The Excellence Center

Why choose The Excellence Center?

The Excellence Center/Engage in Palestine, established in June 2011, provides intensive Arabic Levantine/Palestinian programs, online Arabic lessons, and educational, cultural, social, and community development services to international students, interns, and volunteers, as well as to Palestinian children, refugees, women, and youth in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine.

The center's ongoing success inspired expansion to Germany, specifically in Halle, where since 2018, it has offered educational and community development programs for both locals and internationals. Both Centers have significantly impacted refugees, children, migrants, and local communities, as well as the diverse internationals who participate.

The Excellence Center firmly believes in the vital role education and cultural exchange play in Palestinian and German communities. It remains dedicated to creating and enhancing volunteer, internship, and community development programs to further this mission.

Website

excellencenter.org

Founded

2011

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Impact 🌎

Ethical Impact

With all our Arabic courses and volunteer programs, we aim to make a long term difference for the Palestinian local community through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. Our programs and courses foster shared learning, for both our community and you. During your Arabic course, you will get to learn so much more than just the language. You will also get to learn a lot about Palestinian culture and customs and the political situation in Palestine. Additionally, you will have many opportunities while outside the classroom to practice your Arabic in a natural and authentic way while navigating your new life in Hebron. Your time with us in Hebron will also provide you with many opportunities of cultural exchange and mutual learning, both with local Palestinians as well as with our other international participants.

Reviews

This was my second visit to Halle and the Excellence center and this time I brought my brother with me to learn Arabic! The community is so welcoming and fun and it really is a LOW STRESS environment ;) I loved spending time getting to know Halle and the people at the center and I felt like I belonged even in a foreign country. Breakfasts with the group were my favorite part of the day as well as teaching and preparing my lessons for my students. Overall a fantastic experience and I look forward to returning!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Be open to trying new things and don’t take it too seriously. This is a place for everyone to have fun and learn together, don’t treat it like work or school.

Pros

Welcoming community
Great food
Fun adventures

Cons

Not really anything but there’s a lot of people who pass through so I wish people would stay longer!

I've enjoyed my time studying Arabic a lot! The classes were intensive which means we made a lot of progress in only four weeks. My teacher was the sweetest and I had a great time with her.

I fell in love with the city of Hebron which is so welcoming and safe. I felt right at home!

The apartment for women is very new and was a great place to live during my time in Hebron. Sometimes the power/water/wifi turns off, but that usually doesn't last long and has not been a problem for me at all.

Hopefully I'll be back in Hebron soon!

The Excellence Center provides such a fun, safe, and educational experience for all that volunteer. Through the experiences I’ve had with them, I can consider Palestine a 2nd home for me. Everyday I felt safe and excited as I looked forward to what new lessons to teach and activities to participate in. The teachers are amazing and the organizers are awesome. When I was here, I knew my safety was their utmost importance and my experience was ensured to be great. I have more trips here planned. This was my second. So excited

What was your funniest moment?

The people in Hebron don’t get a lot of tourists. So they often treated me like I was a celebrity. Lots of the kids called me Speed. It was crazy. But a good crazy

Pros

Great food
Friendly people
Wonderful travel options

Cons

May find the occupation upsetting
Checkpoints make travel a bit difficult

This was a really lovely opportunity to get a foot into the community with a supportive organization in order to branch out and learn more about the community. The Arabic classes were super helpful and informative. There were opportunities to talk to local community members to get a better understanding of the social-political situation from a local and global perspective.

In terms of safety, Israeli soldiers walk through the city sometimes. On Saturdays, the settlers walk through the Old City and the IDF will clear the streets during that time. It is best not to aggravate the soldiers as this can make things more difficult for those who live in the area in case retaliation occurs.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Come with an open mind and a willingness to ask questions in order to learn more from those who live here.

Pros

Arabic classes
People

Cons

May be upsetting to hear what people go through
Checkpoints can be stressful
May witness some unsettling things

The Excellence Center was such an amazing program. So much so I came back a second time and plan to come again soon! The center as well as the city was so safe and just a great experience. I understand that people may be hesitant but I never had to worry about anything my entire month here. And I know my fellow volunteers felt the same. Safety was definitely ensured. The programs are so interactive with the children who are so much fun when the class starts. The teachers are some of the friendliest I've ever had. Patient, warm, caring, etc. The city is so friendly and lively. The people are great. The organizers are like family to me now. I love everyone at the center.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

I would definitely stay longer. I'm so jealous that the others are staying a 5 weeks to 2 months. I'd love to volunteer more and hang out with them more as well.

Pros

Hospitality
Adventure
Welcoming Culture

Cons

The history of the Palestinians can be upsetting
Israeli Checkpoints
Tel Aviv airport is very iffy

5.00 •4 reviews

The Intensive German Programs in 2025 at the Excellence Center in...

