The Excellence Center Reviews

For my five-week holiday in Israel & Palestine, it was really important to me to see the Palestinian side as well. Therefore, apart from some other short forays into the West Bank yet to come, I decided to spend one week as a volunteer at Excellence Center in Hebron.
The most surprising thing for me was how friendly everyone was - not just people at the Center, but children, teenagers and adults in the street as well who had never seen me before! Very often they would call out "hi", "hello", "what's your name", "where are you from" or "welcome to Palestine" - which I thought was really nice even though on most occasions I only answered briefly, but that was totally fine - unlike thirty years ago in Italy when men were looking for a date for the evening. :-)
My host family were amazing and lovely too. I was so lucky with them - not only were they among the few people who don't smoke inside the house, but I was also invited for their "iftar" (breaking the fast after sunset) meals at the beginning of Ramadan, which were sooooo delicious.
I had Arabic lessons with two very nice teachers who couldn't have been more patient and we even ended up doing overtime. The second teacher gave me - on my request - an informative brief lecture on the human rights situation in Palestine - in English of course, there's no way I could have coped with this topic in Arabic!
As for my actual volunteering bit with English language teaching, it would have been better if I'd stayed longer. Ideally I would have met each class at least twice and from the second time on liaised with their regular teacher well before the lesson in order to discuss what activities I could lead or what supplementary materials I could design to tie in with the lesson's topic and aimed at increasing student talking time in the target language. But for this to happen, one week was really too short.
As mentioned in other reviews, bring layers of clothing! I was glad of my hot water bottle for the first few nights...
I had a great time at the Excellence Center in Hebron, and who knows, maybe at some stage I'll try out their branch in Germany too!

I spent an amazing two weeks at the Excellence Centre this Easter. I came to boost my spoken Arabic language (I study Arabic at University) and in two weeks the difference is huge - one on one lessons for 3h30 every day really gives time to fill any gaps and address difficulties as they arise in a tailored and efficient way. I had the privilege of living with a host family, so in the evenings I could forget all the grammar and rules and just practise and speak, knowing that I could come back to a grounding class the next day.
Having in the past been quite suspicious of organised, all inclusive packages like this, I really can't recommend it enough, especially if you don't have the luxury of endless months travelling to build connections. Here, you can arrive with a ready-made community - family even - to join, both of Palestinians and foreign students of all ages (who tend to be doing pretty interesting things!)
The coordinators manage to strike the perfect balance between hard-hitting informative trips to learn about the situation in Hebron, and holiday-style trips to the dead-sea or nearby attractions, to let off some steam and enjoy this beautiful country.
A couple of considerations: it's not always warm here, and most houses do not have central heating, so unless you're coming mid-summer bring layers! Due to the challenges of living under occupation, plans can change quickly, and organisers may have to adapt new situations - such as certain roads being closed, checkpoints not manned, or clashes in the city centre. This is not a cause for concern in terms of safety (which is always put first) but you do need to be flexible!
What else to say - where ever you're at in your knowledge, political standpoint, personal background etc I would highly recommend this program - there's nothing like coming and seeing things for yourself, learning from human contact and being treated to Palestinian hospitality (the foood) however intimidating the situation may seem from abroad.

Yalla ta3lu!

I came to the Excellence Center to study Arabic intensively 15 hours a week for 4 weeks. I had private lessons with the wonderful Afnan, who used a variety of techniques to help me build on what I had studied previously. She is an excellent communicator and teacher, and laughed at a lot of my silly jokes and anecdotes and helped me express myself more confidently in Arabic.
The entire staff at the EC was helpful and friendly. In general, Palestinians are very warm and welcoming - foreigners here get chased down to be offered free coffee and food. I ended up befriending some locals at the restaurants I would frequent, so I got to practice my new vocabulary chatting and laughing with them late into every night.
As an Asian, I did receive a lot of stares and treatment that made me uncomfortable. No one was malevolent towards me, but it did feel unfair that the locals treated me like some exotic animal while they treated my white colleagues with more humanity - I chalk it up to ignorance.
I was also fortunate in that all the other foreigners with me at the time were brilliant and fun. We'd have enriching discussions - in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish - about serious issues like justice in Israel/Palestine as well as silly ones like our pets.
I studied at EC in the winter - houses are not insulated for the cold, and my apartment bathroom frequently leaked. Be prepared to be a little uncomfortable if you come in the winter. But my roommates were fantastic and will likely be friends for life.

