Human Rights Internship in Palestine – Refugees, Law, & more

I spent 1 week with the Excellence Center as part of their Human Rights program. I had some idea of what to expect before coming here, but had never been to the region before, so still had many questions. During my time in Hebron, the staff at the Excellence Center were incredibly welcoming, helpful, and provided me with an experience I will never forget. Throughout the week, I had the chance to study Arabic, engage with the local community, and volunteer as a protective presence for villagers in the Masafar Yatta region, all while gaining a better understanding of the situation in the West Bank. I had the opportunity to experience Palestinian culture and truly felt welcomed by the local community. I always felt safe and would recommend this program to anyone considering it!

Marhaba! My name is Sierra, and I am 24 years old. I am from Alberta, Canada. I have a degree in Psychology from King’s University, and I spent two weeks participating in the Human Rights Internship program here at the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine. I chose to intern in Palestine because I was very interested in the complex regional history and its impact on mental health outcomes and communal well-being. Having studied the effects of trauma and having travelled to regions experiencing conflict in the past, I have a keen interest in visiting places where resilience, hope, and empathy flourish amidst adversity. Palestine, with its ongoing challenges and rich culture, presented an amazing opportunity to contribute positively to meaningful change and gain invaluable life experiences that have transformed my understanding of the world. I specifically chose to intern with the Excellence Center because of its stellar reputation for providing international visitors with an authentic experience of Palestinian life. The Human Rights internship seemed like a good opportunity to gain hands-on experience in humanitarian aid, diplomacy, and international law. My experience in Palestine has been extremely positive. I have been so touched by how genuinely friendly and welcoming everyone in Hebron has been during my stay. The staff at the Excellence Center were so welcoming to me and made sure I felt as comfortable as possible. The Hebron locals have also gone above and beyond to make me feel as welcomed, respected, and happy as possible. I have made friends at every coffee shop, shawarma place, and grocery store that I’ve been to. I want to give a special shout to Sara’s Cafe, kiddy corner to the Excellence Center, and all the lovely baristas there that have given me a lot of laughs and lattes. During my time at the Excellence Center, I learned about Palestinian culture, visited various historical sites, interacted with various journalists and human rights advocates, spoke with local people about their lives under the occupation, visited Palestinians living in refugee camps, and taught English to locals, and enjoyed several lovely evenings by the fire, singing, eating, and smoking shisha. I also took Arabic lessons with my lovely teacher Jomana, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I even managed to have some very basic conversations with locals! I understand why one might have reservations about travelling to Palestine during this challenging time. However, I felt entirely safe and comfortable during my stay. Hebron is just as safe—if not safer—than most major cities, and one should not have any issues if one takes normal safety precautions and follows the guidance of locals who know the situation here well. Regarding my accommodation, I shared a modest apartment with my other female colleagues close to the center, equipped with a kitchen, nice bathrooms, a balcony, and comfortable beds. If you are coming in the winter, it does get cold, and I highly recommend bringing warm clothes! There are also plenty of lively cafes and shops that make it an enjoyable and pleasant area to reside. I know I will be returning to the center in the future and highly encourage anyone who is curious about experiencing Palestine to join the Excellence Center family. I will cherish these memories forever. Shukran and beshufko, inshallah

