Program Reviews

I recently had the privilege of embarking on a one-month internship at the Excellence Centre in Palestine, and I cannot emphasize enough how profoundly positive and enriching this experience was for me. From the moment I arrived, I was embraced by a warm and supportive community, and every aspect of my internship surpassed my expectations.
First and foremost, my time at the Excellence Centre helped me get my Palestinian Colloquial Arabic to a much higher. The highly qualified instructors at the centre and especially professor Rasha demonstrated an exceptional commitment to teaching, making every class engaging, interactive, and tailored to my individual learning needs. Her expertise, combined with their genuine passion for sharing the Arabic language motivated and inspired me to push my language skills to new heights.
Secondly, as part of the program, I was honoured to join the centre and other participants on excursions to several human rights groups and refugee camps where we learned much about the difficulties Palestinians face.
The Excellence Centre's dedication to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment was evident in every interaction. The staff members were not only highly knowledgeable and skilled professionals but also caring and compassionate individuals. They went above and beyond to ensure that my stay was comfortable, offering guidance, support, and a genuine sense of friendship that made me feel like part of their extended family.
In summary, my one-month internship at the Excellence Centre in Palestine was an extraordinary experience that exceeded all expectations. It provided me with a comprehensive linguistic education, invaluable teaching opportunities, and eye-opening encounters with human rights groups. The supportive and caring atmosphere, along with the warmth and hospitality of the staff, made me feel like part of a close-knit community. I leave with a transformed perspective, cherished memories, and lifelong connections. Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend the Excellence Centre to anyone seeking an unforgettable and impactful internship experience and will definitely coming back as soon as possible.

My time at the Excellence Center was an all around good experience. The atmosphere created by the other interns and volunteers as well as the staff is friendly and welcoming, which made the transition to a new country smooth. Ali specifically played a key role in this transition and integration as he gave me a tour of the city once I arrived, introduced me and the other interns to local students, and helped me find my way to the center and my accommodation. Additionally, he was my Arabic teacher and helped me progress immensely from completely no background. The lessons were well paced and bounced off of me well, making it feel personalized and motivating rather than overwhelming (which Arabic can easily feel like). I was given some materials to support the lessons which will be advantageous to keep in the future. Though we reached the advertised 30 hours (for a 2 month internship), I do wish the lessons had started earlier on in my time here and been more frequent and shorter per session. Overall my favorite part of this internship was learning Arabic which was mostly because of Ali!

My accommodation was also a warm and welcoming atmosphere where the host family wanted me to feel comfortable and at home. However, there is great variety in the type of accommodation interns/volunteers receive and little support for navigating the transportation system, especially when you’ve newly arrived. Some interns are quite far while others are close and don’t need to account for transportation costs, which is covered by the intern. Rafat did a good job of being available to address accommodation concerns if issues did arise; however, there was no information given to me ahead of time about where/with whom I would be staying or what I could expect to receive from them (ie, meals, whether I would have an in room roommate, etc).

The experience at the Excellence center as an intern is very relaxed and gives the opportunity for self initiated exploration, such as of the state of migration/integration in Halle and the actual city of Halle. Because of the flexibility afforded in the set up of the internship program, I found that there was less structure and organization than I anticipated or would have preferred. I enjoyed being able to teach the same students English for the entirety of my internship but I found that this combined with my Arabic lessons didn’t take up as much time as I expected. The case study and presentation on refugee affairs aspects of the program were a lot more limited than I expected and my main wish is that this part of the internship was more intentional and expansive. I was able to learn a lot about the integration experience from speaking with the (predominantly) Syrian migrant population at the center as well as the Refugee tour, however. Everyone was so open and lovely - I learned just by being around the interns and students of Halle, as well as having the time and flexibility to travel and explore Germany/nearby cities.

What an amazing experience! From the moment I walked through the door at The Excellence Center, I felt welcome! The atmosphere is friendly, helpful and super comfortable. Rafat and his staff do everything they can to ensure one has a good experience. Everyone is so laid-back and easy to talk to, which, in my opinion, promotes the overall feeling of warmth and kindness one feels there. I will always remember this experience with fondness and am so happy I chose to volunteer. I also had so many chances to practice my German and gained much through my own language lessons.

