Volunteer Abroad in Germany – Short-Term Programs 1–13 Weeks

The excellence center is truly an incredible experience. I was unsure when I first signed up, but my doubts were washed away after a week. The center, the people themselves, the community around the center is incredible. I’ve never felt more comfortable in a foreign country than I did here. Rafat has created something special, and if you have the chance to experience it I 100% would. You won’t find anything else like it. And be ready to go with the flow! Any plan you make will probably collapse - so have fun rearranging.
- Queen Taylor

I stayed two months at the Excellence Center between June and July, which was perfect timing between large cohorts. Everybody who works at the center is lovely. Rafat is welcoming, friendly, and diplomatic, and does everything to help volunteers enjoy their experience and for refugees and migrants to settle safely. Doushan handles background operations, and is a hilarious, cheerful person. It's truly a pleasure when he joins everyone for lunch or subs in for Rafat. Muaz was my Arabic teacher and helps to run just about everything in the Center. He's a well-known figure in the local community thanks to providing free translation help for refugees and migrants between German, Arabic, and English, and supports legislative change for anti-racism in Halle. He introduced me to some wonderful, kind people who became good friends, and was a phenomenal Arabic teacher. I arrived with a bare knowledge of the alphabet, and Muaz taught me everything until I passed the A2 level in about 5 weeks. I enjoyed teaching English so much, though I loved my Arabic classes more. I taught three students from ages 8 to 30 with varying English proficiency. A lot of people are intimidated by choosing what to teach and how, but I liked making up lessons and games for my students. My advice is to use lots of color-coding, prioritize conversation (at the correct level), and try to enjoy the experience. People learn best when they're connecting with you, rather than being lectured. The accommodations are nice enough for a short stay or an able bodied person, but they get somewhat cramped during July and August, when the majority of people visit. I recommend spending at least a month at the Center if you're able to, though I truly wanted upwards of three months. We went on trips to Leipzig, Berlin, or nearby cities, toured Halle, had picnics, and spent a day with a class of international art students. A local Syrian gentleman taught us basics of violin, Rafat taught us how to cook some Palestinian, Syrian, or Saudi Arabian meals, and another friend tried teaching us Dabke (traditional Palestinian dance). You'll spend a lot of time outside in Halle, and hopefully a lot of time meeting new people. Give this experience as much as you can (and go see Muaz's concerts!)
(Doushan, if you're seeing this, hello! I did the review! Sorry it took so long!!!!)

I came to the Excellence Center as a volunteer Photographer and was amazed to see how an establishment that started from humble beginnings has become a safe space for refugees with community and compassion at the forefront of its daily operations. You can learn either Arabic, English or German here without feeling embarrassed about any language barriers. The center provides weekly community activities in which you get to experience cultures and customs and in the end you most likely make a new friend. The staff here is amazing, very friendly, inviting, supportive and best of all, flexible! I studied Beginner Arabic here and loved the fact that the classes ranged from single to small group settings only, make the learning curve feel easier to overcome. There were opportunities to visit other German towns with a teacher as a tour guide and those were very fun and exciting to be able to join. I definitely recommend this center for anyone wanting to learn either of the languages mentioned above. The teachers here are excellent and provided so many immersion opportunities!!!

Prior to arriving in Halle, I had experience living abroad for extended periods of time in Poland and France, and I was so excited to expand my worldview further by spending one month in Halle! I was unsure of what to expect at the Excellence Center, and was welcomed into a close, encouraging, and above all, kind community as soon as I walked in. Fostering a strong community, full of compassion and curiosity, was a key priority at the Center. This was evidenced by shared meals, friendships, and a learning environment that extended beyond language lessons, delving into complex realities with open minds and hearts. This experience was beautiful to witness, and even more meaningful to engage in. Additionally, I felt fully supported by all of the staff, who exhibited an incredible amount of care in making every single individual feel included and encouraged.

Beyond the team, teaching English was a wonderful experience from both a professional and interpersonal standpoint: I had the unique opportunity to lead and build lesson plans individually, while having access to incredible and experienced language teachers for advice, and I was able to create friendships with the people I was teaching (aged from 4-28).

As mentioned in multiple reviews, the other volunteers involved at the Center are genuinely incredible people, and it was an absolute joy to become good friends so quickly and share bonding experiences with them.

I recommend anyone eager to develop their understanding, fuel their curiosity, and cultivate truly life-long friendships to join the mission of service and cross-cultural understanding at the Excellence Center in Germany. Regardless of your traveling history, whether you've never left your country or have been abroad for years, you can learn an incredible amount about the world, people, and yourself at the Center.

I cannot recommend working at the Excellence Center more!! You are truly welcomed into a family and community filled with some of the kindest, most intelligent, and most passionate people in the world. My four weeks there were filled with meaningful friendships, family-style breakfasts, and the feeling of being part of a group that is making a meaningful impact. Rafat is incredibly warm and welcoming, and you’re sure to have an amazing experience at the EC, whether you’re there for one week or eight!

During my internship at the Excellence Center in Halle, I had the unique opportunity to approach the refugee integration process through a business and economic lens. As a Master’s student in Finance and Accounting for Business, I used my time here to document and analyze the operational framework of a grassroots NGO.

Beyond the excellent language instruction, the Center provided the perfect environment to conduct qualitative microeconomic research. I was given the autonomy to interview local refugees, assess their everyday administrative and financial barriers to integration, and analyze how independent community hubs bridge the gaps left by state welfare systems.

Furthermore, observing the Center’s cross-subsidization business model, where international volunteer programs directly fund free educational services for the local demographic. It was an invaluable, real-world case study in resource allocation and capacity management.

I highly recommend the Excellence Center not just to language and education students, but to any Business, Economics, or Management majors looking to apply their academic skills in a dynamic social enterprise."

I had a wonderful experience during my 2 months at The Excellence Center in Halle, Germany. The language teaching method provided for students is very good. My time working with the team was excellent as well! I am very glad to have participated in this internship program. My favorite part was learning so much from other participants. I definitely recommend students and interns to participate in it! My advice for people coming as a student or intern is that you should be always open to understand and learn about different culture. The staff members were very supportive and provided me with great advice during my time in Germany.

Our time in Halle was a truly wonderful experience. Going in, we didn’t expect to receive as warm of a welcome as we did. Also, because we were traveling as a father-son pair, we were a bit anxious that this might make it harder to fit in with the rest of the group. Yet any such concerns [dissipated] once we set foot in the Center. The organizers, Rafat and Muaz, hit a nice balance between leading group activities and giving the volunteers a great amount of independence. The joint meals were definitely a highlight, along with the excursions throughout Halle. The field trip to Leipzig and the intercultural workshop allowed us to become closer with our peers, as we absorbed a lot of new information and food for thought. On our last day, we all went to Ravens’ Island where we enjoyed a BBQ by the water. This was a fitting conclusion to our stay because it showed once more the great comradery and collective curiosity, which makes this program so special.