My name is Sara, I am 25 years old, and I volunteered at the Excellence Center for three weeks. At home I am a welder, but I have a love for journalism and have been wanting to do work in journalism and human rights. I decided to choose the journalism program to build up some experience and expand my portfolio, while getting to learn about Palestine and see and experience it in person. I also have always wanted to visit the Middle East in general, and learn Arabic, so to me it was a perfect opportunity that ended up being an amazing experience. Your time in the center is based largely on what you set out to do when you come here, with room for change and flexibility. I came to get experience in my chosen field and to learn Arabic, so my days would start off with Arabic lessons, and then afterwards either a trip to a site, a meeting with a journalist/human rights center/local activist, or touring local areas. The center will set up things in regards to your program, however they are open if you have specific things you want to achieve, and will work that into your program. The staff here, and the teachers, are fantastic. I had Arabic lessons with Duha, and just with three weeks at 1-2 hours a day, I am now able to have (fairly simple) conversation in Arabic with Palestinians here in Hebron. In the West Bank there are so many wonderful places to visit. There are site tours with the center in places like Old City Hebron and Al Fawwar Refugee Camp, where you meet and learn from the locals who live in these places about their history, their struggle under Israeli occupation, and their day-to-day life. There are also days off on the weekend to spend as you please, which I spent visiting places such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, Jericho, and a small village called Battir. The people you meet and talk to in these places are all so friendly and happy to have you as a guest, and to tell you their story and their experience as a Palestinian over a nice cup of coffee or tea. With the friendliness and hospitality of the people, the beauty of the land, the unique and ancient culture, I can say that I well and truly love it here and have enjoyed my time living in Hebron. Speaking of living here, there comes the question of safety. As an American, I have been inundated for years with nothing but images of war, hatred, and suffering in the Middle East. My family was terrified for me, because they thought I would be in grave danger just by being here. However, the reality is very different. Hebron is an incredibly safe and friendly city, and Palestine in general is very safe as an international coming to the country. There has never been a time where I felt like I was actually in danger, and the people here do everything they can to make you feel at home and welcome. From being invited into random shops and places for coffee and conversation, talking with strangers on the street as we practiced each others language on each other, there is a culture of hospitality here in Palestine and I have never felt as strong a strong sense of community as I have here. Overall, I have had a truly special time here in Hebron, and in Palestine as a whole. Whether it was packing five of us into a car and driving down to the Dead Sea, meeting a man in Bethlehem who took me to see the mountainside village of Battir, or getting to meet people who do incredible work in activism and journalism, I have made some truly unforgettable memories. I have met so many amazing people and made some great friends, who I will cherish for a long time. I also feel that I have gained a great experience in the program I chose, getting to interview people here, learning about the struggle under Israeli apartheid and documenting the reality of the situation on the ground in real-time, as well as making connections with great journalists who are more than happy to work with and help someone bring their story back home to America. If you want to come to Palestine and experience life here while learning about everything I mentioned, I would highly recommend the Excellence Center in Hebron. I would happily do it again in the future.

Hebron is a city that will forever be imprinted on my heart. I feel grateful beyond measure to for the opportunity to spend four amazing weeks with everyone that I had the pleasure of meeting at the Excellence Center. The staff and volunteers welcome everyone with open and loving arms, truly making you feel like family. All the teachers I've had, Duha, Saja, and Haya, were by far the most impressive. Their level of English was astounding, making the process of learning Arabic so easy. I was speaking Arabic in public after just one week of lessons, which I could have never imagined possible. I hope to come back each year to continue my Arabic studies with them. The various people you meet along this journey, who only radiate genuine love and kindness amidst so much pain and devastation, force you to alter your way of thinking. They remind you of what is truly important in life. They share the tragic details of their lives but always with a resilient spirit. Hearing and reading about Palestine before coming here is one thing, but living and connecting with these people on a personal level is an experience that I will never forget and will treasure forever. Hearing their stories absolutely breaks your heart, but their endless love and kindness remind you to always appreciate the little things in life, just as they do. My heart is and always will be with the Palestinian people.

Volunteering with the Excellence Center in the human rights program was not only very fulfilling, but gave me a lot more insight into the human rights situation in Palestine that cannot be directly observed from a foreigner's lens. The administration is highly knowledgeable about the political and social landscape of Palestine, and were more than willing to share their knowledge with the volunteers. Throughout my time at the center, I took shami arabic lessons every morning to improve my arabic skills. I would then practice what I learned throughout Al Khalil by communicating with the locals. After the arabic lessons, myself and other volunteers would go to significant sights such as the Ibrahimi Mosque, Musafar Yatta, Fawwar refugee camp and Al Quds.

