Program Reviews

I recently took part in the “learn german and teach english program” for two weeks at the Excellence Centre. I was not only looking for an opportunity to practice my German (which I’d studied at University years ago) but that also allowed me to meet lots of people and try something new. My time here has exceeded any expectations I had and beyond.

Upon arrival I took a language placement test which benchmarked my current proficiency around a B1-B2 level. As a result I joined Muaz’s advanced German class. Muaz is a talented teacher, who builds his lessons not only around speaking but also tailored content to everyday/current affairs. I was surprised by how much progress I made in only two weeks; by the end of the program I was holding complex conversations and taught some beginners German at the centre. On reflection I wish I’d booked more lessons as I really enjoyed them.

Teaching was daunting as I had no prior experience, but ended up being very rewarding. I taught a mixture of both English and German- there wasn’t much guidance in terms of lesson structure but I became more confident with practice.

The aspect that I enjoyed most however was the people; fellow volunteers, teachers and students. Rafat has created a unique welcoming environment at the Excellence Centre. He cooks breakfast for everyone everyday and I spent a lot of time exploring Halle and Leipzig with the other volunteers. The relationships I built with my students were so special as well, with one of the families cooking me their favourite dish as a goodbye present.

Overall I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to immerse themselves in language learning, give back to the community or
just wants to meet new people. Thanks again to Rafat, Muaz and Ali for such a wonderful experience.

Even though I was already familiar with the political climate of Palestine, coming to Hebron and volunteering with the Excellence Center has been one of the richest experiences of my life.

Everyday I got to learn something new, meet amazing activists and members of the community that work endlessly to enrich both the city and the country. Doing the Women's Rights Program at The Excellence Center offers a lifetime chance to get to live, learn, and support the community of amazing women that forms Palestine. I had the opportunity to visit business owners, NGO workers, journalists and advocators of both human and women's rights. With that, not only did I gain a clear understanding of the situation of women in Palestine, but also understood the misconceptions about Palestine, the Arab World and the role genders play on it.

In addition to the program, I had the opportunity to learn Palestinian Arabic from scratch. With the incredible teacher at the center (thanks J!) I got to work on my language skills to be able to communicate effectively with the locals in Hebron, making this experience ten times more rewarding. With daily classes and patience, everyone that is looking to start their journey in Arabic should definitely consider the Excellence Center for it.

Finally, I encourage international volunteers to come to beautiful Hebron and spend their time at the Excellence Center. You will be immersed in the culture, get to know many people that are nothing but welcoming and helpful, as well as you would be supporting the community with your skills and expertise. This will not only help them, but help yourself to get in tune with what it means to live in a society and help each other. Unlike what Western media portraits, Hebron will open its doors kindly for you to welcome you with open arms and possibly, a cup of coffee or tea. If I could go back I would repeat the experience all over again. See you next year Excellence Center!

I spent a week and a half volunteering in Hebron, West Bank. I had a range of experiences from my arrival in Tel Aviv, including learning about the settlements within the Old Town, visiting Bethlehem, Ramallah and Nablus. I learnt Arabic and met many inspirational Palestinians. We visited Masafer Yatta, and learned of the experiences of the Palestinians living in Umm Al-Khair.
A a foreigner travelling in Palestine, I only experienced difficulties and Tel Aviv Airport and when visiting Masafer Yatta.
I would definitely recommend coming to the Excellence Centre for the warm welcome to Palestine, to learn and experience so much, to have a stable base from which to travel and to make solid connections with Palestinians and volunteers.

I spent a week and a half volunteering in Hebron, West Bank. I had a range of experiences from my arrival in Tel Aviv, including learning about the settlements within the Old Town, visiting Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Nablus. I learnt Arabic and met many inspirational Palestinians. We visited Masafer Yatta and learned of the experiences of the Palestinians living in Umm Al-Khair.

A a foreigner travelling in Palestine, I only experienced difficulties and Tel Aviv Airport and when visiting Masafer Yatta.
I would definitely recommend coming to the Excellence Centre for the warm welcome to Palestine, to learn and experience so much, to have a stable base from which to travel, and to make solid connections with Palestinians and volunteers.

