The Excellence Center Reviews

The Excellence Center truly lives up to its name. The staff and volunteers during my stay were welcoming, personable, and accommodating. They are incredibly receptive to any problems that you may bring up and will work with you to find a solution. Not only are the staff wonderful, but the Center attracts interesting and genuine people, helping you to find strong friends in the other volunteers. By the end of just two weeks, I truly felt that I was a part of the community at the Excellence Center. I took three hours of Palestinian Arabic lessons a week and helped out with both group and private English lessons.
While at the Excellence Center, I was able to take several short trips around Hebron and Palestine. For example, during my stay the staff organized a trip to Susiya, a Palestinian village sandwiched between settlements, and the Old City center of Hebron. Outside of formally organized excursions, I was able to travel to Battir, Bethlehem, and Mar Saba (a functional monastery in the desert outside of Bethlehem; it is a definite must-see as far as tourist sites go) with other volunteers. Within the city, Hebron is very walkable, and people are very helpful if you need directions.
Western impressions of Palestine cast it as a dangerous place. Being in Hebron directly contradicts this picture. With normal traveling precautions, such as respecting the culture and following local news, Palestine is a very safe place for international travel. If you have specific questions about safety, such as good times of day to travel and places to be more careful in, both the staff and your host family are invaluable resources to learn the specifics of how to get around in Palestine.
The lasting impression that I have of Palestine is the extreme hospitality and generosity of its people. On New Year’s Eve, I left the Excellence Center late and had difficulty finding a service back to my host family’s home. My host mother’s sister, whom I had never met before, quickly picked me up from the Excellence Center and insisted that I come to her home. We ended up going to her in-law’s house and I spent several hours being stuffed with food and laughing my way through conversation in Arabic. Finally, we went out driving to celebrate, and we rang in the New Year with a fruity smoothie on Ein Sarah St. At this point, she insisted that I spend the night at her house. This whirlwind evening was one of my favorite experiences in Palestine. While this was the most extreme example of the generosity of Palestinians that I encountered, many other times people invited me to share a meal, coffee, or sahlab (a warm winter drink).
My best advice for a future volunteer is to stay longer in Palestine! If you have the ability, a longer stay in Hebron is ideal as it gives you the chance to see more of Palestine and spend more time with the staff and volunteers at the Excellence Center. I believe that the best way to see Palestine is through the Excellence Center. The programs are flexible based off both your needs and the Center’s needs, and you can have degrees of autonomy or planned activities with the Center as suits your needs. Volunteering with the Center gives substance to your time in Palestine, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to travel to Hebron.

Today is my last day at the Excellence Center after a 3 week stay here. I came to Hebron to study Arabic and I have learned a ton during my stay. But while here, I also fell in love with Palestine and the people who have welcomed me into their homes and lives. The Excellence Center is a truly unique place that cultivates life-long connections and friendships between people. The structure of the Arabic language program is quite effective in encouraging students (even shy ones like myself) to practice speaking from day 1, and the people who run the Center are loving and kind and endlessly patient. My teacher Ibrahim was fantastic, passionate about his work, and came to every lesson with enthusiasm. My host Marwa was so welcoming and brought laughter into every day. This place is a gem!

It's hard to do justice with a review by describing my experience as a volunteer at The Excellence Center as it was truly mesmerising.

My time spent at the Excellence Center, although very short, was amazing very much because of the people and staff I got to meet. Mahmoud, Rafat, Elisa and the students I worked with frequently over a span of a week were warm and they made me feel at home easily - I was glad to find out that the refugee students were enthusiastic about learning English and therefore, they participated actively during lessons. To add, I was most impressed by the tenacity of the students whom I met with - most of them are young (otherwise very young at heart!) and incredibly intelligent that it became such a pleasure to learn more about themselves, their families and aspirations.

From Day 1, the programme set out clear expectations for me and the level of involvement that I would be comfortable with as a volunteer. Aside from my main responsibilities (i.e teach English lessons), I was happy to learn that I would be participating in one of their social and cultural events - the evening turned out great with a lively crowd and that was my first time being able to mingle with many people of different native tongues; it was an eye-opener to see the local community coming together to converse in Arabic, German and English. Elisa, who taught me German had encouraged me to practice my language skills during the event and I was definitely motivated to continue on my learning journey after hearing from others about their own.

At the end of the week, I was able to join a friendly city tour organised by the staffs to explore the sights and history of Halle - that capped off my week on a very good note! Despite the short time I was around, I am grateful for the thoughtful consideration by Rafat and the rest of the center to plan the activities to ensure my time during the programme was well spent.

Not to forget, Rafat coordinated smoothly to match me with a local home. I can't forget how my host introduced me to her friends and graciously helped me practise German! She sat down on the couch and gave me a notebook to write some important words to learn :) As for food, I can't say enough how much I appreciated the breakfast meals as that saved time for me - I must say I miss the traditional Arabic breakfasts hugely now that I am back home.