My name is Bianca. Im 22 years old and from Switzerland and Italy. I did 4 weeks of intensive
arabic at the excellence center. I dont have a university degree yet but am interested in socialwork
and languages.
As I volunteered with refugees in greece I realized again how useful and beautiful arabic is. I did
one semester of middle-east studies in Switzerland and then decided that I wanted to learn a dialect
not only fussha. Also I realized that it is nicer and easier to learn a language going to the country
than only in a classroom. Its my first time in the middle-east and I learned a lot about the culture,
struggles, occupation and the language!
The arabic lessons were very nice. We were only two students at the beginning and then three and
everybody was very motivated to study and learn ammia. Our teacher Haya was very kind and the
lessons were well-prepared and interesting. We did grammar, vocabulary and conversation and it
was very important for Haya that we understand everything and study to get better. Even though I
learned a lot I also realized how much time it takes to learn this language and I am very motivated
to go on or take other classes.
I thank Haya a lot for the energy and encouragement she brought to the classes and whish her all the
best for her future.
The classes were from sunday to thursday from 9 to 12.30h and there was always a nice breakfast at
the center with all the participants/volunteers. The teachers and organisators were all very kind and
open and the athmosphere was very welcoming at the center.
What I also liked a lot was the fact that I lived with a palestinian family. They were super nice and
invited us for Maklube or to the daughters wedding. These experiences were very enriching and I
had very nice conversations with host siblings. Through this I could understand better the society
they live in and also the struggles they face. Palestinian people in general and especially here in
Hebron are very warm and interested as well as incredibly generous. Especially coming from
Switzerland, which is a rich country, I experienced how much more generous and interested people
here are. Once we went to the old market and some boys offered us drinks and others bananas or
falafel sandwiches.
Hebron is full of contradictions. It is beautiful, especially the old city, but as it is separated in an
israeli and a palestinian side it is also very tense and weired to be in the old city and pass
checkpoints and israeli soldiers. Moreover it is a conservative city and there is not a lot of places to
go out or parks to hang out. Still we found some nice cafés where to study and get a limununana
(iced lemon and mint).
In the weekend I once went to Ramallah which is about 2 hours from Hebron. It is quite different to
Hebron because its less conservative (you can drink a beer there for example). I relly recomment
the Yasser Arafat museum! I also went to Bethlehem which I liked a lot because of its narrow
streets.
My favourite activity, after the arabic classes, was when we went to H2 with Mahmoud who told us
a bit about the history and situation there. Afterwards we went to visit Nisreen a palestinian artist
who lives directly next to a settlement. I learned a lot about the oppression and discrimination of
this occupation.
I am also very happy to have met Rahel my roommate from Germany because she inspired me to
leran arabic and she presented me some palestinian people who I like a lot. For example Jalal, a
musician, with whom I took some oud lessons and who sold me an oud that I will take home and
which will remember me of Al Khalil!
Before coming I didnt know a lot about the situation in Hebron. I thought it could be dangerous or
very tense I didnt feel unsafe at any moment. People are very respectful here, they maybe look at

you, as there is not many tourists, or shout «welcome» but thats all:) Also the occupation doesnt
affect life so much as a stranger especially staying in H1. Only when travelling to other places or
when going to H2 you can see and feel it directly...
Finally, I am very thankful for this experience, for the wonderful and inspiring people I met and the
stories they shared. I hope to come back one day and be able to speak more arabic. Also I hope the
best for all palestinian people.

I took one week of super intensive Arabic class at the Excellence Center. I recieved 1-on-1 teaching from Duha, who is an amazing teacher and extremely knowledgeable in Arabic. She created a curriculum specific to my Arabic skill level and needs and executed it well. One week is not much when studying an entire language, but I do think I learned as much as was humanly possible given the time constraint. I understand all of the conjugations and grammar rules (although applying them in everyday conversation is extremely difficult and will obviously take a lot more time). Overall 5/5 for learning Arabic. The program I chose was expensive and well worth every penny - there is no better way to learn than 1 on 1 teaching from an experienced professional teacher.