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

When I saw the situation in Palestine I knew I needed to do something to help. The volunteer organizations in the US weren't really for me, but I had the time and the means to go help in person. I looked up volunteer opportunities and the Excellence Center had the best reputation. I found out its reputation is well-deserved!

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The Excellence Center helped me with everything I needed. They gave me a flat, free breakfast, volunteer work, Arabic lessons, and guidance for anything else I asked about, including finding more work with other organizations.

All I organized on my own was getting other meals and traveling around Palestine independently.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

If you're coming to Palestine you need to be aware of the political situation. It sounds obvious, but one would-be volunteer had her visa denied because of her radicalism on social media. Don't do that. You're here to help - maybe by teaching kids English, or advocating for women's rights, or volunteering at a hospital. Don't get carried away.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Your daily activities change as you spend more time in the program, but for a beginner: Eat breakfast with other volunteers at 10 AM, and study Arabic from 11 to 12 or 1. Then, go on a trip to somewhere in or near Hebron to learn about life in Palestine and experience the culture, do volunteer activities, and spend the evening studying and hanging out with other volunteers.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear when I came to Palestine was that I'd be a victim of the current situation - hurt or worse, by one side or the other. Talking to the other volunteers before I came eased my anxiety. After spending time here I feel my fears were unfounded. It's clear what places and situations are dangerous and as foreigners, we're free to avoid them.

You can volunteer in Palestine without having specific views about the situation. You don't have to have an opinion about Zionism, or the Nakba, or the war in Gaza, or anything else. If you see people suffering and you want to help then you'll be welcomed here. You'll be making the world a better place while experiencing a unique culture and learning a complicated, tragic history first-hand.

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Nicholas Lecchi

Rosalind Dyveke Dale

2019 Alum

Dana Visalli

Ellen Munk Ebbesen

2016 Alum

Jim Chandler

2015 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Many people who come to the Excellence Center with the goal of volunteering to teach English are curious about the teachers.

We thought it would be a good idea to sit down with one of the English teachers at the Excellence Center and ask him a little bit about himself, in order to give those thinking about studying at the Excellence Center a chance to learn a little bit more about the teachers they will encounter and work with in Hebron.

Meet Ibrahim Zahda, who started teaching at the Excellence Center as an English teacher 3 years ago.

What’s your daily routine like?

I split my time between the Excellence Center and a local public school. I’m an English teacher at both locations. Once I finish at the public school, then I head over to the Excellence Center.

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How do you like working with Palestinian students?

I really like working with them. These kids have something to tell the world. I want to give them the tools they need to deliver our message to the world. That message is simply that we are here and we believe in nonviolent resistance to the Israeli occupation.

How about foreign volunteers?

They help me a lot as teaching assistants. The help they provide basically falls under several levels. First, they empower the idea of volunteering to the students. Second, they help the students with their pronunciation and expose them to the way English is spoken by native speakers.

The cultural aspect of their presence is also important. Volunteers come from all over the world and bring new ideas and concepts to us. It helps the students learn about the ways other people think about problems and give them new perspectives with which to face their challenges. It’s not just the students, teachers also learn in this way from the volunteers.

What’s it like working with Marwa, Khitam, and the other staff members?

The working relationships at the Excellence Center are really great, everyone is kind and everyone is eager to help each other out. The people I work with feel more like family than coworkers.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

You'll mostly find me playing football and computer games, I’m actually addicted to computer games (laughter).

What do you wish foreign volunteers knew before coming to Hebron?

I think the administration has provided a lot of good information for future and potential volunteers on their website. I would urge them (the volunteers) to learn about the center and its mission.

Most of the volunteers I’ve worked with have had a good idea of that part. Learning about the Palestinian culture beforehand would also be helpful.

What do you think are the biggest challenges for Palestinians trying to learn English?

There is this stereotype that English is an impossible language to learn. That really puts the students at a disadvantage so I try to break that stereotype and tell them that English is just like any other language. It is fun and can be learned.

Another challenge is that public schools in Palestine tend to focus on traditional teaching methods. In fact, newer methods which teach English in a practical way are needed. This is what the center is for, it emphasizes the students' speaking and listening abilities so that they can use English in the real world.

Website

Founded

Connect with us

Community Awards

Alumni Interviews

Simon Greenwood

Why did you choose this program?

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Staff Interviews

Ibrahim Zahda

What’s your daily routine like?

How do you like working with Palestinian students?

How about foreign volunteers?

What’s it like working with Marwa, Khitam, and the other staff members?

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

What do you wish foreign volunteers knew before coming to Hebron?

What do you think are the biggest challenges for Palestinians trying to learn English?