My name is Linda, I’m 19 and I’m from Italy. I study political science and I therefore decided to apply for the Human Rights Internship here at the Excellence Center. I chose to come to Palestine for many different reasons, but mainly because I was attending a class about this geographical region and I wanted to learn about it directly from the field, rather than just from the books. I spent 6 weeks at the center and I had an amazing experience: the staff at the center is super friendly and welcoming and everyone is always ready to help you out whenever you need. I had the chance to live with a local family which taught me so much about the culture and the traditions here and made me immediately feel like I was one of them. With the center I had the opportunity to take Arabic classes with an amazing teacher and to go on several visits: local families that told me about their life under occupation, refugee camps (where I also had the opportunity to teach English to the kids), Israeli settlements, villages around Hebron, local NGO’s and human rights activists, lawyers… The center also provided us with some classes in order to give us an historical background of the occupation and prepare us before the visits. During my time here I also had the opportunity to go on several trips around the West Bank and Israel with some fellow volunteers: I visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Jericho and the Dead Sea, Jaffa, Haifa and Akka. Regarding safety and security in Palestine, there was never a time that I felt unsafe in Hebron or while traveling: Palestinians are the nicest and most welcoming people I have ever met. After spending 6 weeks in Hebron, I can say beyond doubt that I’m going back to my country as a more educated and experienced person. I definitely recommend the center to anyone interested in learning more about Palestine and helping its people: I am already planning on going back next year!

My name is Hibiki Kanda. I have a degree in International Liberal Arts and will be studying for master’s degree in Migration and Development from 25th September. During my stay in the Excellence centre, I was involved in Volunteering with refugees program and I learnt Arabic, visited sites in Hebron, heared local people’s stories and taught in Al Fawwar camp. I found the Arabic lessons a lot of fun. I wish to continue learning it. I found the environment in the centre excellent. Everybody is very kind and so welcoming. You are at home from day 1. During my time I visited, Abraham Mosque, Al Fawwar camp, Old town and Human rights defenders. I also visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Dead Sea and Tel-Aviv during my whole stay in Palestine. I found living in Hebron quite Amazing. It was far safer than I had originally thought. You can walk around alone without any concern during day or in the evening. What I most like about Palestine was the people. The Hospitality was amazing. Meeting the people was my favourite experience. The friendliness of everyone in Hebron was just so good. My lasting impression of Hebron and Palestine is how kind everybody is. Would like to come back to meet everyone again. Overall it was brilliant. Would definitely recommend to my friends.

My name is Fionn McPeake, I am 22 years old, and I am from Ireland. My stay at centre lasted only 10 days, although I wish I could have stayed for longer. I participated in the Human Rights Internship, and it was a fascinating and enriching experience. The program consisted of unforgettable trips, meetings, and discussions in Hebron and beyond, including a tour of the old town and Al Ibrahimi Mosque, and a visit to Al Fawwar refugee camp south of Hebron. Although my stay was short, I was still able to get see the difficulties Palestinian people face everyday as a result of the Israeli occupation. Despite these difficulties, the people here are among the friendliest and most welcoming I have ever come across. They are happy to help you at every turn and go out of their way to make you feel welcome and at home. Safety really is not an issue for visitors, and I felt super comfortable throughout the entire experience. The Centre also presents a wonderful opportunity to learn Arabic. Due to the amazing teaching at the Centre and the immersion experience of living in Hebron, I was able to achieve a good level of understanding of Levantine Arabic in quite a short time. My teacher, Haya, was so helpful and kind, as are all of the other teachers at the Centre. One of the best parts of the experience here was meeting so many lovely, like-minded volunteers/interns during my stay. With the weekend off, you have the opportunity to travel with friends you make to other beautiful places outside of Hebron – for example, I was able to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho (hot), and even swim in the Dead Sea. Throughout the experience I have also had the chance to try a huge range of Palestinian foods which I look forward to trying to replicate at home in Ireland. Overall, my stay in Palestine has been hugely enjoyable and incredibly interesting. I have met so many amazing people and learnt so much in such a short time and I am looking forward to coming back for longer. I highly recommend coming to the centre for anyone who is looking to immerse themselves in the wonderful culture Palestine and its people have to offer.

