was something I consider so important in my life. I had the wonderful opportunity to have Ms. Haya as my teacher. She’s incredible! As are the many teachers the organization has that will help you with your Arabic. They are thorough, patient, and fun. The people of Palestine are so warm and welcoming too. The organizers of the Excellence Center give a great balance of walking you through while letting you be on your own. I can’t stress my love for the Excellence Center and the country. May I visit a million times

What was your funniest moment?
Tricking Ms. Haya into thinking I bought a manga instead of my Arabic Lessons book
Pros
  • Food
  • Welcoming Environment
  • Great Night Life
Cons
  • WiFi
  • Traveling city to city is difficult
Andrea
Female
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Study Intensive Arabic Courses in Germany

Fabulous Arabic classes and Palestine Experience

Jun 7, 2026

I absolutely loved every hour I spent last year at the Excellence Center, unfortunately it was for a very short time. I studied Arabic with Haya and learned about humanitarian issues facing Palestinians, especially women, from Osama. I had an unusual background in Arabic-- I studied the Levantine dialect in Jordan many years ago and took a semester of Modern Standard Arabic five or six years ago. Haya was able to develop what felt like a curriculum especially for me-- first online and then at the Excellence Center. The Center provides the perfect Palestine experience-- I hope to spend at least two weeks there soon.

Pros
  • Great Arabic teachers
  • Very informed guide on Hebron
  • Friendly and welcoming staff
Emily
Ireland
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Intensive Arabic Courses in Palestine (1–13 Weeks)

Absolutely recommend- the best Arabic teacher

Jun 4, 2026

I absolutely loved taking online Arabic classes with Haya. As a complete beginner, it was intimidating to start from scratch but Haya was so welcoming, accommodating and fun and I really looked forward to our lessons each week. She is a fantastic teacher and I was so happy with what I achieved under her guidance over the course. The classes were very good value for money too and being online meant that I could learn from my own home. I can’t recommend her and The Excellence Centre enough and I can’t wait to return to classes again in the future!

Becca
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Intensive Arabic Courses in Palestine (1–13 Weeks)

Amazing trip, with amazing people

Jun 4, 2026

Everyone at the Excellence Centre made me feel so welcome. My lessons were really fun, and I learnt a lot - both about Arabic and about Palestine. My teacher was very knowledgeable and supportive. She spoke perfect English, and always found a way to make the lessons accessible and interesting. We worked at my own pace, and I was able to ask questions and direct content to whatever interested me.

Although the situation in Palestine is very sad, I felt completely safe in Al Khalil/Hebron. The people here were very welcoming, and everyone was keen to show me the best that Palestine had to offer. I was comfortable walking around by myself, even in the evenings. There would always be someone from the centre available to help me if I needed, and I've made friends for life. The food is amazing, and I've even learnt to cook whilst here!

If I could give any advice to someone reading this, it is to just book it and come! Yes, it is expensive. But Palestine is such a beautiful country, and the centre is a very safe way to experience it. I was guided to see the best sites, and I have met the absolute best people here. My Arabic has improved so much in a relatively short time (one month), and I'm now confident speaking to people in Arabic. All of this is thanks to the Excellence Centre, and their wonderful staff and volunteers.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would come for longer! The visa is 3 months, regardless of whether you stay for one week or the full three months. I wish that I had saved up more money so I could've stayed for longer.
Pros
  • I always felt welcome and part of the family
  • My Arabic is so good now!
  • The food is amazing, and I have learnt to cook
Cons
  • It is expensive, honestly. The money goes to good use, but it was hard to justify such a big expense in my life.
Max
Male
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Volunteer Abroad in Germany – Short-Term Programs 1–13 Weeks

The Excellence Center is fantastic!

Jun 4, 2026

I had an absolutely amazing time teaching English and learning German at my time here at the Excellence Center. I did the 3 week program and wish I would have stayed for longer. I usually taught 3 or 4 English lessons a weeks and had 3 hours of German class. I loved my German lessons with Muaz because he made them very interactive and fun. Everyone I met at the Center is so incredibly nice and care about all the people involved in the programs. My favorite part of the program was connecting and hanging out with the other volunteers. We really bonded together and had a great time sharing our cultures. I 100% recommend this program to anyone!

