The Excellence Center

When I first arrived in Germany, I was greeted warmly and everybody at the center was extremely welcoming. After completing three months of teaching German and English, I can say that it has been an unforgettable experience, throughout which I have learned a lot.

Teaching different ages and people with different backgrounds has been so inspiring; every single person was so kind and motivated, which made it feel like catching up with a friend.

I also learned Arabic as a complete beginner, and my teacher, Muaz, was great; he made the lessons fun, and I can really feel my progress. He has inspired me to keep learning the language.

It was incredible to see how respected Rafat is by every single person who comes into the Excellence Center. The difference the center has made for so many people is absolutely incredible to see.

As a Japanese, I was very anxious about volunteering in Germany.

However, the members of the Excellence Centre dispelled my anxiety within a minute of meeting them! They are so cheerful and friendly.

I had a wonderful time with my friendly colleagues and cheerful, hard-working students. And I could also go on a wonderful city tour and Arabic Course.

Regarding the Arabic Course, they teach us with the first step of learning new language step by steps. I have finally could introduce myself and make a small talk in Arabic.

From above, I highly recommend this programme to anyone who wants to volunteer in Europe for a short period of time!

Volunteering at the Excellence Center in Hebron for 10 days has been an unforgettable experience. I had the joy of helping amazing kids improve their English and spending meaningful time with them, which was both rewarding and inspiring. Meeting the other volunteers and sharing trips together gave me the chance to learn more about the rich Palestinian culture, its delicious food, and the warm, resilient people who make this place so special.

A huge thank you to teachers Jumana and Duha for their patience and skill in teaching me Arabic – I learned so much and truly appreciated their support. Qatada and Mohammed were incredibly helpful in showing me around and making sure I felt at home. Osama, Marwa, and the rest of the staff welcomed me like family, and made my time in Palestine truly amazing.

I can’t wait to return and spend even more time at the Center, inshallah!

If you want to progress quickly in Levantine Arabic, the Excellence Center and their amazing teachers is the place to go! Doha and Saja were both incredibly kind, welcoming, and very skilled teachers. Most of my classes were one-on-one which meant that everything was tailor-made to my level and the specific things I needed to work on. Classes taught me things that were very helpful to every day life in Hebron, and the homework also helped solidify the things I learned in class. Being immersed in an Arabic speaking city and host family was also so valuable in helping me to improve much faster than if was studying in my home country.

My time at the Excellence Center was life changing in so many ways. When I first made plans to join the Medicine and Healthcare volunteer program, I only planned to stay for a little over two weeks. As I neared the end of my time, I knew there was still much more I needed to learn from Palestine and its people. I ended up extending my stay by another eight days, and I am so grateful that I did. Every moment I spent in Palestine was so enriching and wonderful. My only regret is that I could not stay even longer.

First and foremost, I am so grateful to the Palestinian people for welcoming me everywhere I went. From Hebron, to Bethlehem, to Jericho, to Al-Fawwar refugee camp, the hospitality and generosity was unmatched. One must be prepared to accept lots of tea, coffee, and sweets from locals! Often I was invited to lunch at people’s homes after meeting them only once. There is a strong sense of community and safety everywhere in Palestine. It is evident that everyone feels a responsibility to take care of one another, especially guests.

Visiting Palestine was both culturally and spiritually enriching. There are so many cultural and historic sites to see across the land. Every region has something - the only problem was deciding which places to visit during my limited time in the country! However, the Excellence Center goes above and beyond when it comes to arranging tours, especially within Hebron. Not only do you get to tour fascinating places, but they also provide lots of background information and opportunities to interact with locals. This is unlike many ultra-curated, “touristy” experiences in the Holy Land, which tend to avoid the realities of the occupation and apartheid and how these systems affect the lives of real people.

As a volunteer with the Medicine and Healthcare program, I also bore witness to the realities of medical apartheid in Palestine. In most areas of the West Bank, Palestinians are not allowed to build hospitals or clinics, even on land that they own. The Excellence Center connected me with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society and the Green Land Society, which have offices based in Hebron and send mobile clinics to areas where there are no medical facilities. I also spoke with many healthcare professionals who told of how, even in areas with medical facilities, resources are limited, including several crucial medications which are blocked from being imported into the West Bank. And yet, Palestinians are among the most resilient and resourceful people, finding ways to take care of each other in spite of all these barriers.

I came to Palestine and the Excellence Center expecting the experience of a lifetime, and yet I could never have been prepared for just how awesome it would be. I already hope to return someday. Everything about the experience - the Arabic lessons, the tours, the volunteer opportunities - was top tier. I gained new stories, friends, and perspectives, but I also gained a new home and family. To anyone with an open mind and adventurous spirit, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Excellence Center. You will never be the same.