Short Term Volunteer Projects in Germany (1-13 Weeks)

I came to the Center not knowing exactly what to expect. I knew I would stay with a host family, that I would teach English, and that I would learn German, but I wasn't sure about much else. I also didn't know how much the experience would affect me.
I met volunteers and teachers from all over the world, and students with a broad range of experiences, ages, and backgrounds.
In four weeks, I learned more about history, people, and life than I had in more than 50 years prior.
The camaraderie among the volunteers and staff makes the Center a family rather than a group of individuals who work together. Each day starts with a shared breakfast, where conversations can be as simple as how well one slept or as deep as the meaning of culture or the role of language. We share ideas for teaching and learning around coffee or lunch. We play together, whether that means football in the park or D&D around a table.
I loved learning the language and having the opportunity to practice the lessons from my classroom in the real world, but my favorite classes were the field trips. We spent an afternoon in Leipzig at the DDR museum and several classes walking around the city of Halle, learning German vocabulary along with the history of the city.
This was an experience I will never forget, and I hope to be able to return.

I spent 4 weeks at the excellence center and can honestly say it has been one of the best experiences of my life. I came to the center expecting to improve my German and teach some English, instead I was given the chance to meet and learn from some amazing people with different cultures and backgrounds.
The immediate environment in the center is warm and welcoming and you are thrown straight into the experience from the start, having breakfast at the center every morning, weekly football matches and spending time in Halle with other volunteers. It is an amazing way to meet new people and friendships are quickly formed.
Those working in the center, Ali, Muaz, Dusan and of course Rafat show their dedication, not only to the volunteers but also the wider community in Halle. My weekly German lessons with Muaz, were not only helpful and educational but always enjoyable and I looked forward to them each week.
Halle is a beautiful city and is in a great location, making other German cities accessible to travel to during the weekends. It is full of culture and amazing food (being a vegetarian here, I have had no issue with options, the falafel is 10/10).
I have loved every minute of my time here and my only recommendation to other people potentially looking to join the center, is to simply go for it. You wont regret it. Whether you speak german or not, have experience with teaching or not (I did not), it doesn't matter and those in the center are always available to help.
Thank you so much to everyone at the center! You have all made my time here unforgettable. The experience i've had here has truly been unique and I can only hope to have similar experiences in the future.

If you want to volunteer, learn new languages and make new friends, come visit the excellence centre! People here are amazing, friendly and really supportive. It’s the best when you are interested in volunteering with refugees, you’ll learn a lot and gain amazing experiences from the program. Also, the volunteering hours are flexible so you will also get much time to travel around! I would have chosen to stay more than two weeks for a more complete and immersive experience, but my volunteering experience this time is definitely one of the best experiences in my life!

We met many volunteers from different backgrounds and had German class together. I am a totally beginner of German and the lessons aroused my interests in it. Also, we would have breakfast together almost every morning and it is a good chance to know more about each other. People here are friendly and helpful so they made the experience even nicer. It would be perfect if there are more volunteering opportunities for us. I strongly recommend future volunteers can plan to stay at least 3 weeks here to have more volunteering opportunities. Overall, the experience is unique and meaningful to me.

It was a very good stay even though I was only there for one week. the experience enriched my cultural understanding and kick-started my journey to learn Arabic. Also, it gave me a unique opportunity to come in contact with new people in a short period of time. It’s an extremely open and easy going atmosphere, so you quickly get to know people. The teaching part is the easiest part but also very fun. I would definitely recommend the Excellence Center to anyone who has an interest in cultures or languages. Looking back I’m sad I was only able to be there for one week.

Hello my name is Lord, and this is my third time coming back to Halle to work with the Excellence Center! I love the community of people here and the work they do. I come back to Germany using the German I learned from my teacher Muaz, and my German has significantly improved each time I have returned! The city is beautiful and I love coming to Germany but it wouldn't be the same without the wonderful connections that I've made here. Thanks to the environment Rafat provides, the lessons from my great teacher Muaz and hanging out with my best friend Ali, my experience in Halle and the Excellence Center is unforgettable and it keeps me coming back!

I recently had the pleasure of volunteering at The Excellent Center in Halle, Germany, and I cannot speak highly enough about my experience. From the moment I walked through the doors, I was greeted with warmth and the feeling of being part of something amazing.

Their commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of the center, and their dedication to making you feel like family is beyond anything I could have imagined.

The staff's remarkable dedication to their craft and commitment to excellence is truly admirable, making my time here an uplifting experience.

With a focus on empowerment and positive change, the center's educational initiatives spark curiosity and inspire individuals to embrace their potential for growth and development.

Overall, my experience at The Excellent Center was nothing short of exceptional. I highly recommend this center to anyone seeking a truly enriching experience. Thank you to the entire team for your outstanding service and dedication! You have made a lasting impact on me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful community.

Anyone "thinking" about joining the Excellence Center Europe family should "Just Do It" (in the words of Nike!)

My experience at The Excellence Center has been absolutely amazing! It started a little rough with a lack of communication. So much so, I was concerned about the legitimacy of the program! However, from the day I boarded the plane until the day I departed, I wondered "Why was I so nervous/scared/filled with anxiety?" From that day forward, communication was explicit! Dušan contacted me while I was still in the states; he met me at the train station...he immediately took me out to eat with group; he took me to my host family home, the host family was incredible! (By the way, whenever Martin and Robert visit the states, I got you!) Everything good I thought would happen was 10 times better!

Learning and teaching: Arabic was the language I chose to study while teaching English. *The decision to learn Arabic in a German speaking city was definitely a learning curve independent of all other learning taking place.* My Arabic teachers, Moaz and Ali, are AMAZING! Moaz seems more comfortable exploring and teaching history and he's VERY GOOD at it! He shares his experiences with descriptive visuals to describe the narrative in detail, giving the audience the illusion as if we're experiencing events in real time.... Ali is a really good teacher! He's passionate about teaching, patient, kind and overall a very nice guy! I didn't know ANY Arabic! However, I left with a strong foundation in reading and writing Arabic, (before now, I thought was impossible) in which I can continue building. Besides, anyone who can effectively teach Arabic to an American English speaker with a deep southern accent and not loose their cool has so much respect from me! These young men provided lessons beyond the pencil, paper and walls of the classroom. I pray God continually bless them beyond measure!

I am so blessed to have cross paths with this community of people! I came as a teacher, ready to provide service; having no idea of the transformation taking place in my own life. Today, I'm leaving having gain so much more than EVER anticipated; not only as a student of arabic, yet a student of history, humanity, perseverance, and resilience.

If you are looking for an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone, The Excellence Center Europe is the perfect solution.

Thank you EC Europe for life's lessons that undoubtably provides perspective for what's truly important. I pray we meet again, soon!
❤️🤍💙~Marcia