Short Term Volunteer Projects In Germany (1-13 Weeks)

I came to the Excellence Center wanting to improve my German and help others adjusting to life in Germany, and I got all of that plus so much more. It is a lovely, ultra inclusive environment where participants share stories and learn about each others’ experiences. Though I was only there a week, I feel genuine connections with everyone at the center and I’ve left the experience with a lot of valuable perspective.

The volunteer schedule is quite flexible, which I loved as it gave me lots of time to explore Halle and the surrounding region. The language instruction is super engaging and really personalized to the students’ interests, which was a huge plus for me. And all of the Excellence Center staff are extremely kind and genuine. They have made my experience wonderful.

The fact that I feel so much like I am part of a community after just a few short days is a testament to the high quality of the center and how hard Rafat and his team have worked to create an engaging and truly special experience. I hope to come back soon!

My 2 week stay in Halle as an ESL volunteer and language student at the Excellence Centre was very pleasant.
The director Rafat and his staff including Enrico (my German language teacher), Ali and Moaz were all very welcoming and from the get go I knew that I will gel well with the team.
My program was a lot more flexible than I had anticipated but the flexibility allowed me to explore the beautiful city of Halle and also to get to know more about the other volunteer and student participants.
The accommodation provided by the Centre was also comfortable.
All in all the volunteering, socializing and sharing with a diverse group definitely enhanced my experience in Halle.

I was only here for one week but it feels much longer than that (in a good way). And I wish I could stay longer! I was lucky to have met some of the most brilliant people that come from different backgrounds and walks of life. Volunteers, people at the Center, students that I had classes with - all of them come together to create a big community that instantly makes you feel like you belong.

- Teaching English (albeit for a short time) consisted mostly of conversations in a wide range of topics, and the volunteer hours are somewhat flexibly arranged. As long as you come with an open mind and a bit of adoptability, you will be good to go.
- I was able to get a lot of help with my German as well! Whether you are a complete beginner with the language (German or Arabic) or want to improve your conversational skills, the classes will be well-tailored to your needs.

I would like to thank the Center again for the warm welcome and hospitality for the past week.

The Excellence Centre in Europe was one of the most incredible opportunities I have and perhaps will ever have.

Arriving in Germany not really knowing what to expect, I found myself living with six other amazing roommates in what was already well known as "The Dream House". So many wonderful memories were made with those people in particular, especially chatting on the balcony and cooking together.
I was still unsure what to expect from the Centre itself when I arrived there the next morning, but the surprise was a pleasant one. Breakfast every morning was a great opportunity to try new food and meet more people... especially because the faces are always changing! My first Arabic lesson sparked a fire that will hopefully fuel me to reach fluency in a beautiful language, taught by amazing, patient, intelligent teachers.
Teaching English to a range of students with varying social and linguistic background was a great pleasure. I got to explore their culture as well as teaching them about my own, whilst testing my knowledge of English and the flexibility of my German and Russian. Teaching English from my second languages was a challenge I will never forget, especially because it took place in the friendliest environment in the world!

There is so much more to say, and I don't have the words to convey how incredible the Excellence Centre is. I feel so privileged to have been part of this amazing experience, and hope to return in the future, to rekindle friendships and reunite with people that have, in just a month, become like family.

I've been staying in Halle with the Excellence Center for the past ten weeks and can confidently say it has been one of the most memorable/fulfilling experiences of my life. This was my first time traveling abroad alone which was extremely intimidating, especially considering the significant amount of time I would be staying in Germany. Therefore, upon my initial arrival, I was somewhat shy, but because of the Excellence Center's warm and welcoming environment, my nerves subsided very fast. Through daily breakfasts, weekly football matches, and outside events, I got the opportunity to garner friendships with the staff, fellow volunteers, and students attending the local university.
If I could recommend a summer study program to anyone, it would be the Excellence Center. Whether you have experience speaking German/Arabic or not (I didn't)/experience teaching English or not. Ali and Muaz are extremely talented teachers with the flexibility to accommodate their lesson plans with whatever level of speaking.
All I can say is how grateful I am to everyone I have gotten to share this with and how crucial their role was throughout this entire experience. I can only hope to continue to meet as amazing people as I did this summer <3

I came to the Center not knowing exactly what to expect. I knew I would stay with a host family, that I would teach English, and that I would learn German, but I wasn't sure about much else. I also didn't know how much the experience would affect me.
I met volunteers and teachers from all over the world, and students with a broad range of experiences, ages, and backgrounds.
In four weeks, I learned more about history, people, and life than I had in more than 50 years prior.
The camaraderie among the volunteers and staff makes the Center a family rather than a group of individuals who work together. Each day starts with a shared breakfast, where conversations can be as simple as how well one slept or as deep as the meaning of culture or the role of language. We share ideas for teaching and learning around coffee or lunch. We play together, whether that means football in the park or D&D around a table.
I loved learning the language and having the opportunity to practice the lessons from my classroom in the real world, but my favorite classes were the field trips. We spent an afternoon in Leipzig at the DDR museum and several classes walking around the city of Halle, learning German vocabulary along with the history of the city.
This was an experience I will never forget, and I hope to be able to return.

I spent 4 weeks at the excellence center and can honestly say it has been one of the best experiences of my life. I came to the center expecting to improve my German and teach some English, instead I was given the chance to meet and learn from some amazing people with different cultures and backgrounds.
The immediate environment in the center is warm and welcoming and you are thrown straight into the experience from the start, having breakfast at the center every morning, weekly football matches and spending time in Halle with other volunteers. It is an amazing way to meet new people and friendships are quickly formed.
Those working in the center, Ali, Muaz, Dusan and of course Rafat show their dedication, not only to the volunteers but also the wider community in Halle. My weekly German lessons with Muaz, were not only helpful and educational but always enjoyable and I looked forward to them each week.
Halle is a beautiful city and is in a great location, making other German cities accessible to travel to during the weekends. It is full of culture and amazing food (being a vegetarian here, I have had no issue with options, the falafel is 10/10).
I have loved every minute of my time here and my only recommendation to other people potentially looking to join the center, is to simply go for it. You wont regret it. Whether you speak german or not, have experience with teaching or not (I did not), it doesn't matter and those in the center are always available to help.
Thank you so much to everyone at the center! You have all made my time here unforgettable. The experience i've had here has truly been unique and I can only hope to have similar experiences in the future.

If you want to volunteer, learn new languages and make new friends, come visit the excellence centre! People here are amazing, friendly and really supportive. It’s the best when you are interested in volunteering with refugees, you’ll learn a lot and gain amazing experiences from the program. Also, the volunteering hours are flexible so you will also get much time to travel around! I would have chosen to stay more than two weeks for a more complete and immersive experience, but my volunteering experience this time is definitely one of the best experiences in my life!