I have spent the last month at the Excellence Centre in Halle, completing the Refugee Resettlement internship and I can safely say that the time has flown by! The programme is incredibly eye-opening and rewarding, whilst the community atmosphere of the Excellence Centre makes each day enjoyable.

What is really unique about this programme is the vast array of opportunities you will receive as an intern. I spent the first week receiving German classes and began to teach both English and German to students from Syria and Turkey. I had never taught English or German as a foreign language before but found it an incredibly rewarding experience. I was touched by the levels of motivation and enthusiasm shown by each student, and I really enjoyed getting to know them better. The next few weeks were focused on gaining a better understanding of the situation of refugees. There were sessions and tours of the city which focused on Germany’s response to the refugee crisis as well as opportunities to meet and speak with refugees living in the area. I also had the opportunity to conduct an interview with a Syrian refugee, which provided the basis for a presentation I delivered about the integration of refugees in Germany. I feel as if I have a much deeper understanding of the situation of refugees after completing this internship.

The centre itself was always a very positive environment. There were a lot of opportunities to get to know each other better thanks to all the activities organised by the centre, from football matches to tours of the city. I made so many friends in such a short amount of time.
Outside of the centre, I enjoyed staying with a host family in Halle. My host mum was brilliant and made myself and the other volunteer she hosted feel right at home. We met her family, went to Halle’s chocolate museum, and had film nights together. It was also an excellent opportunity to speak German.

Overall, I would recommend this internship to anyone who is interested in learning more about the situation of refugees in Europe and who wants to do something positive for the refugee community. I am really grateful for the experiences I have had at the Excellence Centre.

I chose this program because I wanted an economical way to travel to Palestine alone as a first-time traveler to this region, and I had the editorial experience for this role. I was only here a month and would suggest future participants plan on two months since it takes about a week to become settled and find your rhythm. Arabic lessons focused on the colloquial Palestinian dialect since my main study in the U.S. had been MSA, though you have the option to study MSA or colloquial dialects as you please. This was useful for me since depending on where you go in Hebron, people may only understand colloquial Arabic, especially in the main market near the Old City. I travelled to Hebron by myself as a woman a month after the borders reopened and can say that the city and Palestine in general is very safe; I often walked alone late at night and never had any problems.

My experience at the Excellence Centre in Halle was fantastic. I was very impressed by the way Rafat and Radwan manage the centre. They are extremely welcoming and caring.

I have enjoyed every part of my stay in Halle :
I had never taught English to people not speaking my native language, especially children but the students are so motivated that it is a real pleasure. As we teach 1 to 1 or very small group I have been able to get to know my students and their aspirations.
I have learned so much about the refugees' situation in Halle and more broadly in Germany thanks to all the discussions with the students, team members and presentations made by other volunteers on internship programmes.

My host mum was also extremely nice and shared a lot with me and the other volunteer she hosted. She included us to her life so naturally. We have met her friends and family, cooked together, spent hours talking and watching movies.. and all in German, it was just perfect !

I cannot believe how many friends I made in such a short period of time. I will definitely come back and hope to see my little students in France one day.

My recommendation: do not waste any minute. Time flies. Be proactive and do not wait for things to happen. People here have so much to offer !

The purpose of my visit was to study Arabic, but also gain exposure to the local community in Halle. The Excellence Center offered the opportunity to fulfill both aspects.

I learned colloquial Levantine Arabic from Abeer. I have studied Arabic previously but what set our lessons apart was the unique take of the study materials. I learnt unusual and funny phrases, which really stick in your head – “the birds in my stomach are chirping”, anyone? It put an interesting spin on daily conversation topics, keeping us from going over the same mundane phrases that are usually parroted in language lessons. Even those who were not my teacher made effort to help where they could.The sheer amount of content we covered was surprising.

Unlike most other volunteers, I was not staying with a host family so spending time with Abeer and her family was very fulfilling. I was also able to build a relationship with the other volunteers. The atmosphere at the Center was always welcoming and lively. From (friendly?) debates during our breakfasts together to an afternoon football match (captain of the winning team right here) and cooking lunch for each other, we had many opportunities to get to know one another.

