Internship Program

My name is Sofia Hollowell, and I am 21 years old. I am from the United States however I am currently studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. I participated in the Excellence Centre’s Internship in Palestine program for 2 months this summer.

During my time at the Excellence Centre, I participated in a wide variety of visits. These trips included meetings at the Mayor and Governor’s office; a visit to a Bedouin village, tours of the Hebron Old Town; visits to the Department of Education and a local Kaffiya factory. These trips allowed me to further educate myself of the current political situation as well as gain a greater appreciation for Palestinian history and culture.

During my time at the Centre, I was fortunate enough to have two different Arabic teachers. Both of my teachers were incredibly encouraging and supportive. I also really benefited from the small class sizes which enabled my teachers to tailor the class to fit my needs and allowed us to have productive conversations to improve my speaking skills.

I really enjoyed the environment at the Excellence Centre. The staff are all incredibly friendly and welcoming and instantly make you feel part of the community. They are also highly educated and informed individuals, who were very interesting to speak with to learn more about the culture and politics in Hebron. I was also able to make strong friendships with many of the other volunteers due to our shared interests in Palestine and the unique experiences we had living and traveling together.

Living in Hebron City and with a host family and Palestinian people.
Living with a host family was a special experience. My host family was very warm and welcoming. They were particularly eager to include me in all their family holidays and traditions, including several birthdays and celebrating Eid. I feel very grateful to have lived with a host family because it gave me a first-hand experience participating in Palestinian daily life and holidays.

Palestine is a very safe country. While undeniably there is a very tense and volatile political situation, the people are very friendly and helpful. This meant that throughout my time living in Hebron I felt safe and comfortable asking strangers on the street for help. I was also able to travel easily between different cities such as Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho and Nablus, without having to worry about my security.

After your volunteering or studying period, what is your lasting impression about Palestine and its people? What did you like most about Palestine?
My favourite and most striking thing about Palestinian people are their kindness and generosity. Having been fortunate enough to have travelled to many countries in the past, I can honestly say Palestinians are some of the friendliest people I have ever met. On top of this, I was constantly impressed by their happiness and optimism despite the difficult situation many people live in. This is something I found incredibly aspirational.

I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to volunteer with the Excellence Centre. The experiences I had learning about Palestinian culture, politics, and history as well as teaching English in various villages around the country were incredibly valuable. I am very thankful for the staff of the Excellence Centre for the way they welcomed me into their homes and community and for giving me such a memorable experience here in Palestine.