The Excellence Center Reviews

To begin my review, I would like to talk about my arrival to the center. When I first arrived, I was confused, they were very helpful in making sure I could find the center. My accommodation was very nice and clean. My first day volunteering, I was very nervous, but the other volunteers were extremely kind and welcoming, it wasn’t very hard to fit in with everyone. The breakfast was different from what I was used to, but it was delicious, and you could tell that they put in a lot of work preparing it. The excellence center provides a great amount of freedom to the volunteers, personal and in the classroom. The personal freedom that I was allowed, gave me the opportunity to explore Halle. I thought about the classroom freedom that I was given, and it made me feel uneasy because I have never taught and some structure would have been nice, however this gave me the chance to become a more confident person. Doing the work myself will help me prepare for when I move into a teaching position after I complete my time volunteering. When it comes to acquiring students, I will say that the process was a bit unorganized. I wouldn’t say that it was the fault of the center but rather how the volunteers handled transferring students. However, I do wish that there was a better way of scheduling classes. For example, there could be a board somewhere in the room and we make our schedules based on the available time slots. That way no one is looking for a place to teach when the classrooms are occupied. I did like when we played sports and the special goodbyes we did to fellow volunteers, I just wished we played more sports before we started the day. I found that exercising before sitting down and doing work made me more focused and in a better mood. Overall, I found this 2-week experience to be very fun and rewarding. There were more positives than negatives and I would definitely recommend this program to others.

Hello, I am a master student in Public International Law and I would like to share some insights from my time at the Excellence Center in Palestine, where I was privileged to be a part of their Human Rights Internship.

I stayed in an apartment with a few other male students from different parts of the world. The location was convenient, as the apartment was only a five-minute walk away from the Excellence Center. Moreover, our accommodation was not just comfortable but also became a place for lively discussions, great relaxation, and mutual learning,

One of the standout aspects of the Excellence Center is its dedication to language instruction. Although I had only experience with studying Modern Standard Arabic,
I was genuinely impressed by how much my Levantine Arabic language skills improved in such a short span. The tailored approach and commitment of my teacher Saja made that every class was both challenging and rewarding. In addition, the small group size allowed me, and the other student(s), to ask any questions we had both before, during, and after class.

Another standout aspect of the Excellence Center were the organized excursions. Our visits to the refugee camps were both heart-wrenching and eye-opening. Interacting with the residents and listening to their stories provided a first-hand perspective on the resilience and struggles faced by the Palestinians under the Israeli occupation. Additionally, meeting with several human rights activists and a seasoned Palestinian lawyer deepened my understanding of the complexities of human rights within the West Bank.

On weekends, I had the chance to explore different cities in the region. Each city, from Ramallah to Bethlehem, offered its unique charm, history, and experiences. Whether it was the bustling markets, ancient monuments, or the Palestinian cuisine, these weekend sojourns deepened my connection to the land and its people.

In sum, my internship at the Excellence Center was an experience filled with learning, growth, and profound personal connections. Beyond just academic and professional growth, it was a journey into understanding the intricacies of Palestine's history, culture, and its people's dreams for the future.

To anyone considering this internship: It is intellectually stimulating, emotionally enriching, and offers you a great opportunity to meet like-minded people from all of the world.

My name is Raul Barrena and I am from the Basque Country. I have been in the Excellence Center for one week in order to study the Palestine arabic dialect and in this short period of time I have had such a good experience. The organization of the center is really good as well the teachers of the Center. I have found very nice people from many countries whose have improve my stay in the Center.
I would like to come back someday and I would also like to thank all the staff of the Center for their brilliant work.

This was an excellent opportunity at an excellent centre to engage with Ukrainian and Syrian refugees. My lessons ranged from proofreading and job interview assistance to A1 lessons. Everyone in the programme was kind and helpful.

