Program Reviews

I spent a week and a half volunteering in Hebron, West Bank. I had a range of experiences from my arrival in Tel Aviv, including learning about the settlements within the Old Town, visiting Bethlehem, Ramallah and Nablus. I learnt Arabic and met many inspirational Palestinians. We visited Masafer Yatta, and learned of the experiences of the Palestinians living in Umm Al-Khair.
A a foreigner travelling in Palestine, I only experienced difficulties and Tel Aviv Airport and when visiting Masafer Yatta.
I would definitely recommend coming to the Excellence Centre for the warm welcome to Palestine, to learn and experience so much, to have a stable base from which to travel and to make solid connections with Palestinians and volunteers.

I spent a week and a half volunteering in Hebron, West Bank. I had a range of experiences from my arrival in Tel Aviv, including learning about the settlements within the Old Town, visiting Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Nablus. I learnt Arabic and met many inspirational Palestinians. We visited Masafer Yatta and learned of the experiences of the Palestinians living in Umm Al-Khair.

A a foreigner travelling in Palestine, I only experienced difficulties and Tel Aviv Airport and when visiting Masafer Yatta.
I would definitely recommend coming to the Excellence Centre for the warm welcome to Palestine, to learn and experience so much, to have a stable base from which to travel, and to make solid connections with Palestinians and volunteers.

My internship experience at The Excellence Center in Halle was one of the most rewarding and meaningful experiences I've had thus far both in my studies and my personal life. I got to work directly with refugees and community members in an international environment where I became more informed and engaged in pressing global issues like forced migration, the occupation in Palestine, and the challenges of integration in Europe. The work was hands-on and varied with every day bringing new opportunities to learn, teach, explore, connect, and grow. The social environment was dynamic, welcoming, and supportive, and I feel like I made lifelong friends over my 10 weeks there.

In my lessons with refugees, I often had to communicate with people who didn't speak the same language as me. It pushed me to get creative, using gestures and visuals to connect. This encouraged me to build confidence and connect with people from all kinds of backgrounds. Some days were filled with structured lessons, while others shifted on the fly based on the needs of the community. This unpredictability taught me to be proactive, resourceful, and comfortable working without a rigid schedule. My flexibility and adaptability were almost constantly challenged, and in the process, I developed skills that I know will serve me in any professional or cross-cultural setting.

The staff at The Excellence Center in Halle were supportive, approachable, and genuinely invested in the success of both participants and the community. Rafat, Ali, and Muaz were always making me laugh, but they also pushed me to think more deeply about the opinions I carried and the kind of role I want to play in the migration space. I came into this experience pretty sure I wanted to work in refugee affairs, but my time at the Excellence Center has truly solidified that. It’s made me even more determined to meaningfully engage in this field, whether by working closely with communities through grassroots initiatives, advocating for change in an international NGO, or contributing to policy-making at a global level.

I'm so grateful for my time at The Excellence Center in Halle. I made memories I will cherish forever and met people I hope to never fall out of touch with. This experience will always be a cornerstone of both my personal and professional journey, and the lessons I’ve learned here will continue to guide and inspire me in the years ahead.

A brilliant experience for anyone who wants to help out and learn at the same time. Really worth it! The people are super friendly and the students are truly inspiring and you can learn a lot from just one conversation with them. The location is beautiful and cheap, lots to explore nearby, such as Berlin, Hanover, Magdeburg a d soooo much more. The group activities are very fun and they make it easy to make new friends from alllll over the world! The diversity of the programme is the best part. I truly couldn't recommend it more. I wish I was there longer.

If you're not sure how to navigate traveling to Palestine, or didn't even know it was easily possible, the Excellence Center is a great way to do it. Depending on your interest or reason for coming, they can connect you with various NGOs and other organizations in the region, plus offer the a great way to learn Levantine Arabic while helping to teach English to Palestinian students.