I had such a beautiful and enriching experience at the Excellence center in Palestine and am already counting down the days until I can return. I learned a lot and formed really valuable connections with the people I met here. I loved my Arabic teacher and she did a really great job of teaching in a way that would most benefit my communication ability during my trip. I’m keeping all of my notes to be able to continue to study Arabic when I return home. Living with a host family was also super beneficial in helping me learn Arabic as I was immersed in the language and was able to hear the things I was taught in class used in a natural setting everyday. There was a great community within the center and I made connections with other teachers and made lifelong friends with the other volunteers I met here. I was able to visit many organizations working towards improving the life of Palestinians in many sectors and build relationships with multiple Palestinian lawyers. As a law student it was very interesting to have lengthy discussions comparing legal proceedings in Palestine and my home country and learning about how the legal system works in Palestine. The best part of my visit was my wonderful host family. They made me feel right at home and included me in all family activities. Everyone here is so welcoming and eager to share their homes and stories. The food is also amazing and I tried so many new dishes that I had never even heard of before arriving. As a solo female traveller I felt safe everywhere I went and was able to travel to other cities in the West Bank with no issues and see many historically and religiously significant sites. I had an extremely positive experience at the Excellence center and would encourage any travellers looking to come to Palestine to enroll in one of the many interesting programs offered here.

My name is Siw. I am a Danish student with a bachelor’s degree in History. At the centre, I am in the human rights program, which I have been doing for four weeks. I did 12 hours of Arabic lessons, which I found extremely helpful. We started learning some introduction phrases and the alphabet, which helped me get by in Palestine. Other than that, my host family were happy to help me learn some new words and phrases. For four weeks, I lived with my Palestinian host family. They invited me to their family members’ graduation party and introduced me to the Palestinian culture, which I am thankful for. During my stay at the centre, I participated in various visits to different sites, such as Masafer Yatta, a Beduin community in the southern West Bank, where we had the opportunity to speak with the inhabitants. I also visited the Hebron Municipality, refugee camps, local Palestinian families etc. The environment of the centre is very down to earth. The staff, teachers, and students are ready to help if a problem arises. Overall I will say that there is a positive atmosphere here at the centre. On the weekends, together with other interns and volunteers, I visited Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jerico. I also had the opportunity to visit Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Safety was an essential question for me in my consideration of coming here. Palestine, I found, is more safe than I first assumed. I did not at any time feel unsafe or insecure, which is also what I like about Hebron. However, what I like most about Palestine is the friendliness of the people I have had the chance to meet during my time here. They have been overwhelmingly helpful and open-minded, and I have been treated as one of their own. Nature is also something I enjoy – the beauty is breathtaking. Even though I have many things that I like about Palestine, all the history embedded in the landscape here is mindblowing and has been something that I have had the chance to explore more in debt. After my internship, my lasting impression of Palestine is how complicated everything is here and how many Palestinian lives, unfortunately, are affected by politics. However, they somehow seem to find strength beneath all the suffering. The environment of the centre is very down to earth. The staff, teachers and students are ready to help if a problem arises. Overall I will say that there is a positive atmosphere here at the centre. My overall experience at the Excellence Center and in Palestine is positive. I have enjoyed my time here and met some amazing people who has been so great in sharing their stories with us. I can wholeheartedly recommend this Excellence Center to others.

