The Excellence Center in Palestine

I spent nine weeks at the Excellence Center learning colloquial Arabic. I enjoyed the classes a lot and My teacher Duha was very supportive. There was a great mix of content and activities and I improved a lot in the time I was there. Marwa and Osama do an outstanding job of running the center as well. They were always there when I needed anything, and I had a great time joining in on cooking classes, field trips, Iftar dinners during Ramadan, and Eid celebrations. Hebron is a very safe place to visit as well, so if you're concerned at all about this, don't be!

I am an autistic adult from the U.S. In order to prepare for an upcoming trip to Palestine, I decided to start studying Palestinian/Levantine Arabic. Since I'll be volunteering through the Excellence Center, I wanted to start my lessons through them. The application process was easy and fast, and I was connected with my wonderful teacher, Duha. I was anxious to try learning a new language as an adult, especially being autistic and having difficulties with processing and communication, but Duha immediately made me feel welcome and comfortable and confident. She's kind, patient, and encouraging. I wasn't sure how learning via video call would work, but it's been easy and Duha also sends along extra materials for studying in between lessons. I can't wait to continue my lessons before, during, and after my trip to Palestine.

The Arabic online program is fantastic for distance learners. I have been working with Lana for several months and have learned so much. People at the excellence center are true professionals and are dedicated to teaching the language. I am grateful for having started this program. It took my Arabic speaking and comprehension to another level!

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!

If you are considering traveling to Palestine I can not recommend signing up with the Excellence Center enough. Being from Ireland and seeing many similarities between Irish history and current events in Palestine had been thinking about ways to travel and engage with people from Palestine for some time. While I had researched many different ways and different programs once I contacted the Excellence Center I felt very much at ease. Before confirming any travel plans I had a long Zoom call with Rafat who put many of my concerns to rest with advice on traveling to Palestine, the programs they offered, and the accommodation I would have for the duration of my program. I signed up for Media and Journalism as it is an area that I hope to expand on in the future. During my 10 days in Hebron, I was introduced to different journalists, was taken to refugee camps, given walking tours of the Old City, and got to visit different Mosques in the city. I'm embarrassed to say that as an Irish person, I've been trying to relearn the Irish language on Duolingo for the past year with very little success but after just four Arabic lessons while at the center I have already learned the basics of this beautiful language. Fridays and Saturdays are “days off” in Palestine so it gave me a chance to also travel to other cities such as Ramallah and Neblus with other volunteers at the center giving us an insight into different areas and also how the occupation makes traveling around so difficult for no reason other than to be an inconvenience and intimidation for the people of Palestine. The biggest takeaway I leave Palestine with is just how amazing the people of not just the center but of all Palestinians I was lucky enough to meet while there. The other volunteers and the staff at the center gave me a sense of family more than just a school/program. We were invited into people's homes for dinners, and introduced to their families, and seeing just how positive these people remain despite living under occupation was something that will stay with me for life. Thank you to Osama, Jomanna, and all the staff and volunteers for making this an experience that I will never forget. Read Less What is your advice to future travelers on this program? I can understand why you would be nervous to travel to Palestine but you will not regret com

