The Excellence Center Reviews

My name is Aran and I have come to Al Khalil from the UK. I have a degree in history and a masters degree in geopolitics and conflict.

I have come to the end of a two and a half week stint in Hebron and can honestly say that I have loved every minute of my time here. I have spent time meeting local people, visiting cultural sites, learning about the history of Palestine and of course eating loads of great food. These experiences were informative, moving and will definitely impact the way I live on my return to the UK.

In addition to this I have received some basic Arabic lessons. These lessons were fun and useful in day to day life. Hebron is a brilliant place to come to learn Arabic as the local population are so welcome and always keen to connect with new comers to their city. That means there is ample opportunity to practice the language skills you are learning at the excellence centre, and even learn more Arabic from the street.

An unexpected joy at the EC has been the other international participants in courses. I have had a great time meeting others from around the world who are interested in learning Arabic and about Middle Eastern culture. People are always up for exploring the city, the rest of the region and generally spending time together. In my time here is have visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jericho with other participants I met at the centre.

As part of my time at the centre I have visited local hospitals, the chamber of commerce and met with officials from the education department. In these visits I learnt about the civil infrastructure of the city and some of the unique challenges the local population has to overcome on a daily basis in order live and thrive. Olive picking, visiting ceramics factories and watching traditional glass blowing were all highlights too. I also visited the Old City of Hebron and met families living on Shahada street in the shadow of Israeli settlers and human rights activists working there. To see how the introduction of checkpoints at the heart of the city has fundamentally altered the way in which Palestinians can exist within their own city has been particularly eye opening. So too visiting Al Fawar refugee camp and hearing the stories of families that had lived there since being displaced by the 1948 Nakbar will leave a lasting impact. These personal stories of perseverance in the face of long term suffering were helpfully contextualised by having also revived a series of lectures about the history of the region and the contemporary political situation of Palestine. These many rich experiences facilitated by the excellence centre will no doubt have a deeper impact on me as I process what I have heard and learnt here on my return to the UK.

Despite the gravity of the situation here, it has only been a joy to live amounts Palestinians here in Hebron. The warmth of there people here is something I will not forget, and hope to replicate in my own life if possible. The buzz of the city is infectious and it is incredibly easy to participate in life here, even as a foreigner with minimal Arabic language skills. I has been a genuine privilege to spent this short period of time in Hebron and I only wish that I could stay longer.

My name is Aran and I have come to Al Khalil from the UK. I have a degree in history and a masters degree in geopolitics and conflict.

I have come to the end of a two and a half week stint in Hebron and can honestly say that I have loved every minute of my time here. I have spent time meeting local people, visiting cultural sites, learning about the history of Palestine and of course eating loads of great food. These experiences were informative, moving and will definitely impact the way I live on my return to the UK.

In addition to this I have received some basic Arabic lessons. These lessons were fun and useful in day to day life. Hebron is a brilliant place to come to learn Arabic as the local population are so welcome and always keen to connect with new comers to their city. That means there is ample opportunity to practice the language skills you are learning at the excellence centre, and even learn more Arabic from the street.

An unexpected joy at the EC has been the other international participants in courses. I have had a great time meeting others from around the world who are interested in learning Arabic and about Middle Eastern culture. People are always up for exploring the city, the rest of the region and generally spending time together. In my time here is have visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jericho with other participants I met at the centre.

As part of my time at the centre I have visited local hospitals, the chamber of commerce and met with officials from the education department. In these visits I learnt about the civil infrastructure of the city and some of the unique challenges the local population has to overcome on a daily basis in order live and thrive. Olive picking, visiting ceramics factories and watching traditional glass blowing were all highlights too. I also visited the Old City of Hebron and met families living on Shahada street in the shadow of Israeli settlers and human rights activists working there. To see how the introduction of checkpoints at the heart of the city has fundamentally altered the way in which Palestinians can exist within their own city has been particularly eye opening. So too visiting Al Fawar refugee camp and hearing the stories of families that had lived there since being displaced by the 1948 Nakbar will leave a lasting impact. These personal stories of perseverance in the face of long term suffering were helpfully contextualised by having also revived a series of lectures about the history of the region and the contemporary political situation of Palestine. These many rich experiences facilitated by the excellence centre will no doubt have a deeper impact on me as I process what I have heard and learnt here on my return to the UK.

Despite the gravity of the situation here, it has only been a joy to live amounts Palestinians here in Hebron. The warmth of there people here is something I will not forget, and hope to replicate in my own life if possible. The buzz of the city is infectious and it is incredibly easy to participate in life here, even as a foreigner with minimal Arabic language skills. I has been a genuine privilege to spent this short period of time in Hebron and I only wish that I could stay longer.

