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

This was my second visit to Halle and the Excellence center and this time I brought my brother with me to learn Arabic! The community is so welcoming and fun and it really is a LOW STRESS environment ;) I loved spending time getting to know Halle and the people at the center and I felt like I belonged even in a foreign country. Breakfasts with the group were my favorite part of the day as well as teaching and preparing my lessons for my students. Overall a fantastic experience and I look forward to returning!

Our week with the program was truly transformative — both for our students and for ourselves as teachers. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed and supported by the entire team. Special thanks to Muaz, Raffat, Douchenne and Ali, whose dedication, warmth, and insight created a safe and inspiring space for growth.

The Circle sessions were powerful — a place where deep connection and reflection was built. These moments truly made the group feel like a community. The breath work sessions offered a unique opportunity for reflection and inner calm, something our students still talk about as one of the most surprising and impactful parts of the week. The electric exercise made us work together and have fun while connecting.

This program doesn’t just teach values — it lives them. It creates space for honesty, action, and transformation. We left Halle with open hearts, broadened minds, and a strong desire to return.

Highly recommended for any group looking to combine social engagement, personal development, and intercultural learning.

When I first arrived in Germany, I was greeted warmly and everybody at the center was extremely welcoming. After completing three months of teaching German and English, I can say that it has been an unforgettable experience, throughout which I have learned a lot.

Teaching different ages and people with different backgrounds has been so inspiring; every single person was so kind and motivated, which made it feel like catching up with a friend.

I also learned Arabic as a complete beginner, and my teacher, Muaz, was great; he made the lessons fun, and I can really feel my progress. He has inspired me to keep learning the language.

It was incredible to see how respected Rafat is by every single person who comes into the Excellence Center. The difference the center has made for so many people is absolutely incredible to see.

When I first signed up to this programme, I was as nervous as could be. It was my first time travelling outside the UK alone and I had no idea what to expect but the moment I walked through the doors of the Excellence centre I was welcomed like I was an old friend. The team managed to dissipate any kind of fear or hesitation I had from the first day. Everyday after was better than the last. I got to meet people from all over contribute to the community by teaching English and study German all at the same time.

Studying German was one of the aspects I was most nervous about, it was something I had always been bad at school. Yet with both an absolutely phenomenal teacher and the other volunteers to practice with I found myself not only feeling a real sense of progress in learning the language but genuinely having fun.

Teaching English was another great part of the programme, we had both help in teaching but equally alot of freedom to teach as we thought best suited our students and their needs. Additionally it felt like a collaborative effort where we as the volunteers would constantly exchanging ideas for lessons and directions we could go for our different students.

My absolute favourite memories at the centre have to be the breakfasts. Being able to sit down as a group and share a meal is such a great way of getting everyone to gel together and become friends, I don't think there was a single breakfast where we weren't all laughing together at some point or another.

The excellence centre has an absolutely wonderful team who gave me an amazing experience. When my time at the centre was finished I was already thinking of when I could next return.
I genuinely cannot thank everyone at the centre enough for the experience they gave me.

The team is amazing! I spent two incredible weeks in Halle, where I had the chance to deeply explore Palestinian culture, traditions, and more. Everyone is extremely welcoming—you will feel at home from day one! The experience was truly enriching, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested.

A huge thank you to Rafat, Muaz, Dusan, and the whole team for their kindness and support. 100% recommended!

If you’re looking for an experience that combines learning, cultural exchange, and great people, this is the perfect place. Don’t hesitate to join—you won’t regret it!

Everyone at the Excellence Center is remarkably kind and welcoming. Shared meals and time spent at the Center reinforce a sense of community among volunteers and students. Moreover, everyone at the Center is eager to help one another. Rafat was incredibly helpful in coordinating opportunities that allowed me to complete the work required for my university funding, and the entire team was always a joy to be around.

My experience learning Arabic at the Excellence Center was exceptional. I arrived without even knowing the alphabet, and by the end of my 13 weeks, I could read, write, and speak about basic topics. Lessons are designed to maximize language use, making rote memorization—something I was accustomed to in university courses—far less necessary. It was unlike any other language learning experience I’ve had, and I found it far more effective than university language classes—not to mention highly enjoyable.

The Center fosters a great community, and there are plenty of opportunities to meet people local to Halle. These opportunities made Halle feel like home during my 12 weeks there.

I would highly recommend the Excellence Center to anyone looking to learn Arabic and experience life in Germany. I gained an enormous amount from everyone I had the privilege of meeting through the Center. The value lies not only in the volunteering and educational programs but also in the meaningful community interactions that are part of everyday life.

The day I arrived at the center, I immediately received a warm welcome and an orientation. Later that night, I got to the apartment which I would be staying in while studying and teaching. I immediately felt at home with everyone who I would be living with, and continued to the whole time I was in Halle. The culture that the excellence center promotes through great teaching and leadership is amazing. It leads to an extremely inclusive and close relationship between all people at the center, as well as makes learning a new language and teaching English (no easy task for most people) a very fun experience.

The Excellence Center is such a wonderful community full of supportive individuals and teachers that have helped advance my Arabic skills so much in 3 weeks in a way I never thought possible. I’ve truly grown through this experience in a way that I haven’t been able to in my Arabic classes at university. Being at the Center feels like staying with family and they are willing to help you for anything you may need during your stay in Halle. The living experience is also incredible, I stayed in an apartment with other students and I was able to make some amazing friends. I’m so incredibly grateful for this experience and I hope to come back soon.