I spent two weeks at the Excellence Center and it was a wonderful experience. I wish I had stayed here for longer!
I took part in the Teach English and Study German programme, which was a great way of improving my German while simultaneously developing new skills as a teacher. Working closely with my Syrian and Ukrainian students allowed me to learn a lot about new cultures and the experiences of refugees in Europe. It was very rewarding to help students of all levels to converse in English, and to see their great improvement after only two weeks of working with them was very impressive. The majority of my students were enthusiastic and willing to learn from me, and we had a lot of fun in the lessons doing different English language exercises and games. I enjoyed creating lesson plans and learning how best to teach each specific student. We had a lot of freedom to format the lessons in whatever way we wanted. I also worked with one student online, who wrote some articles for me to read and correct, which were really interesting to read. Teaching English at the Center taught me to view language from a different perspective, and made me notice the nuances of English in a way which I have never previously experienced.
I chose the non-intensive German course, so I had a total of six German lessons with Muaz. He is possibly the best German teacher I have ever had. I really enjoyed these lessons, which helped to drastically improve my German. He gave us a lot of fun exercises and activities to do in class, which created a very comfortable and welcoming atmosphere where I wasn’t afraid to make mistakes while speaking German. These lessons were extremely beneficial and I learned a lot about different German dialects and slang words which I had not previously known about. Our lessons were also informative on wider topics such as the history and culture of Germany as we discussed current events and topical issues.
One of things I really enjoyed about coming to the Excellence Center was having the opportunity to get to know the city of Halle (Saale). The city is perfect to spend a few weeks in; the town centre is walkable with lots of interesting architecture, and there a lot of nice cafes, restaurants and bars. It also has a great public transport system which is very reliable. Here I lived with a Syrian host family, who provided me with a nice bedroom in their apartment.
My favourite thing about this programme was the ethos at the Center. From the day I arrived I felt welcomed and accepted by everyone. My other volunteers and staff at the Center truly began to feel like family, and I am sad to have to say goodbye to them! Having breakfast at the Center every morning was always a highlight of my day, as it allowed us to catch up and chat with everyone (while eating some really delicious food!). Rafat has been extremely accommodating and is always ready to help if you have any issues. I am also very grateful to Ali for introducing me to his circle of friends and other Erasmus students, who were all very kind people. I feel privileged to have met such interesting and bright people from around the world, with which I was able to create deep connections within such a short period of time!
Overall, I had an amazing experience at the Excellence Center and I would highly recommend for anyone who is interested in languages to come here. I really enjoyed studying German here, and I would definitely consider coming back (possibly to study Arabic!). I will never forget the unique experience I had here and all of the wonderful people I have met.

My name is Dylan, and I am from the United States. I graduated the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors in Middle Eastern studies, and a minor in Political Science. I participated in the volunteer sports, and teaching English program at the Excellence Center. At the Excellence Center I participated in a wide array of activities including: Arabic classes, field trips, and English instruction for local youth.
The Arabic classes I participated in were colloquial Levantine Arabic. My teacher, Doha, was very informative, and she moved the class at a good pace. This allowed us to make the most out of each session. All the teachers & staff at the center are incredibly welcoming and ensure you're comfortable. In addition, fellow participants are like minded and friendly, which creates a great environment to be apart of.
As for field trips, the first one I went on was a walking town of Old Hebronted by Osama. This was a great way to learn the history of the city, and to get in touch with my surroundings. The second trip, we took a shuttle to two different Bedouin Villages to say it was eye opening is an understatement. The power of hearing the people first-hand is an unforgettable experience. My third trip was through the H2 side of Hebron where we met with a local woman who has suffered tragically from the occupation, and later in the day we spoke with a humanitarian organization to hear what actions they are taking to help the people of Hebron.
Living in Hebron has been a wonderful experience. Out of everywhere I have traveled the people here are by far the most welcoming. They will ask you in for tea or coffee after only speaking with you for five minutes on the street. Safety has never been a concern here. All the people of Hebron do their best to assist you if you're looking lost, and I have never been taken advantage of. My most memorable experience while living in Hebron was walking down in Old Hebron with a soccer ball and playing with all the kids as I made my way down the street. We may not have been able to conversate past simple greetings, but the enjoyment we shared through the sport was heart-warming.
I’ve certainly enjoyed my time here at the Excellence Center. The amount I’ve learned not only in Arabic, but about life in Palestine is vast in the short two weeks I’ve been here. I hope more people can experience life in Hebron, and hear the Palestinian’s people’s stories.