I’m from the Netherlands. I did a Bachelor’s degree in law and in Middle Eastern Studies and a Master’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies. I chose to follow the Human Rights Program at the Excellence Center because it combines my interests: Law and the Middle East, especially concerning the situation in Palestine. I wanted to learn more about the humanitarian situation in Palestine. Moreover, I wanted to experience living in Palestine to get an impression of the culture. The program started with several lectures about human rights and the situation in Palestine. The presentations focused on the political situation in Palestine, the laws applicable to Palestine, and the violation of laws. Various teachers delivered the presentations. Given the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, these lectures and presentations prepared me for the trips to human rights organizations that would take place during my internship. I attended a lot of activities that were organized by the Excellence Center. For the Human Rights Program, we went to organizations that work on the topic of human rights for example Human Rights Defenders an organization that organizes campaigns to stop the Israeli occupation. Moreover, we went to Palestinian Artist, Nizreen Al-Azza. She lives in the H2 area (the military-controlled area in Hebron). She told me about her husband, a human rights defender in Hebron before he died following the inhalation of tear gas in a checkpoint in Hebron. The work of human rights lawyers is under pressure due to the Israeli military making it difficult for them to carry out their work. Besides organizations that directly focus on human rights, I also visited organizations that are indirectly involved in human rights. An example is the Ministry of Education, a department of the Palestinian government that focuses on the right to education. We discussed the school system and the importance of focusing on schools next to settlements due to the difficult circumstances to go to school because of checkpoints, and the fear of children passing military soldiers. Moreover, it is hard to find teachers that want to teach in these areas given the challenges of teaching children that grew up in a conflict zone and have experienced traumatic events. Also, most of the teachers do not want to be in these areas. Therefore, the right to education in Palestine is under pressure. The working visits were very helpful to get a better understanding of the situation in Palestine. However, the best way to get a better understanding is by living in the country, speaking with a lot of different people, and hearing their perspectives and experiences. The people in Hebron are very open and willing to talk to foreigners. They are very hospitable and I have been invited to several family dinners. Their hospitality is the thing that I liked most I like to take that home. I have never felt unsafe in Palestine. There are always people on the streets and everyone is willing to help. It is important to understand a little bit of Arabic. The Center organizes 3 hours of Arabic per week you’re at the center. Those lessons helped me to interact with the people on the streets. During the weekends you have time off to travel to other places. I have been to many places such as Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jericho, and the Dead Sea. I really liked the opportunity to visit these places. In short, I really enjoyed my time at the Excellence Center in Hebron. The staff and the teachers are very friendly. I am writing this in my last week and I am sad that I have to leave. It is an experience I will take with me forever.

The Arabic lessons were really fruitful and engaging. My goal was to be able to communicate basic ideas, so learning colloquial Levantine Arabic is most important to me, and this was richly provided during my time here. I am now able to greet, introduce myself, discuss the weather and my day when I meet shopkeepers and taxi drivers. During the few weeks I was here, I did a lot of site visits with other volunteers from various programmes. I went to Fawwar Camp a few times, and I got the chance to speak to community leaders, social workers, and the young children living in the camp. It was very eye-opening, because I previously assumed that refugee camps are filled with tents but Fawwar Camp (like many other Palestinian refugee camps) has buildings created by the refugees themselves.

My time in Palestine was a unique and enjoyable experience. I cannot stress enough how sound and welcoming the Palestinians are. As a part of my internship, I engaged in 3 different programmes – legislative and law, media and journalism and intensive Arabic. The one I enjoyed the most was the intensive Arabic classes. The teachers at the Center are such legends, always ready to help out, very knowledgeable and approachable, but mainly attentive and flexible depending on student’s needs which was much appreciated. The classes are interactive and fun and I was lucky to have both Doha and Haya as my teachers – thank you! As for the legislative and law internship – I would only recommend it unless you’re a law student or those with a particular interest in the field. This internship was informative but as I student of politics, I found it less applicable to my own pursuits. The media and journalism internship was good in a sense that the Center facilitated connections with local journalists and media outlets, therefore I was able to ask all the questions related to journalism, to gain a first-hand experience covering protests and various events and engaged with other journalists covering the current affairs in Palestine. Overall, the Excellence Center organised many interesting trips to local businesses and organizations and made sure that all the students felt welcome and comfortable during their stay. There is everyday breakfast at the Center, you have a full access to kitchen where you can cook or you can bring your own lunch while hanging out with other students. Usually once a week we got together for dinner to enjoy the real home-cooked taste of Palestine! I really enjoyed my time in Palestine and I'll surely be back, thank you!! :)

