Human rights program

My name is Saranne, I’m a primary school teacher from Ireland. I’ve always had an interest in Palestine and the issues the Palestinian people face. And the excellence centre seemed like the perfect place to get an insight into every day life for the people living in Hebron. This is why I chose to participate in the women’s rights program. I got the opportunity to visit many female activists within the community who are defending the human rights of Palestinians against the occupation and met different groups who promote women’s voices within the Palestinian community. The knowledge I gained from my visits to community groups was invaluable. I also participated in Arabic classes and really enjoyed being immersed in the language and culture by my wonderfully patient teacher Anais. Shukran kteer! I stayed with a lovely host family who took great care of me and did their best to ensure I was safe and comfortable in their home. I truly felt part of the family and got to share in many happy memories with them during Eid. Overall I felt extremely safe in Hebron, the locals are friendly and Marwa and Oussama the centers coordinators were always there to help me or answer any questions I had. I would highly recommend a visit to anyone who is interested in learning more about Palestine and you will be not be disappointed with Palestinian hospitality!