My name is Alex and I am British. I am 38 and worked as a lawyer doing human rights for ten years before taking a career break. I spent two months doing an intensive Arabic course (four hours a day) at the Excellence Center. The Arabic classes were brilliant. My teacher, Saja, was brilliant! I was a complete beginner and the amount of material we covered in two months was incredible. I will spend at least six months after this just going over what I have learned already to consolidate! I learned so much and I have gained confidence in reading, writing and speaking. Saja was very kind, patient, and knowledgeable. And I think she also knows more about the English language than I do! She was able to pitch her teaching to my level and was very encouraging. I couldn’t have asked for better quality teaching. In winter there are fewer students at the center compared to summer, and so most of the time my classes were 1:1. I was not expecting so much individual attention. I think being here is the best way to learn Arabic as you have the opportunity to practice all the time. In addition to my Arabic classes every day, I was regularly invited to join other volunteers for trips around Hebron, for example to see the Old City and meet with local activists. It was very educational. I learned all about life in the city for Palestinians, what it is like to live under occupation, and how people find ways to live and enjoy their lives as much as possible, despite the limitations imposed. We visited the parts of the city that are controlled by the Israeli army, and I was invited into a number of family homes for dinner. I witnessed a lot of resilience and resistance by Palestinians in Hebron, which was very inspiring. At weekends, on Fridays and Saturdays, I went on trips to visit other parts of the West Bank, such as Bethlehem, Ramallah, the Dead Sea, and Nablus. People cannot move freely in the West Bank due to the military control imposed by Israel. I experienced just a small piece of this - long delays at checkpoints as soldiers check cars and interrogate drivers, closed checkpoints, and as a result lots of traffic jams. I had the opportunity to see quite a lot whilst I was here, but you cannot make plans in the same way that you can in a country with freedom of movement. You have to be flexible depending on the situation and the day. The environment at the center is really positive. It is like a big family. The staff are all welcoming and kind, and it is interesting to meet the other internationals who come to Hebron from all around the world. Every morning you eat breakfast together and there is a lot of tea and coffee all day! It is a social place and I have made deep and lasting friendships. Whenever I am in Palestine (and I definitely want to come back!) I will come back to Hebron to visit and learn more Arabic. I arrived in Hebron just before the ceasefire deal was made in Gaza. There was an escalation in military incursions by Israel into the West Bank following this, particularly in the North of the West Bank. There were incidents in the South too - for example raids by soldiers in refugee camps in the South and shootings. Although I always personally felt safe as an international, I will be honest and say it is not easy to witness what is happening in the West Bank. I am fortunate and privileged to be born in a country that is at peace and I have not experienced the instability of living in a country where the situation can change rapidly. I would encourage people to come to the West Bank and experience this because you will develop your empathy and understanding of what life is like for Palestinians here. It is extremely unlikely that something will happen to an international in the West Bank, because we are much safer than anyone else, but I would say you need to have psychological resilience to do this. Witnessing such intense oppression is emotionally and psychologically challenging. And it is important to be challenged sometimes. The learning curve is high and I will be processing what I have learned for a long time. I have absolutely no regrets about going, and I am committed to returning and doing what I can for Palestinians’ freedom. There have also been many beautiful experiences being in Palestine. Everyone talks about the hospitality culture for a good reason! Palestinians are so kind, so generous, and so friendly. I have been fed so much food! The food is incredibly delicious and you feel the warmth of the people’s generosity. When you walk down the street in Hebron, people come up and talk to you all the time and ask you where you are from, wanting to talk and make friends with you. I have been so moved by the warmth of the culture in Hebron. This is the reason I feel so strongly about doing whatever is in my power to be a good friend and ally to Palestine. The faith, beauty, and kindness of the Palestinians is truly inspiring.

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

I have been taking online Palestinian Arabic classes for almost a year. After trying different venues, I have to say that my classes with Saja via the Excellence Center have been the best fit. She is a warm encouraging teacher who is patient and helpful. I have learned a lot and am planning to travel to Hebron this year to continue my studies at the Center. I highly recommend Arabic lessons with the Excellence Center!