My name is Lucy and I am from the United States. I have a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and GIS and I participated in the General Internship program at the Excellence Center for three months. I began my time at the Excellence Center with a month of intensive Arabic classes, then began visiting local businesses and organizations and teaching English at the Center and in the villages surrounding Hebron. I had an outstanding Arabic teacher for my classes, and found that class time was spent productively. Because of this, as well as my engagement with the Khalili community, I made significant progress in learning the language. The environment at the Center is warm and welcoming. Although in summer it became a bit hectic with the amount of international volunteers in attendance, the staff and teachers never failed in making me feel comfortable. The same goes for my host family. They made sure I was always provided for and never hungry. Although I lived a bit far from the Center, the family graciously provided daily transportation. In my free time, I was also able to visit many places outside of Hebron, such as Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jericho, and Nablus. My experiences in all these places were great, transportation to and from was fairly simple and well-priced, and I always felt safe… but to be honest, I was always happy to return to Hebron. The best part of Palestine is the hospitality and genuine kindness of the people. Despite the obvious and less-than-ideal circumstances of the occupation, I have yet to meet a Palestinian who isn’t welcoming, honest, strong-willed and incredibly good-hearted. This is certainly the impression of Palestine I will take with me back home. I would definitely recommend spending time in Palestine, especially in al-Khalil, if you have the chance!

I stayed at the center for 1 month through their journalism and media program. The center gave me all the basic connections to be able to hit the ground running and spend my short time in palestine following my passion and exploring the realities of the occupation. If you want to discover the truth in palestine, this program will provide you with a variety of resources to get to work! Although the struggles of Palestinians in Al-Khalil and the west bank are a realilty witnessed daily, never did I feel unsafe in my surroundings. If you come here for a with good intentions and with respect, that will be what you will recieve. Palestinians have been the nicest and most hospitable people I have had the good fortune to meet and I'm thankful for the experiences we've shared.

My name is Sarah Anderson. I am currently finishing my bachelors degree in International and Global Studies at the Univeristy of Central Florida. This summer I decided to do a human rights internship in Hebron, Palestine with the Excellence Center. It has truly been a wonderful immersive and expansive experience. We did activities such as visiting the old city & important religious sites such as the Ibrahimi Mosque, visiting the refugee camps, & speaking with local educators, business owners and artists in the city of Hebron. My Arabic lessons were very helpful and my teacher was very patient, I learned a lot, in the time that I was here. During my trip I decided to stay with a Palestinian host family. They were so sweet and kind. They showed me around the city. We also took a trip to Bethlehem. I felt right at home with my host family. Before coming to Palestine I was very concerned about my safety, however after living here for a month those preconceived notions no longer exist. I felt extremely safe walking throughout Hebron during the day and at night. It’s one thing to the read and hear about Palestine but another to actually experience it. From the history, to the people, to the land, weather and the food… I loved it all. Palestine is truly a beautiful country filled with an immense amount of life, beauty, strength, and courage. This experience will live in my heart forever and I intend to return to Palestine. I highly recommend anyone who desires to experience & learn more about Palestine to join the Excellence Center.

I recently had the privilege of embarking on a one-month internship at the Excellence Centre in Palestine, and I cannot emphasize enough how profoundly positive and enriching this experience was for me. From the moment I arrived, I was embraced by a warm and supportive community, and every aspect of my internship surpassed my expectations. First and foremost, my time at the Excellence Centre helped me get my Palestinian Colloquial Arabic to a much higher. The highly qualified instructors at the centre and especially professor Rasha demonstrated an exceptional commitment to teaching, making every class engaging, interactive, and tailored to my individual learning needs. Her expertise, combined with their genuine passion for sharing the Arabic language motivated and inspired me to push my language skills to new heights. Secondly, as part of the program, I was honoured to join the centre and other participants on excursions to several human rights groups and refugee camps where we learned much about the difficulties Palestinians face. The Excellence Centre's dedication to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment was evident in every interaction. The staff members were not only highly knowledgeable and skilled professionals but also caring and compassionate individuals. They went above and beyond to ensure that my stay was comfortable, offering guidance, support, and a genuine sense of friendship that made me feel like part of their extended family. In summary, my one-month internship at the Excellence Centre in Palestine was an extraordinary experience that exceeded all expectations. It provided me with a comprehensive linguistic education, invaluable teaching opportunities, and eye-opening encounters with human rights groups. The supportive and caring atmosphere, along with the warmth and hospitality of the staff, made me feel like part of a close-knit community. I leave with a transformed perspective, cherished memories, and lifelong connections. Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend the Excellence Centre to anyone seeking an unforgettable and impactful internship experience and will definitely coming back as soon as possible.