I also had my own student I was teaching English to. It’s crazy to think how, amongst other things, refugees are often depicted in media as highly dependent. I think everyone I met in Halle was highly proficient in at least two (more commonly, three or more) languages and working towards their respective goals. The Excellence Center too, run by the community and for the community, functions towards helping people reach their potential in German society.

As for Halle itself, it is generally pleasant and quiet. There's enough to keep busy on the weekend, including museums and places to eat. It is also easy to travel to and from Berlin, which I took advantage of. But it’s essential to plan your time carefully – everywhere closes early in this country. What threw me off slightly was the predominance of both Arabic and German language use. By the end of my trip, I have found myself mixing the handful I know of both languages (ليش windig???).

Special shoutout to EC's Radwan for helping me on the evening I arrived.

I volunteered with the Excellence Center for a week. I was doing an internship in Berlin and I wanted to do something meaningful before I went back to America, so I googled refugee centers and I found the Excellence Center.
When I got accepted in the program, Rafat was very helpful finding me a host family and my host family were some Syrian refugees. They did not speak much English and I did not speak much German but they did their best at making me feel welcomed. The first day, they made dinner for me and would always feed me.
In addition, being at the center, all of the staff made me feel welcomed and at home. Being away from home, Rafat made the experience feel like I was at home with the breakfast served every morning and the going away dinner.
This is my first time teaching of any sort and I was a little nervous and I didn't know what to expect but the other volunteers helped me get the ropes of things. Since I stayed for a week I had 1 student who was a refugee from Yemen and he was very eager to learn. After leaving the Excellence Center, I found a passion to teach people and impact others in that way.

I am Alicia, I am 29 years old and I am from Switzerland.

I came to Hebron to volunteer with Refugees in the camp for one week. My first Impression of Hebron was very positive, the people go out of their ways to help you. For one week I was staying with a host family in the city center in Hebron, they welcomed me with a warm heart and many questions. Every morning I went to the excellence center to have a traditional Palestinian breakfast. In the center I had Arabic classes with a teacher, she thought me daily conversations in Arabic, that were very useful. In the camp I was giving english lessons to the children, what amazed me was the high motivation from the children.
My experience with the excellence center was very nice, everything was organized, the people were very welcoming and always happy to answer any open questions. I made new friends and also gained more knowledge about the situation in Palestine. My experience in Hebron was very educational and beautiful. I encourage everyone to come and see, feel the beauty of Palestine.

My name is Abraham Ochoa. I am a college student from America participating in the Refugee Resettlement internship. I have spent an immersive and insightful four weeks here in Halle, Germany. The program is eye opening and well structured. It offered a wide range of engaging activities that included a mix of learning, teaching, researching, presenting, and more. My first week was fully dedicated to intensive Arabic classes. I had the opportunity to do 4 hours of class everyday, one on one with an Arabic instructor. This definitely pushed me to develop my Arabic skills further and to immerse myself in the language. The following week, I jumped straight into teaching English to refugees at the center. I was able to work both with refugees here in Halle as well as with refugees abroad in Turkey. It was a great way to give back and learn more about the challenges of being a refugee. Simultaneously, I was receiving presentations about the asylum procedure that all refugees go through. This was paired with a tour of the city, specifically focusing on how the city has adapted and been influenced by the refugee population. It was truly inspiring to see the many businesses opened by the refugees who have found a new home here in Germany. In addition, I also was able to interview refugees about their journey from Syria to Germany and the challenges that they faced once they arrived here. Listening to their stories about their journeys from war torn Syria all the way to Germany was inspiring and truly eye-opening. Like many people, I have read about the war in Syria, but it is another experience entirely to speak with someone who lived through it. It truly leaves you full of awe and compassion.

On top of all this, the community at the center is amazing and very welcoming. From the moment I landed, I was well received by my host family. My accommodation was extremely comfortable and accessible. Having breakfast every morning at the center was a great way to get to know my fellow volunteers and the workers here at the center. The friendships I made here have made my experience here truly unique. I was also able to travel to other European countries during my weekends which is something I highly recommend to all future volunteers. This is an amazing program that I recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about the refugee experience, learn Arabic, or teach English. It is also a great way to learn about other cultures, meet new lifelong friends, and explore a new area of the world. I loved the diversity of activities here and the flexibility to choose your own focus within the program. I hope to be a volunteer again with the program and visit their center in Palestine.