I’m Emma from Scotland and I chose a one-week short-term course with the refugee program. It was all very last minute with me, less than a week before actually coming to the Centre, there are a few other Centres I had contacted, but I found this one to be the most responsive. I did a few Arabic lessons which were great as I’ve been to many Arabic-speaking countries before, but I wish I had longer to learn more as the experience was positive and the first time learning a new language in many years! I liked that we had something different activity-wise every day, whether it be getting a tour of the old city, going to the glass / ceramic factory or the Keffyiah factory among other things, as well as what was most important for me, was to visit the refugee camp, which was a truly humbling heartwarming and heartbreaking experience.. we basically went everywhere tourist wise that there is in Hebron and always got a good explanation from Osama. The staff was amazing and it all seemed like we were all just one big family all in it together, we would cook dinner together some evenings and breakfast was always at 10 am with the staff and the other volunteers. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere and everyone is very easygoing time-wise, it’s not a strict schedule and everyone is extremely flexible. The evenings were spent with other volunteers where we would head out for some tea and shisha and play cards or just chat and chill. I chose to stay with a host family which was really wonderful to just see how people live and go about day-to-day life here. I had only been in Jerusalem for a few days before I came here, so still have a lot to explore and hope to come back here again as it’s one of my more memorable travel experiences, especially with the warmth and kindness and if course hospitality of the Palestinian people. It certainly opened my eyes to the struggles they go through now and have been going through for many years. I taught conversational English to a young guy who just wanted to practice his English before applying for his USA visa to be a camp counselor, I have no teaching experience, but it really didn’t matter as he just wanted to talk and have me correct him on any mistakes. I really enjoyed that part, being able to help someone like this. I came in February and the weather was very cold which I didn’t really expect, so bring warm clothes if coming in winter! I just loved everything from the food, the people, just the whole vibe of the place. Everyone would say hi just walking down the street. I went out walking around alone a lot of the time and never once felt unsafe. I feel very passionate about Palestine and its people and hope to return again soon! I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to get into the culture and have a better understanding of what’s going on and how people actually live here. A time in my life I will never forget! Thanks to everyone who made this all possible and hope to be back soon!

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.

I cannot recommend the Excellence Centre enough for learning Arabic. I have been taking classes with Saja for a year and it has been an amazing experience. The classes are interactive, informal and great fun. It's been a great learning experience and I feel I have made great progress over the past year!

I highly recommend The Excellent Centre for learning Arabic. I have been studying with Ibrahim for half a year, and I am really enjoying the lessons. Every lesson is carefully planned based on my level and learning goals. I feel that I am seeing a lot of improvement and am grateful for Ibrahim’s strong and supportive instruction. He is a great teacher.

Lana is an amazing teacher. She is knowledgable in all the grammatical nuances and structures of the language, as well as the everyday language of locals in Palestine. As a Palestinian who grew up in North America without learning Arabic, I had a lot of fear and guilt about not being fluent in my mother tongue, and Lana has made me feel so comfortable and confident in learning. She insists that I speak up and ask questions about what's not clear so that I can really learn and correct my mistakes. A great experience that I'd recommend to anyone wanting to learn how to communicate with Palestinians in our native language.

The program so far has been fantastic. I have started as a complete beginner and i have been very lucky to also have a wonderful professor both as a person and as a teacher. I would recommend this program anytime all the time!

I have been taking on-line classes in Colloquial Arabic for about a year and a half now. My teacher is Haya Maswadi and she is really the best possible tutor. Starting as an absolute beginner, I have now learned the alphabet so that I can read and write simple sentences and messages. Learning Arabic this way has been an amazing adventure, and with the help and support of Haya I have made progress far beyond my expectations! My most heartfelt thanks to Haya and the Center!

I cannot reccommend Haya’s teaching highly enough. She is an amazing teacher, very patient and knowledgeable, and each class she delivered was effective and relevant to my learning goals. She is very supportive and her teaching style genuinely motivates you to study. I learned so much more than I ever expected to be capable of. I can’t wait to return to her classes in the future.

I enrolled in the Palestinian Arabic class and it was the best decision I made during my Arabic learning journey so far! My teacher Doha is very experienced and professional, she creates a challenging and engaging learning atmosphere. The price is more than fair for the quality of teaching received - including all the materials. The administrative staff was also very supported and took time to answer all my questions. All in all, I can only recommend this course to anyone interested in starting to learn or wanting to improve their Arabic skills!

The excellence center has incredible teachers and courses that teach a wide variety of topics. I highly recommend in person volunteering/interning they provide invaluable educational experiences. They assist in everything from questions about travel and accommodations, to daily trips and cultural experiences.

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.

If you have fears or worries or concerns; trust me, I know, that was me. But my positive experience with the center began before I arrived- the staff at the center were always responsive and understanding of the questions I had via WhatsApp and it was reassuring to go over everything with them before I even arrived. Their flexibility and willingness to accommodate was a sign of things to come and a reoccurring theme of my experience in Hebron. With regards to the center itself and your daily routine, its always fun. There is something new to do everyday and if something strikes your fancy, those at the center are always willing to try and fit it in. The Arabic lessons themselves were great, and again, always flexible. You know how you learn and should have input in your own teaching, and the Arabic teachers are here are always responsive to that. Want to focus on grammar? No problem. Maybe you're more interested in particular vocab? No stress. I even got sick at one point and we moved my lessons around. If you're interested in visiting Palestine and the center, do it. You won't regret it.