The excellence center provided great insight on the lives of Palestinians through guided tours around homes, villages, and holy sites. I was also provided with thorough and comprehensive arabic lessons each day for my first week here which really helped me navigate and communicate with my colleagues, host family, and locals. The envrionment was super welcoming, warm, friendly and it felt like I was at home. I loved my host family so much. They felt like a second family. Hospitality was outstanding and I felt safe at all times.

My name is Leiko and I'm from Japan. I did the program teaching English and learning Arabic at the Excellence Center for one month. I joined this program during my summer vacation of master's study. At excellence center, besides Arabic lesson, I usually joined English club. There are two types of English club: for beginner and for advanced person. The center offers two days and three days a week respectively and while giving students informal English lesson with other volunteers, I could learn how to teach English effectively with fun. I also joined informal English lesson at Al-Arroud refugee camp. Al-Arroud refugee camp located between Hebron and Bethlehem. At the camp, I taught English with other volunteer twice a week to about 50 students at a local community centre, replacing a school that had closed due to a strike. As part of my learning Arabic, I took Arabic lessons three hours a week, and my class had usually two people, so it was based on our level and curiosity which was very helpful. All teachers in here are so nice and kind, they teach and talk to participants during and outside of the class. The environment is very good in terms of people, opportunities, and location. Not only the people at the centre, but also the people of Hebron are very kind and welcoming. They help all the time, and they treat us as one part of their family. The location of center was also nice which is in a main street and the street has plenty of place to eat, cafes, stationaries, supermarkets, ATM, and so on. The center offers us many short trips. I visited old city and went to historical mosque called Al-Ibrahimi Mosque, traditional Kufiya factory, and glass factory. Also, with other volunteers in the center, I’ve visited other cities in Palestine like Jericho and went to Dead Sea and Red Sea. Host family which center arranged to us were also very nice. I live in a house 15 minutes’ walk from center which was nice location and host families and neighbors were so kind. They sometimes offer me traditional food and they showed me their job place and shared me with Arabic culture. Before I came here, I was a little scary of safety because of many terrible news and severe political situation. However, Hebron is quite safe and peaceful town and there was no problem even I walked alone after 21 or 22 o’clock. During one month in Hebron, I’ve never felt fear or heard threaten situation from other volunteers as well. The hospitality of the Palestinian people is what we like most about Palestine. They often approached us on the street, and at small local shops they served us tea and coffee and told us many stories. It is a precious memory that not only on the street, but they invited us straight to their houses and served us food and tea. My experience at the Excellence Centre made me realise how important it is to examine the current state of education in Palestine and the extent to which what is reported in the news is presenting the current situation. I highly recommend visiting the excellence centre, as there are many things you can't understand unless you are there.

I came to Hebron from Turkey to do the Human Rights Intenship Program. During my time here, I got to get a sense of the life in Palestine. I met with Palestinian famiies living in the town or the villages, had interviews with professionals such as lawyers and teachers, and did field trips to see significant places for the city. I also learned Arabic to a level that I can form dialgoues now. The staff, including my Arabic teachers, were super nice, and helped me have a smooth and productive time. Because I had some free time during the week, I visited Bethlehem, Jericho, and the Dead Sea, which were not only beuatiful places to visit, but also helpful to get a better idea of how life in Palestine actually is. In addition, my host family was very nice, and helped me improve my Arabic a lot.