My name is Bianca. Im 22 years old and from Switzerland and Italy. I did 4 weeks of intensive
arabic at the excellence center. I dont have a university degree yet but am interested in socialwork
and languages.
As I volunteered with refugees in greece I realized again how useful and beautiful arabic is. I did
one semester of middle-east studies in Switzerland and then decided that I wanted to learn a dialect
not only fussha. Also I realized that it is nicer and easier to learn a language going to the country
than only in a classroom. Its my first time in the middle-east and I learned a lot about the culture,
struggles, occupation and the language!
The arabic lessons were very nice. We were only two students at the beginning and then three and
everybody was very motivated to study and learn ammia. Our teacher Haya was very kind and the
lessons were well-prepared and interesting. We did grammar, vocabulary and conversation and it
was very important for Haya that we understand everything and study to get better. Even though I
learned a lot I also realized how much time it takes to learn this language and I am very motivated
to go on or take other classes.
I thank Haya a lot for the energy and encouragement she brought to the classes and whish her all the
best for her future.
The classes were from sunday to thursday from 9 to 12.30h and there was always a nice breakfast at
the center with all the participants/volunteers. The teachers and organisators were all very kind and
open and the athmosphere was very welcoming at the center.
What I also liked a lot was the fact that I lived with a palestinian family. They were super nice and
invited us for Maklube or to the daughters wedding. These experiences were very enriching and I
had very nice conversations with host siblings. Through this I could understand better the society
they live in and also the struggles they face. Palestinian people in general and especially here in
Hebron are very warm and interested as well as incredibly generous. Especially coming from
Switzerland, which is a rich country, I experienced how much more generous and interested people
here are. Once we went to the old market and some boys offered us drinks and others bananas or
falafel sandwiches.
Hebron is full of contradictions. It is beautiful, especially the old city, but as it is separated in an
israeli and a palestinian side it is also very tense and weired to be in the old city and pass
checkpoints and israeli soldiers. Moreover it is a conservative city and there is not a lot of places to
go out or parks to hang out. Still we found some nice cafés where to study and get a limununana
(iced lemon and mint).
In the weekend I once went to Ramallah which is about 2 hours from Hebron. It is quite different to
Hebron because its less conservative (you can drink a beer there for example). I relly recomment
the Yasser Arafat museum! I also went to Bethlehem which I liked a lot because of its narrow
streets.
My favourite activity, after the arabic classes, was when we went to H2 with Mahmoud who told us
a bit about the history and situation there. Afterwards we went to visit Nisreen a palestinian artist
who lives directly next to a settlement. I learned a lot about the oppression and discrimination of
this occupation.
I am also very happy to have met Rahel my roommate from Germany because she inspired me to
leran arabic and she presented me some palestinian people who I like a lot. For example Jalal, a
musician, with whom I took some oud lessons and who sold me an oud that I will take home and
which will remember me of Al Khalil!
Before coming I didnt know a lot about the situation in Hebron. I thought it could be dangerous or
very tense I didnt feel unsafe at any moment. People are very respectful here, they maybe look at
you, as there is not many tourists, or shout «welcome» but thats all:) Also the occupation doesnt
affect life so much as a stranger especially staying in H1. Only when travelling to other places or
when going to H2 you can see and feel it directly...
Finally, I am very thankful for this experience, for the wonderful and inspiring people I met and the
stories they shared. I hope to come back one day and be able to speak more arabic. Also I hope the
best for all palestinian people.

The excellence center provided great insight on the lives of Palestinians through guided tours around homes, villages, and holy sites. I was also provided with thorough and comprehensive arabic lessons each day for my first week here which really helped me navigate and communicate with my colleagues, host family, and locals. The enevrioment was super welcoming, warm, friendly and it felt like I was at home. I loved my host family so much. They felt like a second family. Hospitality was outstanding and I felt safe at all times.

