The most wonderful experience!

I stayed at the Excellence Center in Halle for almost three months and it has been a wonderful experience. Each morning, the center eats breakfast together, where you get to know the other volunteers, Rafat, and Muaz. I taught one on one English and German classes to the most amazing students, all of whom I will miss dearly. Watching your students gain confidence in a new language is amazing to see, and their hard work and enthusiasm is contagious. I also took Arabic classes with Muaz, who is hands down one of the best Arabic teachers I have ever met. He is an incredible story teller and makes every lesson engaging and memorable. Learning another language can be intimidating, but he is so supportive and will become your biggest cheerleader. Outside of classes, volunteers participate in many events such as youth programs hosted by the center, dinners, and cooking. I was encouraged to participate in a week long program on diversity, discrimination, and integration hosted for students from a Dutch college, where I learned a lot from the students, the staff at the center, and locals. I also learned how to make falafel and helped prepare food for Iftar a few times. Volunteers are free to explore Halle and the surrounding cities. The other volunteers and I often went on little trips on the weekends or explored Halle. I made some wonderful friends both inside and outside of the center and I am so grateful that I found the Excellence Center. Not only have I found a family in Halle and with the center, but it has also helped provide me with clarity in what I want to do in the future. I'm sad to be leaving the center, and will remember my time here fondly. To anyone debating volunteering here – do it!