My name is Genevieve and I'm a Physics PhD student from the United States. I came to the Excellence Center for one month to teach English and learn Arabic, but my experience encompasses so much more than that. I got to see the Old City of Hebron, witness discrimination against Palestinians by Israeli guards, and speak with people who endured physical violence perpetrated by the settlers and soldiers. The Excellence Center helped arrange for me to visit Ibrahimi Mosque, the glass factory, and the kuffiyeh factory. I also got to visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Masafer Yatta. Everyone at the center was so warm and welcoming. We were served breakfast every day and often also enjoyed dinner with our hosts. Even the students I taught were welcoming. They sometimes gave me chocolates and were always so engaged and excited to learn. The apartment I lived in was comfortable and very close to the center. I never felt scared, even when walking alone at night as a woman. The locals always seem happy to chat with foreigners and give directions or recommendations. The local cuisine is also amazing and I'm excited to try making some of the new foods I tried here, like maqluba and sahlab. One of the most valuable parts of my experience here was getting to see the settler areas in Hebron and Masafer Yatta. Seeing the stark differences in infrastructure and quality of life between the Palestinian and settler areas was eye opening. Even though I'm sad to leave, I'm excited to be able to use my experience to educate others about what is actually happening in the West Bank. Since I'm from the luscious green pacific northwest in the US, I'm also very happy that I got to experience the natural landscape in Palestine. One of my students was kind enough to take me hiking and exploring a cave. I'm grateful that I got to have such a well rounded experience by meeting people of all ages, including students, working adults, journalists, and local human rights activists, hearing first-hand accounts of settler violence, and seeing different parts of the city including some nature. I will always remember the kind people I met here and their experiences with the occupation. My Arabic teacher Haya was extremely patient with me. I learned more Arabic from her in one month than i did in three months in America. My hosts Osama and Marwa were always kind and inviting despite having their hands full with four beautiful children. Even before I left, I was already trying to plan my next trip to visit Palestine again. The Excellence Center truly provides a unique life-changing experience and I'm so thankful to everyone I met here who welcomed me with open arms and helped me understand the local situation. I can't wait to come back and in the meantime I hope I can use my experience to support the Palestinian cause.

Over the past three years I have been trying and switching learning methods regularly. It gave me a basic vocabulary, but when I tried to speak my mind freezed. My teacher Duha helped me to overcome that obstacle. I noticed that she really made an effort to 'read' me. To try and find out which pace, variation and challenges work for me. The frustration I often felt when learning Arabic disappeared because I became confident I was making progress. I hope to continue soon, this time in Hebron.

I’ve taken standard Arabic classes before but wanted to focus on being able to speak better and specifically in the Palestinian dialect to understand the older generation of my family. Saja was my teacher and she helped me feel more confident in speaking even if I made mistakes. She helped me with grammar and vocabulary and using dialect instead of the standard which is more helpful to communicate with others. I’ve noticed I can understand more when people talk to me and I can form sentences better. I took the basic 10 class course and I really enjoyed it and looked forward to my classes if anything I wish I had taken more classes and that they were a little longer. Saja was always helpful, kind, and supportive of my journey and always made sure to ask if I understood or needed anything to help me succeed.

I have been reading at an intermediate level in Arabic for many years. It was mostly an internal process, my lips moving but making no sounds. If you are familiar with the stories of Juha, I often felt Juha-like; mumbling and rambling through the printed word expecting some comprehensible sounds to come out. Most of the times none ever did. Then, one time glancing through the internet reading Juha-like, I came across these courses at GoAbroad. Deciding I could do no worse than I have been doing for up-tine years, I took the Palestinian dialect course. From the first session presented by the outstanding teacher, Duha Amro, my crippled lips began to emit actual words under her supervision. Each subsequent lesson the tension lessened and I was able to fumble along more gracefully. Teach Duha was and still is compassionate and understanding. She never winched or quivered as I butchers the sweetest sounding words in Arabic; rather she prompt me to try again and again. Through her continual positive re-enforcement, I have shed the Juha feeling. In the years to come through her guidance I hope to acquire the passion of Nizar Qabbani and the eloquence of Sahar Khalifeh. I strongly recommend these course to anyone wishing to immerse themselves and arise changed and newly vocal.