I studied arabic in Hebron with the Excellence Center for 2 weeks. I took the intesive arabic class, where I had class three hours a day. It was a great experience to take intensive arabic classes while being immersed in the language. I am a beginner arabic learner, and my two weeks of class gave me confidence in speaking and inspired me to continue my arabic studies.

Everyone who worked at the center, the other students, and my host family were all incredibly welcoming and friendly and made me feel at home. I came her alone and it was easy to meet people. While staying in Hebron, I traveled with other students to Tel Aviv and Bethlehem on the weekend. I would definitely recommend this program for anyone interested in Palestine and the arabic language.

My name is Jason. I live in the United States, studied as an undergraduate in religion and my graduate degree is in rabbinics. These past four weeks I have been participating in the super-intensive Arabic program here in Al-Khalil.

From the time I applied for the program, I was welcomed warmly into the Excellence Center family. Planning my time here was easy and smooth, as were the directions for how to arrive at the Center in the Eyn Sara neighborhood of Hebron. When I arrived over three weeks ago, I was greeted effusively by fellow students; clearly the Center sets a culture of welcome and kindness for its student that is paradigmatic of the Palestinian culture of hospitality I have experienced in the past, but have experienced deeply and consistently these past few weeks.

My Arabic lessons were—as the program is called—super-intensive. My teacher, Duha, did a great job balancing between her lesson plans and the questions that my classmate and I had. Classes include grammar, speaking and listening, vocabulary, and writing exercises.

The environment of the Center is positive and kind, a home away from home for those of us from abroad studying there and, it seems, for local Palestinian students who take part in the Center’s programs as well. Most of my fellow students have been doing significant volunteer work, internships, or research, and it was clear that the administration of the Center has made wonderful connections to people in the larger community in Al Khalil and beyond.

Some of the wonderful experiences we had as a group were learning how to make stuffed grape leaves at the peak of the grape leaves season, being hosted by a large local family, who welcomed the entire foreign student body into their home for dinner, and seeing the old city and the Tomb of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque with local high schoolers as our guides. While I was here, I also traveled to Bethlehem and to Ramallah. While I had been to Bethlehem a few times before, this was my first time in Ramallah, and it was interesting and powerful to tour and compare the museums in each city.

Some people ask about safety here in Hebron. Long before I arrived, I had a sense that I was being hosted by people who cared deeply about the safety of every student and volunteer, and wanted to make sure I was always making good choices to be as safe as possible. Walking around the city at various hours has been quite comfortable for me and part of the pleasure of living here has been the walk to and from our apartment, greeting and being greeted by various shopkeepers, children and youth in the neighborhood, and enjoying the sights and smells of street food—from pastries in the morning to corn at night. I suppose when I think about different places I have lived over the years, this feels like one of the safest.

During this past month, I have spent most of my time in the City of Hebron and other cities, but the last time I was here, I enjoyed some time on the Palestinian heritage trail, which I recommend highly. My time here now is has been in the season of spring turning to summer, and while you can feel the intensity of the sun during much of the day, I have enjoyed noticing the contrast between the warmth of the day and the cooler nights, often with their gentle winds.

The Palestinian hospitality I imagined before I arrived has been met and surpassed at every turn, from people taking an interest in me to cafes encouraging fellow students and I to park ourselves at a table, drink a frozen passion fruit drink or mint lemonade, and study (or relax) for hours.

I am already sad that my time here is coming to an end soon and I hope to return as a volunteer and, with the help of the Excellence Center, inshallah, find ways to help support and strengthen Palestinian society.

I stayed with the Excellence Centre for one month from mid-May to mid-June 2023 and I can honestly say it's been one of the best month's ever! The centre helped me facilitate my master's degree disseration research in Hebron, while at the same time, I also enrolled on an Arabic class and began teaching some English with local children at the centre. The staff are incredibly helpful and there is a really strong community vibe in the centre. I would strongly recommend the Excellence Centre!!!!!!!!