The intensive arabic teaching excellent and you have to be prepared to put a lot in if you really want to make the most of your time. You need to follow up the classes with independant study. The standard of teaching is very high and personalised to your needs which is brilliant. There is also so much to learn about the situation here and the Centre are great at arranging trips. I also really enjoyed meeting and mixing with other students and colleagues on the human rights and teaching English programmes and sharing our awareness and experiences. It's been a really special time and I do hope to return . I would recommend the Center as a great place to learn Arabic and to get to know Hebron and someof the extraordinary people here who work peacefully and with creativity in spite of the huge challenges of living under the occupation.

At the Excellence Center you take on the role of an English tutor where you get the opportunity to meet and help refugees achieve their goals for learning the English language. What makes this experience so unique is the human aspect of it all. You'll grow to learn more about your students and in many instances befriend them and become personally invested in their success in English studies and beyond. Many students are interested in improving their conversational English which in turn gives you an opportunity to learn about other cultures and what life is like for your students in Germany. The community of volunteers are sure to make you feel welcomed and are likely to also become your friends. The experience itself is invaluable and helps broaden your perspectives. If you're looking to push yourself out of your comfort zone and have a desire to learn then you've come to the right place.

Hi, my name is Osmn, and I’m from Norway. I have a master degree in teaching and I work as a primary school teacher back home in Norway.
I participated in the programme called Teach English & study Arabic for 4,5 weeks.

At the excellence center I taught at two private funded schools, and also students who study English at the excellence center. It was great fun! I have also participated at the arranged trips they offer to experience different parts of the West Bank.

I have had the best Arabic teacher I could have asked for. Saj’a is one of the most talented teachers I have met, and I have learned so much from her. Her way of teaching is inspiring and I will most definitely try to keep up with my Arabic when I go back home.

The staff and teachers at the center are so lovely, and I have had so many great conversations with them. Teaching with Isaac was very interesting and I have learnt a lot from him. I have also enjoyed being with the other internationals very much.

The male dorm was great. Good standards and a great place to chill.

I felt very secure in Hebron, even with the ongoing tension. Most people here are so friendly and you will get a lot of invitations by people on the street to come join them for coffee. I suggest you do it!
The food is of course amazing, especially compared to Norway. I will miss my daily falafel at the corner falafel place.

I really enjoyed the programme, and I will most definitely recommend it, especially for teachers who want to experience teaching abroad.

Me sjåast att!

My name is Cormac and I’m from Ireland. I have a master’s degree in political science and volunteered in the human rights program at the Excellence Centre. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. Each day we met different political actors and learned a lot about the quotidian aspects of Palestinian culture and life in Hebron. The randomness of each day allowed us to immerse ourselves within the centre which gave me an understanding of the country I don’t think I could have gotten back home.
The site visits varied greatly from industries to commerce and also a number of human rights organisations. We also were taught by teachers in the centre about apartheid here in Palestine and I had the opportunity to learn Arabic as well. These lessons were taught by Marwa who took great care and was very encouraging throughout each class. The centre’s other teachers were also very accommodating and helpful.
As each weekend approached, I visited Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Ramallah, places I never thought I’d get the chance to go to.
My overall experience was one I will never forget and I will definitely be visiting again.

My name is Phevia, I’m from Australia and I am studying Social Science (Security and International Relations). This year, I joined the Human Rights Program for 3 weeks at the Excellence Center in Hebron.

Some of the places I visited were Al Fawwar Refugee Camp, The Old City of Hebron, The villages of Massafer Yatta, The Independent Commission for Human Rights, Hebron Municipality, Blind Charitable Society (School), PAL Motion, The Association of Human Rights Defenders, Al Shahuda St and H2. The visits we made and the perspectives we got to hear from different people gave us a better understanding of the situation and how it impacts different areas in Hebron and Palestine and how different demographics are impacted. Overall, the visits give a broader picture of how people in Palestine are resisting the occupation and how the kind of help provided to Palestinians vary.

During my time in Palestine, I did 3 hours a week of Arabic lessons with Marwa which I really enjoyed. The Arabic lessons were a highlight for me and if you embrace the language, you will learn more during your time in Palestine from everyone because they love to teach you Arabic on the street and in the shops. You can learn new words with almost every interaction, and it made it easier to get around Hebron knowing basic conversational Arabic.

I also visited the cities of Bethlehem, Jericho and Ramallah during my free time in Palestine and found it easy enough to get shared taxis or services to these cities. I recommend visiting other cities to learn more about Palestine and its history. It is also important to support Palestinian businesses and their economy.

I stayed with a host family in Hebron and enjoyed the experience as I found it comforting to stay in a home. I was able to meet families during my stay and enjoy home cooked Palestinian food.

Except for a few instances, I felt mostly safe in Palestine. I think there’s always danger anywhere you go even in your home country and its mostly dependent on individual. I recommend taking extra care to be aware of your surroundings and ask for updates on the situation on a daily basis.

I also found Palestinians to be mostly helpful and welcoming. I liked the hospitality of people in Palestine, you’re always welcomed with coffee and tea and every person greets you with a welcome even if you’re only passing by.