I had online lessons with Saja. We initially discussed all my requirements and she fully understood what I was trying to achieve.I was looking for basic day to day conversation Saja subsequently implemented what we had discussed and put in place a well structured series of lessons tailored to my needs and objectives and I was able to achieve my objectives fairly quickly Saja was fun to work with and made learning enjoyable.Highly recommended. Am looking forward to my visit in person next year,

I started my Arabic lessons as a complete beginner but after 10 hours with Saja I can read and write in Arabic and hold basic conversations. She is very helpful and knows how to encourage her students to keep going and not give up. 10/10 experience for me.

I have been taking on-line lessons with Doha Amro for a couple of months. Since I was an absolute beginner, we started with the alphabet. Doha did a great job of introducing and drilling the forms of the letters. She also has presented basic Levantine vocabulary and grammar. And I had the chance to practice what I learned not only with Doha, but also with several of her relatives who made guest appearances during our lessons. I have enjoyed my classes, and I look forward to continuing the study of Arabic.

I have been taking online (Levantine) Arabic classes for the past few months, and it has been amazing! I was concerned at first about how well I would learn a new language in a virtual environment, but it's been great so far. The best part of the online classes is my teacher, she is kind, patient, and her style of teaching makes the lessons easy to understand for a native English speaker with zero prior Arabic language experience. Also, I am based in the US and most language classes here cost at least three times as much as the classes at the Excellence Center and don't offer 1-on-1 instruction. I plan to continue taking online classes with the Excellence Center for the foreseeable future and hope to visit the Center in Palestine!

I recently completed the 10 online Arabic classes focusing on the Shami dialect at the Excellence Center, and my experience has been nothing short of extraordinary. As a remote student, I was initially hesitant about the effectiveness of virtual learning, but Saja, my brilliant instructor, completely changed my perspective. Saja's teaching style is a perfect blend of brilliance and patience. She not only provided thorough explanations of the deeper meanings behind phrases but also delved into the cultural context, enriching my understanding of words. Despite the virtual setting, Saja went above and beyond, repeating sentences and offering invaluable guidance on pronunciation during our Zoom calls. She has an intuitive understanding of how much information is enough to push students just a little bit further each class. This personalized approach made every session engaging and productive, leaving me eager to explore more on my own and to practice before the next session. In conclusion, my time with Saja in the virtual space at the Excellence Center has not only enhanced my Arabic language skills but has also sparked a genuine eagerness to visit the center in person. I highly recommend the Excellence Center in Palestine to anyone seeking a transformative and culturally enriching language learning journey.

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.

My name is Gina and I participated in the teaching English program. I stayed for over 2 months with a host family who were incredibly welcoming and made me feel at ease being a new place. At the centre I had Arabic lessons which really helped me to be able to communicate in the city and beyond, by the end of my stay I definitely had an understanding of the basics. I taught intermediate English to a group of young students over the summer and I think this was my favourite experience, I learnt a lot about Palestine through them. The Excellence Centre also organised many visits to areas of Palestine I wouldn’t have seen if travelling on my own. We had opportunities to meet many different types of people and listen to their stories. The tours around the old town of Hebron and surrounding areas were really interesting and I really value the shared experiences I had. It was wonderful to meet so many people from all over the world within the centre, there really was a varied group of volunteers, so a real cultural exchange. I made friends and we managed to travel around the country to Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Jericho and Jenin. The people of Palestine are incredibly kind and welcoming and there is a real sense of community here. I am sad to be leaving and would love to return soon so I can see the friends I made here. Thankyou to the Excellence Centre for giving me an experience to remember for a lifetime.

