When I first arrived at the EC, I was nervous that I would not know where to go or what to do, but Salma quickly introduced me to everyone. I felt welcomed and I got instructions as to where I would stay, what I would do and I even got a nice tour of the city! As a volunteer teaching English, my days were busy but not too busy to have time to visit other cities on the weekend. I was able to fix my own schedule with my students and decide on what would fit best for both of us. We have a nice breakfast every morning with other volunteers or students or people who work at the center and we exchange our thoughts, our cultures and our hobbies! So many people come and go, but you get to share memorable times with them :) I really recommend coming here, Halle is a nice city, so beautiful and full of lively people! My experience has been awesome and I felt like I made a difference by teaching English !

During my 2 weeks in the Excellence Center everyone I have met has been welcoming and incredibly generous. The atmosphere in the centre perfectly mixes the work and social lives of the volunteers. Teaching my students was incredibly rewarding and I have learnt so much about other cultures and experiences. As I am on my gap year I would definitely recommend this program to anyone else doing one. The city of Halle is great for sight seeing and there is always something going on. The centre is located in central Halle so the location is perfect for transport to and from the whole city.

This center has the most wonderful bunch of people who work and volunteer. Everyone at the center is welcoming and helpful. I was a little nervous about not having enough experience because I was joining the "Teaching English" program, but the center provides you with all the resources and information you need to teach. I learned a lot about teaching during my stay at the excellence center. I definitely recommend The Excellence Center to everyone who is interested. The center welcomes everyone, from solo travelers to families, experienced and inexperienced!

We were only able to come assist and be in Halle for a week but the staff were very accommodating and welcoming of our circumstances. Every person here has built a tight-knit but friendly community and you will have an amazing experience learning, teaching and eating with volunteers, staff and students alike!

Halle is also a wonderful city and public transport is very straightforward to use and get around with! We were able to go between Berlin and the Center for a good price! You will also have no shortage of people who are willing to help you here, but I would recommend at least teensy bit of German to get around!

I have loved my experience at the Excellence Center, I have learned so much about the refugee experience in Halle, and German/Syrian culture. I stayed with a host family, who were extremely welcoming and generous, and I felt well supported by everyone at the Center. There were lots of opportunities to socialise with the other volunteers and colleagues. I would recommend the program to anyone who wants to learn German/Arabic, teach motivated students, try delicious food, and travel - Halle is well situated for visiting European cities at the weekends.

My experience at the Excellence Centre in Halle was fantastic. I was very impressed by the way Rafat and Radwan manage the centre. They are extremely welcoming and caring.

I have enjoyed every part of my stay in Halle :
I had never taught English to people not speaking my native language, especially children but the students are so motivated that it is a real pleasure. As we teach 1 to 1 or very small group I have been able to get to know my students and their aspirations.
I have learned so much about the refugees' situation in Halle and more broadly in Germany thanks to all the discussions with the students, team members and presentations made by other volunteers on internship programmes.

My host mum was also extremely nice and shared a lot with me and the other volunteer she hosted. She included us to her life so naturally. We have met her friends and family, cooked together, spent hours talking and watching movies.. and all in German, it was just perfect !

I cannot believe how many friends I made in such a short period of time. I will definitely come back and hope to see my little students in France one day.

My recommendation: do not waste any minute. Time flies. Be proactive and do not wait for things to happen. People here have so much to offer !

I volunteered with the Excellence Center for a week. I was doing an internship in Berlin and I wanted to do something meaningful before I went back to America, so I googled refugee centers and I found the Excellence Center.
When I got accepted in the program, Rafat was very helpful finding me a host family and my host family were some Syrian refugees. They did not speak much English and I did not speak much German but they did their best at making me feel welcomed. The first day, they made dinner for me and would always feed me.
In addition, being at the center, all of the staff made me feel welcomed and at home. Being away from home, Rafat made the experience feel like I was at home with the breakfast served every morning and the going away dinner.
This is my first time teaching of any sort and I was a little nervous and I didn't know what to expect but the other volunteers helped me get the ropes of things. Since I stayed for a week I had 1 student who was a refugee from Yemen and he was very eager to learn. After leaving the Excellence Center, I found a passion to teach people and impact others in that way.

I am Chaima, I came from the UK to teach English and learn German here in Halle, Germany. My aim when applying for this was to acquire more experience in teaching English abroad and attempting to improve my German by being in Germany and attending one-to-one lessons with a teacher. I was also very intrigued by Rafat’s approach in combining a language and community-led project both in Halle, Germany and in Hebron, Palestine.

Coming to the centre everyday was pleasure. Every morning, we would gather for with all the volunteers and have a typical Palestinian breakfast. I have really appreciated this welcoming tradition that set us well for our day. We would then all attend our respectful tasks of the day.

My experience in Halle has been diverse and culturally rich. I have enjoyed teaching different students from different backgrounds and discussing teaching methods and styles with the teachers and volunteers in the centre. The city of Halle is rich of its people, native of this city, and those who have moved and settled here. During my short time, I have been able to meet people from different countries in the Middle-East, each of them have a story and bring a stone to the edifice that is this place.

I have also had the privilege of observing the way the excellence centre operates. I have come to really admire the space that is given to the community here. The centre provides a safe place for students of all ages to get the help needed after school with teachers or/and other students of higher grades. This place builds a bridge between the newly settled communities and the school system. This truly can build their confidence and help them overcome any language barrier hindering them from excelling in their education.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed my weeks here in Halle and come out grown from this experience.