Lastly, this was something I read about in another review for the programme and it actually proved true for me - the only thing I would change is to spend at least 2-3 weeks to be able to continue the rapport there.

I enjoyed the hospitality of the families, staff and people I met with and the efforts that I saw at the Excellence Center working with refugees who are settling their lives in Germany is truly inspiring.

I would definitely consider coming back in 2019.

When I started to look for volunteer programs in Europe, I couldn’t find anything
that was affordable, fun and let me be actively involved with the local refugee population,
until I came across The Excellence Center. After looking at The Excellence Center
I realized that The Center is involved in the local the refugee community, helping them
assimilate in German society. Inviting volunteers from all over the world to help them
with their mission here in Germany. I decided to apply to the program, I promptly got a
response from Rafat, who is the manager of The Excellence Center. My main
motivation was to come to Germany, to get a sense of the refugee crisis. I also wanted
to learn German and know more about the refugee crisis in Germany, so I decided to
come and volunteer at The Excellence Center in Halle, before coming here I was a bit
nervous about my time here, but from the very first day Rafat and other students
welcomed me with open arms and have shown a great hospitality.

During my first week, Rafat invited us over to his house for dinner. The Excellent Center
provided me with great accommodation with a German speaker which allowed me to
practice my German. My host was also a refugee from Syria, so I got to interact with
him about the arduous journey he had to undertake to get to Germany and the efforts
he was making to be part of the German society like many others. On the weekend the
Center organized cultural and social exchanges between students, volunteers and
members of the local community, consisting of young professionals and university
students, it was a great way to hear their point of view on this issue in Germany and
Europe at large among many other topics. These activities helped me make new
friends, we later explored the city together in the free time.

Another thing I was really struck by was visiting refugee families, they were extremely
welcoming. Getting to hear the first-hand account of the conflict in Syria and the
unimaginable horrors it has caused to countless families, forcing them to flee their
homeland. Some of the stories were truly sad.

Over the weekends The center organized trips to nearby cities for sightseeing in the
region, so we got to see and learn more about German culture and history. Though I
before coming to Germany I was a bit nervous but the people at The Excellence Center
have embraced me like a family member, and I’m so grateful for their generosity.
Everyone I have met here has gone well above and beyond to make sure I feel
welcomed and have the best experience possible. I now have a group of great friends,
I’m so grateful that I decided to come to The Excellence Center and volunteer here. I’d
urge everyone if you are thinking about traveling to Europe but also want to contribute
and do something meaningful during your travels, come to The Excellence Center,
believe me, you will not be disappointed.

I spent two months at the Excellence Center in Hebron participating in the 'Teach English and Study Arabic' program which turned out to be a memorable experience. I received three hours a week of Arabic lessons from the wonderful teachers Dua'a and Isaac and learnt more than I expected which has inspired me to continue my Arabic studies. The teaching aspects of the program gave me a broad experience as I assisted the full-time teachers, taught independently and also gave 1 on 1 classes. This gave me valuable experience and insight into the various teaching methods and skills. All the teachers and staff at the Excellence Center are highly skilled and professional and design schedules and programs which cater to each volunteer's needs and level of experience. Not only was my time at the center a great academic experience, I also met so many wonderful people (both staff and volunteers) and found the center to have a very strong family (love) environment. The city of Hebron itself is also great to live in. As it is quite off the tourist trail, the locals are very welcoming and hospitable to foreigners. I was invited over for dinner several times and made friends with many of the locals.
In contrast to what mainstream news may say, Hebron (and Palestine in general) is safe. In my two months of living in Hebron, not once did I feel unsafe or threatened in anyway whatsoever. I think however, it is wise for anyone considering coming to Hebron to do a good amount of research on the city in order to gain an understanding of the situation in the city and its significant religious history.
For me, arguably the most rewarding aspect of my time in Hebron, was learning about Palestine, the culture, traditions, politics, religion, the people etc, all through first hand experience of living here. I also had the opportunity to travel to other cities/places in Palestine, both through trips organised by the center and by myself during my days off. I will miss my time in Palestine and hope to return someday.
Thank you for a wonderful time!