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.

My name is Dylan, and I am from the United States. I graduated the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors in Middle Eastern studies, and a minor in Political Science. I participated in the volunteer sports, and teaching English program at the Excellence Center. At the Excellence Center I participated in a wide array of activities including: Arabic classes, field trips, and English instruction for local youth. The Arabic classes I participated in were colloquial Levantine Arabic. My teacher, Doha, was very informative, and she moved the class at a good pace. This allowed us to make the most out of each session. All the teachers & staff at the center are incredibly welcoming and ensure you're comfortable. In addition, fellow participants are like minded and friendly, which creates a great environment to be apart of. As for field trips, the first one I went on was a walking town of Old Hebronted by Osama. This was a great way to learn the history of the city, and to get in touch with my surroundings. The second trip, we took a shuttle to two different Bedouin Villages to say it was eye opening is an understatement. The power of hearing the people first-hand is an unforgettable experience. My third trip was through the H2 side of Hebron where we met with a local woman who has suffered tragically from the occupation, and later in the day we spoke with a humanitarian organization to hear what actions they are taking to help the people of Hebron. Living in Hebron has been a wonderful experience. Out of everywhere I have traveled the people here are by far the most welcoming. They will ask you in for tea or coffee after only speaking with you for five minutes on the street. Safety has never been a concern here. All the people of Hebron do their best to assist you if you're looking lost, and I have never been taken advantage of. My most memorable experience while living in Hebron was walking down in Old Hebron with a soccer ball and playing with all the kids as I made my way down the street. We may not have been able to conversate past simple greetings, but the enjoyment we shared through the sport was heart-warming. I’ve certainly enjoyed my time here at the Excellence Center. The amount I’ve learned not only in Arabic, but about life in Palestine is vast in the short two weeks I’ve been here. I hope more people can experience life in Hebron, and hear the Palestinian’s people’s stories.

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.

My Name is Dayton. I have a Bachelors in Economics and I participated in the Media and Journalism internship at the Excellence Center in Palestine. During my time at the Excellence center I toured the city of Hebron. I was able to see many important place in the city as well as meet many members of media, the chamber of Commerce, the Municipal government, Law and activists. I also hade the opportunity to volunteer in English langue classes held at the center for Palestinian youth and take Arabic classes myself. My Arabic classes were rigorous, engaging and a lot of fun! My listening and reading comprehension greatly improved during my time at the center. I also developed the rudiments of conversation skills that I hope to build upon in the future. The Center is a very warm and inviting environment. I was able to meet volunteers from around the world as well as well as many Palestinians from the community of Hebron. People were full of advice about how to make the most of my internship and how best to navigate the West Bank and Hebron. During my stay, I participated in every site visit that was made available to me. I visited the Ibrahim Mosque, a Russian Orthodox Church, a Kafiyeh Factory, a School for the Blind, A radio station, a TV station, the Old City and to H2. I was also able to visit other cities in the West Bank such as Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jericho and Nablus. Living in Hebron was a very pleasant experience. The People are very curious, friendly and generous. People off the street would invite my to have dinner with them or just to strike up a conversation. I never worried about feeling unsafe. If ever crossed the street it was because I didn't want to accept a gift of coffee or some sweets! I most enjoyed and respected the resilient spirit of the Palestinian people and that despite the daily reality of the Occupation; very person that I met was positive about their future. My Favorite experience in the West Bank was all of it! I was able to learn so much not just about Arabic or Palestinian history but about world history. MY time in the West Bank and in Hebron has left a lasting impression that will affect where I travel and how I live for some time. I would recommend the Excellence center to anyone that wanted to learn more or who wanted an exciting experience.

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.

