The Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine

Even though I was already familiar with the political climate of Palestine, coming to Hebron and volunteering with the Excellence Center has been one of the richest experiences of my life.

Everyday I got to learn something new, meet amazing activists and members of the community that work endlessly to enrich both the city and the country. Doing the Women's Rights Program at The Excellence Center offers a lifetime chance to get to live, learn, and support the community of amazing women that forms Palestine. I had the opportunity to visit business owners, NGO workers, journalists and advocators of both human and women's rights. With that, not only did I gain a clear understanding of the situation of women in Palestine, but also understood the misconceptions about Palestine, the Arab World and the role genders play on it.

In addition to the program, I had the opportunity to learn Palestinian Arabic from scratch. With the incredible teacher at the center (thanks J!) I got to work on my language skills to be able to communicate effectively with the locals in Hebron, making this experience ten times more rewarding. With daily classes and patience, everyone that is looking to start their journey in Arabic should definitely consider the Excellence Center for it.

Finally, I encourage international volunteers to come to beautiful Hebron and spend their time at the Excellence Center. You will be immersed in the culture, get to know many people that are nothing but welcoming and helpful, as well as you would be supporting the community with your skills and expertise. This will not only help them, but help yourself to get in tune with what it means to live in a society and help each other. Unlike what Western media portraits, Hebron will open its doors kindly for you to welcome you with open arms and possibly, a cup of coffee or tea. If I could go back I would repeat the experience all over again. See you next year Excellence Center!