My name is Bobby Stevens and I am from New York in the United States. I graduated St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelors degree in International Studies. Some of my hobbies include traveling, reading and playing football. I am currently finishing up my volunteer work in Hebron, Palestine with The Excellence Center.
Here at The Excellence Center I am teaching English as well as learning Arabic. As an English teacher I have had many different types classes. I have assisted Arabic teachers who are native to Palestine, I have taught in a one on one setting, and I have also had my own class of 7-9 students at the Intermediate level. My experience teaching at The Excellence Center has been nothing but wonderful. All of the teachers are very well qualified and always so helpful. I’m proud to call each one of the teachers here my close friend that I will never forget. Teaching English has been a very rewarding experience as I have really felt as though I am making a difference in my students lives.
Learning Arabic with the amazing Marwa Shantir has been an absolute blessing. Over these past 3 months I went from knowing basic greetings to being able to participate in conversation with native speakers. The full emersion experience is the best way to learn any language. Aside from having one on one lesions 3 times a week with a highly qualified teacher, I am surrounded by native speakers which forces me to practice at all times of the day. Although I do not have Arabic lessons every day, I am constantly practicing with everyone around me.
The city of Hebron is really eager to improve their tourism industry. For this reason everybody is so generous and kind to all foreigners coming into the city. Every day I am invited to another dinner, lunch or café for a coffee. You really feel like you are home here at Hebron, not just as another tourist in another city. Family life and morals are such an important part of the culture here in Hebron. Reputation of one’s name is very important and because of this I have felt so safe throughout my stay here. From all of the cities I have traveled to, I have never felt safer leaving my door unlocked at night.
I am very sad that my time here in Hebron is up, but I am excited to come back in April and work for a month. Hebron has really became my 2nd home and all of the people here my brothers and sisters. There is no city like the city of Hebron.

As 2018 is coming to a close, I can look back, reflect, and confidently say that volunteering at the Center has been one of the best decisions I have made this entire year! First and foremost, the work I did was meaningful and impactful. I really felt that I got to know my English students on a personal level, and I learned a lot from them. In addition to this, my co-workers ended up being my good friends. We ate meals together, explored the city together, and I believe that the friendships I have made here are going to last a life time. Finally, my time here was made extra special by my host family. My host family welcomed me with open arms and I loved spending time with them and getting to know about their lives and their culture. It was all in all an amazing experience, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys exploring, meeting new people, and learning about different cultures!

Jamaila, French-Algerian living in Barcelona Spain.

For me coming to Palestine was a dream come true. I came to The Excellence Centre as a volunteer writing articles about life in Palestine, teaching and learning Arabic. Once advice, "expect the unexpected in Palestine."

What you will see here is people wanting to go about their lives like you do at home. I have gone to the gym, to restaurants, I have travelled by myself. I honestly felt safer here than in my own European cities. But mostly I have witnessed how the Palestinians value the importance of family and friends, of welcome a visitor and always having a spare dinner plate for them.

This is why I think The EC is doing an excellent job:
- bringing visitors to Palestine
- mixing the local community with English-speaking foreigners

I really loved staying with a host family that has been like a second family to me, I have been invited to dinner and lunch daily. I had lessons with Marwa, she has been incredible and gave me the confidence I needed to learn basic Arabic.

I have witnessed the reality of the occupation for the Palestinians but they have kept their spirits up, they still have hope for the future. One of their hopes is to see more of you in Palestine. Each visitors brings with them a window into the world and takes with them unforgettable memories of wonderful people.

Again, please please come to Palestine, come to Hebron, Nablus, Bethlehem and any other Palestinian City.

I did the 2 months intensive arabic course at the Excellence Center in Hebron. I really enjoyed the interactive lessons with my teacher, and i learned a lot during this 2 months.
Beside my lessons there also were some visits with the Center. I went to Ramallah, Nablus, Jericho and the death sea. But also some visits in Hebron itself, like the Old City and the Ibrahimi mosque, the glass factory and the kufiya factory.

During this 2 months i lived with a lovely hostfamily, they were all really kind and hospitable. We always had dinner together with the family, and i spend a lot of time together with my host sister.

I felt completely safe in Palestine. The palestinian people are really kind, helpful and hospitable. and i did not had any bad experience.
I highly recommend the Excellence center for others, it will be a great experience.
And i already planned to go back to Hebron and to the Excellence center

I'm a 25-years old sociology student from Finland. I studied Arabic for two months in the Excellence Center, Hebron. I ended up in the city by chance: I was originally looking for Arabic programmes in Lebanon until I came across the Excellence Center. I have to say I am extremely happy with my sudden change of plan.

The Excellence Center is definetely worth your money. Not only the quality of the Arabic intensive course is high (I didn't speak any Arabic prior to coming to Hebron and after two months I'm able to handle everyday situations on my own), but the Center will give you a very good opportunity to dive into the local culture. The staff and the many local friends associated with the center invite the foreigners regularily to dinners, weddings and trips. The EC is very willing to provide trips on request - during my stay we for example went to a bedouin village, a refugee camp and many cities in the West Bank. The staff, including my teachers, became very dear friends to me. The athmosphere in general is very family like - we even share the breakfast together.

What comes to safety, Hebron is one of the safest places I've travelled to. Even as a woman I'm not afraid of walking the streets alone. The religious lifestyle of the people keeps crime rates low. People are very welcoming and always willing to help. On top of this the locals are very curious about the few foreigners and are extra keen on helping and making the foreigners feel welcome. Any problems you have the EC will always provide help. I have felt very taken care of since the beginning.

I would for sure recommend the Excellence Center for anyone interested in studying Arabic or travelling in the Middle East. For me this was the first time in the Middle East and I enjoyed my stay so much since the day one. Thank you so much!!