I wanted to take a moment and thank you and the Excellence Center for a wonderful experience here in Hebron. 11 months ago, my friend and I decided to take Arabic together at our local community college. We enjoyed it so much we decided to look for a study abroad program. After looking at a few programs recommended by the college, my friend found your program and I’m glad he did. We compared it to the others that were available and reached out to get more information. We were kindly greeted; all our questions were answered, and we decided the Excellence Center was where we wanted to do our study abroad. When many people found out I was coming for a study abroad program in Palestine, they expressed concern and warned me about how they thought things were here in Palestine, but I quickly told them I would be fine and not to worry about me. After arriving here, I found I was completely right! The Palestinian people are some of the most friendly people I have ever met. Total strangers will see you looking for something and they will stop and ask you if you need help; everyone you talk to is your friend. I have never felt worried for my safety in Palestine. My first day I took an assessment of my language skills and was placed in a class with a wonderful teacher. She really helped me increase my reading, writing, and speaking skills. Other teachers were really friendly as well and were always willing to help students learn, and answer any questions we had. Not only was the language training excellent, but the cultural visits organized by the center were great as well. My first visit was meeting with an Israeli ex-soldier from an organization called Breaking the Silence. The organization is mainly comprised of former soldiers who saw the mistreatment of the Palestinian people and are educating others on what is really going on. He took us to the Israeli side of Hebron near the Ibrahimi Mosque. He explained about the Israeli settlements and how they are slowly encroaching on Palestinian lands, forcing the people out of their homes and businesses. My second trip was to a Palestinian refugee camp where we met with some of the refugees and they told us their stories of being forced off their land and about the restrictions put in place on them. We were given a tour of the camp, and it was sad to see the conditions there. It really opened my eyes to things I did not know were occurring. My third trip was a beautiful hike through a small valley just north of the city. We saw historical sites there and enjoyed the scenery. We even went in a cave! Afterwards we drove up a mountain and had dinner overlooking the beautiful city of Bayt Ula. It was a very nice experience. I do not regret doing my study abroad here and have grown to love the city and the people. My one regret is that I was unable to stay longer. It saddens me that it is time to return home already.

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.

I studied arabic in Hebron with the Excellence Center for 2 weeks. I took the intesive arabic class, where I had class three hours a day. It was a great experience to take intensive arabic classes while being immersed in the language. I am a beginner arabic learner, and my two weeks of class gave me confidence in speaking and inspired me to continue my arabic studies. Everyone who worked at the center, the other students, and my host family were all incredibly welcoming and friendly and made me feel at home. I came her alone and it was easy to meet people. While staying in Hebron, I traveled with other students to Tel Aviv and Bethlehem on the weekend. I would definitely recommend this program for anyone interested in Palestine and the arabic language.

My name is Jason. I live in the United States, studied as an undergraduate in religion and my graduate degree is in rabbinics. These past four weeks I have been participating in the super-intensive Arabic program here in Al-Khalil. From the time I applied for the program, I was welcomed warmly into the Excellence Center family. Planning my time here was easy and smooth, as were the directions for how to arrive at the Center in the Eyn Sara neighborhood of Hebron. When I arrived over three weeks ago, I was greeted effusively by fellow students; clearly the Center sets a culture of welcome and kindness for its student that is paradigmatic of the Palestinian culture of hospitality I have experienced in the past, but have experienced deeply and consistently these past few weeks. My Arabic lessons were—as the program is called—super-intensive. My teacher, Duha, did a great job balancing between her lesson plans and the questions that my classmate and I had. Classes include grammar, speaking and listening, vocabulary, and writing exercises. The Environment of the Center is very positive and kind, a home away from home for those of us from abroad studying there and, it seems, for local Palestinian students who take part in the Center’s programs as well. Most of my fellow students have been doing significant volunteer work, internships, or research, and it was clear that the administration of the Center has made wonderful connections to people in the larger community in Al Khalil and beyond. Some of the wonderful experiences we had as a group were learning how to make stuffed grape leaves at the peak of the grape leaves season, being hosted by a large local family, who welcomed the entire foreign student body into their home for dinner, and seeing the old city and the Tomb of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque with local high schoolers as our guides. While I was here, I also traveled to Bethlehem and to Ramallah. While I had been to Bethlehem a few times before, this was my first time in Ramallah, and it was interesting and powerful to tour and compare the museums in each city. Some people ask about safety here in Hebron. Long before I arrived, I had a sense that I was being hosted by people who cared deeply about the safety of every student and volunteer, and wanted to make sure I was always making good choices to be as safe as possible. Walking around the city at various hours has been quite comfortable for me and part of the pleasure of living here has been the walk to and from our apartment, greeting and being greeted by various shopkeepers, kids in the neighborhood, and enjoying the sights and smells of street food—from pastries in the morning to corn at night. I suppose when I think about different places I have lived over the years, this feels like one of the safest. During this past month, I have spent most of my time in the City of Hebron and other cities, but the last time I was here, I enjoyed some time on the Palestinian heritage trail, which I recommend highly. My time here now is has been in the season of spring turning to summer, and while you can feel the intensity of the sun during much of the day, I have enjoyed noticing the contrast between the warmth of the day and the cooler nights, often with their gentle winds. The Palestinian hospitality I imagined before I arrived has been met and surpassed at every turn, from people taking an interest in me to cafes encouraging fellow students and I to park ourselves at a table, drink a frozen passion fruit drink or mint lemonade, and study (or relax) for hours. I am already sad that my time here is coming to an end soon and I hope to return as a volunteer and, with the help of the Excellence Center, inshallah, find ways to help support and strengthen Palestinian society.