What was your funniest moment?
Playing games with Rafat and bonding with everyone during breakfast
Breakfast
Cards
Halle
Volunteers in Dresden
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Programs

Displaying 1 - 6 of 6

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Simon Greenwood

Program
Palestinian Law, Human Rights & Refugee Internships in Palestine
Simon is a 41-year-old English tutor currently living in Hebron, Palestine. He graduated from the University of Washington in 2009. After working for different tutoring programs in the US he decided to try volunteering abroad to experience more of the world.
Simon Greenwood

Why did you choose this program?

When I saw the situation in Palestine I knew I needed to do something to help. The volunteer organizations in the US weren't really for me, but I had the time and the means to go help in person. I looked up volunteer opportunities and the Excellence Center had the best reputation. I found out its reputation is well-deserved!

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The Excellence Center helped me with everything I needed. They gave me a flat, free breakfast, volunteer work, Arabic lessons, and guidance for anything else I asked about, including finding more work with other organizations.

All I organized on my own was getting other meals and traveling around Palestine independently.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

If you're coming to Palestine you need to be aware of the political situation. It sounds obvious, but one would-be volunteer had her visa denied because of her radicalism on social media. Don't do that. You're here to help - maybe by teaching kids English, or advocating for women's rights, or volunteering at a hospital. Don't get carried away.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Your daily activities change as you spend more time in the program, but for a beginner: Eat breakfast with other volunteers at 10 AM, and study Arabic from 11 to 12 or 1. Then, go on a trip to somewhere in or near Hebron to learn about life in Palestine and experience the culture, do volunteer activities, and spend the evening studying and hanging out with other volunteers.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear when I came to Palestine was that I'd be a victim of the current situation - hurt or worse, by one side or the other. Talking to the other volunteers before I came eased my anxiety. After spending time here I feel my fears were unfounded. It's clear what places and situations are dangerous and as foreigners, we're free to avoid them.

You can volunteer in Palestine without having specific views about the situation. You don't have to have an opinion about Zionism, or the Nakba, or the war in Gaza, or anything else. If you see people suffering and you want to help then you'll be welcomed here. You'll be making the world a better place while experiencing a unique culture and learning a complicated, tragic history first-hand.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Ibrahim Zahda

Program
Palestinian Law, Human Rights & Refugee Internships in Palestine
Job Title
English Teacher
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Many people who come to the Excellence Center with the goal of volunteering to teach English are curious about the teachers.

We thought it would be a good idea to sit down with one of the English teachers at the Excellence Center and ask him a little bit about himself, in order to give those thinking about studying at the Excellence Center a chance to learn a little bit more about the teachers they will encounter and work with in Hebron.

Meet Ibrahim Zahda, who started teaching at the Excellence Center as an English teacher 3 years ago.

What’s your daily routine like?

I split my time between the Excellence Center and a local public school. I’m an English teacher at both locations. Once I finish at the public school, then I head over to the Excellence Center.

How do you like working with Palestinian students?

I really like working with them. These kids have something to tell the world. I want to give them the tools they need to deliver our message to the world. That message is simply that we are here and we believe in nonviolent resistance to the Israeli occupation.

How about foreign volunteers?

They help me a lot as teaching assistants. The help they provide basically falls under several levels. First, they empower the idea of volunteering to the students. Second, they help the students with their pronunciation and expose them to the way English is spoken by native speakers.

The cultural aspect of their presence is also important. Volunteers come from all over the world and bring new ideas and concepts to us. It helps the students learn about the ways other people think about problems and give them new perspectives with which to face their challenges. It’s not just the students, teachers also learn in this way from the volunteers.

What’s it like working with Marwa, Khitam, and the other staff members?

The working relationships at the Excellence Center are really great, everyone is kind and everyone is eager to help each other out. The people I work with feel more like family than coworkers.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

You'll mostly find me playing football and computer games, I’m actually addicted to computer games (laughter).

What do you wish foreign volunteers knew before coming to Hebron?

I think the administration has provided a lot of good information for future and potential volunteers on their website. I would urge them (the volunteers) to learn about the center and its mission.

Most of the volunteers I’ve worked with have had a good idea of that part. Learning about the Palestinian culture beforehand would also be helpful.

What do you think are the biggest challenges for Palestinians trying to learn English?

There is this stereotype that English is an impossible language to learn. That really puts the students at a disadvantage so I try to break that stereotype and tell them that English is just like any other language. It is fun and can be learned.

Another challenge is that public schools in Palestine tend to focus on traditional teaching methods. In fact, newer methods which teach English in a practical way are needed. This is what the center is for, it emphasizes the students' speaking and listening abilities so that they can use English in the real world.