My internship experience at The Excellence Center in Halle was one of the most rewarding and meaningful experiences I've had thus far both in my studies and my personal life. I got to work directly with refugees and community members in an international environment where I became more informed and engaged in pressing global issues like forced migration, the occupation in Palestine, and the challenges of integration in Europe. The work was hands-on and varied with every day bringing new opportunities to learn, teach, explore, connect, and grow. The social environment was dynamic, welcoming, and supportive, and I feel like I made lifelong friends over my 10 weeks there.

In my lessons with refugees, I often had to communicate with people who didn't speak the same language as me. It pushed me to get creative, using gestures and visuals to connect. This encouraged me to build confidence and connect with people from all kinds of backgrounds. Some days were filled with structured lessons, while others shifted on the fly based on the needs of the community. This unpredictability taught me to be proactive, resourceful, and comfortable working without a rigid schedule. My flexibility and adaptability were almost constantly challenged, and in the process, I developed skills that I know will serve me in any professional or cross-cultural setting.

The staff at The Excellence Center in Halle were supportive, approachable, and genuinely invested in the success of both participants and the community. Rafat, Ali, and Muaz were always making me laugh, but they also pushed me to think more deeply about the opinions I carried and the kind of role I want to play in the migration space. I came into this experience pretty sure I wanted to work in refugee affairs, but my time at the Excellence Center has truly solidified that. It’s made me even more determined to meaningfully engage in this field, whether by working closely with communities through grassroots initiatives, advocating for change in an international NGO, or contributing to policy-making at a global level.

I'm so grateful for my time at The Excellence Center in Halle. I made memories I will cherish forever and met people I hope to never fall out of touch with. This experience will always be a cornerstone of both my personal and professional journey, and the lessons I’ve learned here will continue to guide and inspire me in the years ahead.

A brilliant experience for anyone who wants to help out and learn at the same time. Really worth it! The people are super friendly and the students are truly inspiring and you can learn a lot from just one conversation with them. The location is beautiful and cheap, lots to explore nearby, such as Berlin, Hanover, Magdeburg a d soooo much more. The group activities are very fun and they make it easy to make new friends from alllll over the world! The diversity of the programme is the best part. I truly couldn't recommend it more. I wish I was there longer.

If you're not sure how to navigate traveling to Palestine, or didn't even know it was easily possible, the Excellence Center is a great way to do it. Depending on your interest or reason for coming, they can connect you with various NGOs and other organizations in the region, plus offer the a great way to learn Levantine Arabic while helping to teach English to Palestinian students.

Another big part of life at the center are cultural or social events a few times a week, or trips/tours to meet Palestinians who still live in the H2 area of Hebron/AlKhalil or refugee camps. Hebron is among the most culturally traditional parts of Palestine so it's likely to be both quite different and interesting to learn about, coming from other cultures. I myself was connected with rural primary care organizations and got amazing experience shadowing local Physicians.

I warmly recommend the Excellence Center / Engage in Palestine for everybody who want to learn the palestinian dialect. This was my first dialect course and i am very happy that i found the Excellence Center. My teacher Dana is a truly wonderful teacher! 🌟

Her warm and patient way of teaching made learning Palestinian Arabic for me as german both fun and effective. I learned so much during the online course and always looked forward to each session. I’ll definitely be signing up for the next course. Shukran jazeelanو barak allah fiki, ya habibti Dandoun! 🌸 Sarah

It was an amazing experience. I am so grateful to be here in The Excelence Center. It changed my life forever, knowing this land, these people, these children, and being able to help, but also learning so much with them all.

It is very safe to come here for volunteering even in these hard times, but Hebron is totally safe and you are being taken care of here as family. And leave as family. It feels like home.

For sure, I will come back soon and many times in the future.

With all my love and deep gratitude, Helio

I've just spent two weeks in Hebron, in the Intensive Arabic program. It has been a great adventure and a great experience on so many levels! I was a little nervous before coming here, but I didn't need to worry about any of those things that I had imagined might go wrong. Every one at the Excellence Center has been very helpful and there has always been a friendly atmosphere there. My teacher was really the best! I have made a lot of progress, and I feel inspired to continue learning Arabic. It has also been interesting to visit the city of Hebron. The local people are nice and hospitable and eager to get to know international guests. I have felt completely safe and always very welcome. I can really recommend a trip to the Excellence Center for anyone who wishes a holiday experience out of the ordinary!