My overall experience in Palestine was good, and I will miss the people and the country. I would recommend this experience to others whether completing a Human Rights Program or learning Arabic. I think the best way to approach the programs in Palestine is to not have high expectations, as the country is going through a difficult situation and often things change last minute due to strikes. This can make planning activities a bit difficult with last-minute cancellations but eventually, you will get to do them and it’ll be worth it. Before traveling to Palestine it pays off to have a basic understanding of the conflict, so you can be more culturally aware and sensitive.

I went on many excursions to various places around and outside of Al Khalil. Including a cutting edge art workshop the only of its kind in Al Khalil as well as a trip to Masafer Yatta where we spoke to local residents.
I was doing the intensive Arabic course. Aided by my brilliant teacher I was able to make considerable progress in my Arabic, improving all facets including reading, speaking and writing. My teacher also prepared immersive lessons where we visited different shops and cafes so I was able to practise my arabic with locals. This helped to boost my confidence and make the learning process more exciting.
The staff at the excellence centre have managed to cultivate a very warm and inviting environment where a lot of concerns someone may hold when travelling to Al khalil are quickly dispensed on arrival as volunteers are instantly put at ease and made to feel at home.

The excellence centre is a great environment because it attracts an interesting mix of volunteers and students, who come from all other the world for a multitude of reasons, be that to improve their Arabic, to explore Palestinian culture, or to learn more about the political situation in the region.
There’s lots I have loved about Palestine. I loved the food, the array of cosy coffee shops but most of all I loved the people I met here. From the people at the centre to people I met on the streets. Most people were friendly and hospitable and some exhibited incredible kindness and warmth.
Despite the complex political situation that overshadows the region it manages to sustain a vibrant culture and the people here exhibit an incredible spirit and willingness to entertain foreigners and make them feel welcome.
Overall experience has been incredibly positive. The cultural excursions along with the quality of teaching and the environment at the centre have made for an unforgettable experience that I will cherish for a long time.

My name is Alicia, I am 22 years old from the United Kingdom and I came to the excellence center to participate in the healthcare programme for 5 weeks, however I went on to extend it to 7 weeks.
During my 7 weeks at the center, I did healthcare specific visits such as visits to hospitals, meeting healthcare professionals, went to a women’s rights clinics which had a healthcare center attached, visited the al fawwar camp where I visited the health center and went to 2 different nursing colleges. Additionally, I did a 3-part nursing workshop with nursing students. I also did other activities which were specific to other programs such as going to the tourism office, going to the human rights defenders office, meeting a lawyer, going to the special educational needs school, the blind school, the art gallery, the palmotion office, went to the H2 area, had a tour of the old city, went to the ceramic factory, the kafiya factory, the Bedouin villages, a children’s center, the women’s kitchen and finally I also had some opportunities to help the teachers at the center in their lessons.
Throughout my time here I had weekly Arabic lessons, I didn’t know any Arabic before arriving, but I know I have now progressed with the alphabet and being able to read.
I have found all the staff, other volunteers, and students at the center to be incredible. I knew before coming that it was going to be an amazing experience, but nothing could prepare me for how kind and welcoming everyone would be.
During my free time I also visited other cities such as Ramallah, Jericho, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem.
Living with my host family has been one of the greatest experiences I have ever had, my host mum, host dad and their children are a beautiful and kind family and made me feel welcome and part of their family as soon as I arrived. Their extended family have also been so welcoming and have included me in everything they have done. I am so lucky to have met them all and truly feel like I now have a second family here in Hebron and I am already planning to come back and visit them, any volunteer who has the chance to stay with this family are incredibly blessed.
Hebron is a beautiful city, and its people are so kind, and the 7 weeks here has gone incredibly fast. For the majority of the time, I felt safe in Palestine and the staff were always willing to assist with whatever questions or help you need
There are so many things I loved about my stay here so it is hard to choose one specific aspect, however, the thing I will cherish the most when I go home will be the people I have met and the hospitality shown, the host family, the teachers, the other foreigners, and everybody else I have met have shown me a kindness I have never been shown before!
The most important thing I wanted to mention about the center are the incredible teachers, I think they truly make the centre and without them the experience would not have even been half of what it has been. They are the greatest group of people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting- Amani, Anas, Duha, Ibrahi, Isaac, Khitam, Mahmoud, Mamon, Marwa and Saja are so kind, caring, compassionate and never fail to put a smile on our faces! Getting to know them has been one of the greatest experiences and they are an absolute credit to the centre and anyone who has the oppurtunity to meet them will be very lucky.

I will really miss playing soccer (okay football). I will miss the daily breakfast. I will miss the camaraderie. However, the reason I came was to help people displaced from their homelands. That is what was important to me. I had the opportunity to work with people from Ukraine and Yemen. I really feel I got more out of it than they did. Listening to the hardships they experienced made me appreciate how fortunate I am. Nobody deserves to suffer the way they have. I am glad I was able to help a little. It is my hope that I will be able come back again.