Another big part of life at the center are cultural or social events a few times a week, or trips/tours to meet Palestinians who still live in the H2 area of Hebron/AlKhalil or refugee camps. Hebron is among the most culturally traditional parts of Palestine so it's likely to be both quite different and interesting to learn about, coming from other cultures. I myself was connected with rural primary care organizations and got amazing experience shadowing local Physicians.

I warmly recommend the Excellence Center / Engage in Palestine for everybody who want to learn the palestinian dialect. This was my first dialect course and i am very happy that i found the Excellence Center. My teacher Dana is a truly wonderful teacher! 🌟

Her warm and patient way of teaching made learning Palestinian Arabic for me as german both fun and effective. I learned so much during the online course and always looked forward to each session. I’ll definitely be signing up for the next course. Shukran jazeelanو barak allah fiki, ya habibti Dandoun! 🌸 Sarah

It was an amazing experience. I am so grateful to be here in The Excelence Center. It changed my life forever, knowing this land, these people, these children, and being able to help, but also learning so much with them all.

It is very safe to come here for volunteering even in these hard times, but Hebron is totally safe and you are being taken care of here as family. And leave as family. It feels like home.

For sure, I will come back soon and many times in the future.

With all my love and deep gratitude, Helio

I've just spent two weeks in Hebron, in the Intensive Arabic program. It has been a great adventure and a great experience on so many levels! I was a little nervous before coming here, but I didn't need to worry about any of those things that I had imagined might go wrong. Every one at the Excellence Center has been very helpful and there has always been a friendly atmosphere there. My teacher was really the best! I have made a lot of progress, and I feel inspired to continue learning Arabic. It has also been interesting to visit the city of Hebron. The local people are nice and hospitable and eager to get to know international guests. I have felt completely safe and always very welcome. I can really recommend a trip to the Excellence Center for anyone who wishes a holiday experience out of the ordinary!

I chose this volunteer program because I wanted to practice my English, brush up on my German, and enjoy a sort of “semi-holiday” within a group with a common goal. I had already visited Germany, but this time I wanted to return on my own. I was also drawn to the idea of reconnecting with Syrian or Palestinian people, as I had visited Syria years ago.

My expectations were not only met but truly exceeded. The other volunteers and students have been bold, curious, and enriching individuals — a real source of inspiration. My roommate was just wonderful, and the students I was assigned to (special shout-out to Hussean, Halloren !) were kind and welcoming. I also had the joy of spending time with lovely, authentic young siblings (all female, from 0 to 11 years old) from a Syrian family.

It’s true that the program’s organization can sometimes be a bit confusing — schedules change, and class times aren't always clear — but you can always talk things through. Rafat, the coordinator, is very approachable, understanding and kind, and that makes a huge difference.

The atmosphere in the school is laid back, in a good way, e.g., you can feel free to find your teaching space... Just as another volunteer said: "it looks more like being in a living-room than in a school".

I’m leaving this experience feeling truly grateful and fortunate, even if I'm sad because I have to leave... Bitter sweet !

Honestly, I was somewhat nervous before I arrived here, but after staying with the Excellence Center for 4 weeks I can say with full confidence that I have never met a more warm, welcoming, fun and accepting group of people. The people I've met at the center have left a lasting impact on me and left me with memories that I will treasure forever, but most of all I want to show appreciation for the staff. Rafat, Muaz and Ali have been absolutely fantastic, and so welcoming, treating every single one of us students like family. They are all such amazing people with so many stories to tell, and they are what makes the Excellence center so great. Muaz has been one of the best teachers I've ever had, and his patience and encouragement when teaching has made learning German incredibly fun and productive for me. I've genuinely felt so at home at the center, and honestly the thought of leaving makes me want to cry. I'd absolutely stay longer if I could. I've valued my time and experience here so dearly, and would encourage absolutely anyone and everyone to sign up for this program. I'll absolutely be visiting again in future. :)