My name is Siw. I am a Danish student with a bachelor’s degree in History. At the centre, I am in the human rights program, which I have been doing for four weeks. I did 12 hours of Arabic lessons, which I found extremely helpful. We started learning some introduction phrases and the alphabet, which helped me get by in Palestine. Other than that, my host family were happy to help me learn some new words and phrases. For four weeks, I lived with my Palestinian host family. They invited me to their family members’ graduation party and introduced me to the Palestinian culture, which I am thankful for.

During my stay at the centre, I participated in various visits to different sites, such as Masafer Yatta, a Beduin community in the southern West Bank, where we had the opportunity to speak with the inhabitants. I also visited the Hebron Municipality, refugee camps, local Palestinian families etc. The environment of the centre is very down to earth. The staff, teachers, and students are ready to help if a problem arises. Overall I will say that there is a positive atmosphere here at the centre.

On the weekends, together with other interns and volunteers, I visited Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jerico. I also had the opportunity to visit Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Safety was an essential question for me in my consideration of coming here. Palestine, I found, is more safe than I first assumed. I did not at any time feel unsafe or insecure, which is also what I like about Hebron. However, what I like most about Palestine is the friendliness of the people I have had the chance to meet during my time here. They have been overwhelmingly helpful and open-minded, and I have been treated as one of their own. Nature is also something I enjoy – the beauty is breathtaking. Even though I have many things that I like about Palestine, all the history embedded in the landscape here is mindblowing and has been something that I have had the chance to explore more in debt.

After my internship, my lasting impression of Palestine is how complicated everything is here and how many Palestinian lives, unfortunately, are affected by politics. However, they somehow seem to find strength beneath all the suffering. The environment of the centre is very down to earth. The staff, teachers and students are ready to help if a problem arises. Overall I will say that there is a positive atmosphere here at the centre. My overall experience at the Excellence Center and in Palestine is positive. I have enjoyed my time here and met some amazing people who has been so great in sharing their stories with us. I can wholeheartedly recommend this Excellence Center to others.

My name is Virginia and I am from the United States. I have a Bachelor's in International Studies with an emphasis on the Middle East and Africa. I am finishing a Master's in Conflict Anaylsis and Resolution and have wanted to come here for many years. I have has an amazing experience here in Palestine. I have gotten to meet so many people and hear various experiences, which has provided more insight on the situation. I have felt so welcomed and safe here The Staff at the center was incredible helpful and I am already planning my next trip. Over all it has been an incredible experience . I would love to come back again.

My name is Ashley, I have a Masters in International Relations and Middles Eastern Studies. I participated in the Human Rights program at the Excellence Center in Hebron and I thought the program provided me with an amazing and indepth experience. During my time with the center I was able to visit the surrounding Refugee Camps and meet the residence. I got to hear first hand the challanges that they face on a day to day basis. I also was fortunate enought to take in person Arabic courses through the center, the methods that they use to teacher were very successful and after just one week I was able to have basic conversations with the people I met in the city. Most importantly I was afforded the opprotunity to meet and bond with some of the most hospitable and resilent people I have ever met. The Staff at the center was incredible helpful and I am already planning my next trip. Over all it has been an incredible experience.

The frist thing i will like to share is that love eally make us see different, feel different, and grow different. During my time in Hebron with th Excellence Center I found love in so many ways... Every member of the staff support me in every moment, my host familly made me feel like in my home and I want to highlight the resilience that I noticed from every palestinian i met. It was a experience that changed my live.

I love my arabic lessons, the teachers and all the staff were very helpful and encoraged me to keep learning all the time.