We visited the old town of AlKhalil with our best man who explained everything about the actual situation. My arabic lessons were very nice and funny as well with my teacher. I learned to write and ready and many other things. The Staff is very nice and friendly and they help you with everything you need. Th Palestinian people are amazing and i found my second family here, most of the time I spent with the locals, so I know very well how they are, best people. It is safe and you dont have to worry about anything. The food is amazing. Cant wait to come back, i reccomend it to everyone

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.

The hospitality I received from the Center and also all the people I have interacted with in Palestine has been so amazing. The warmth that I have received from Palestinians is something I know I will never get anywhere else and I am so grateful for the opportunity that the Center have given me. The teachers here are very willing and helpful, which makes learning here very comfortable. The safety of the people here in Hebron is nothing like that shown in the media. Walking in the streets here are really safe and there wasn't a time it feels risky or dangerous. More likely due to the respect of the people and the warmth from the people everywhere.

I have loved my time at the Excellence Center and would definitely recommend this experience to anybody wanting to visit, embrace, celebrate and understand Palestine on a deeper level. You have the opportunity to build so many relationships – with the teenagers at the center you work with during workshops or classes (depending on your programme), the other volunteers at the Center, the lovely staff here, and then the many people you meet during trips throughout your days when not working. You get to meet Palestinians living at the nearby Al Fawwar Refugee Camp nearby, near the surrounding settlements, in Hebron's Old City itself – and giving them all a chance to tell their story and their reality is so important to understand as a whole the situation here in Hebron and more widely – so we can understand what we are best placed to do to help moving forward. It is also easy to visit parts of Palestine further away such as Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jerusalem – which we took advantage of. The center helps direct you and guide you for such trips. I finished a BA in English Literature and Theatre before completing a Masters in Acting at the Guildford School of Acting. Due to my background, when I volunteered at the Center it was part of the arts programme here. Over 2 weeks a friend and I led theatre workshops with students aged 15-18. Over the sessions the girls developed songs, dances, images they created with their bodies, and their own speeches, using their own words. We created a safe space where they were able to express themselves creatively, with and without words, and over time build confidence in their own forms of communication. In the last session they performed the work we had created together and everyone as moved by the precision of their performance and the articulation of their own voices – so beautiful, eloquent and honest. Over the sessions they understood the importance of "play" in their lives, and of art. They also began to see the importance of relaxation in the body and working on breath to calm oneself – as many of the girls carried tension in their shoulders from the strains of everyday life. The first session proved difficult as theatre was such a new world for the girls – but by the end those who continued with us said they will try to continue this work in their futures, they loved the classes, and they now understand the importance of what we did as a group here. It was a moving, rewarding and empowering experience and I would certainly encourage anyone to volunteer here, for a sustained period of time, with the students so you can build strong bonds. Maria and I certainly intend to stay in touch with our students and hope we can return again. Between our classes and many interesting trips we had the chance to learn Arabic at the center. I came with the most basic phrases and no knowledge of the alphabet at all. No matter what your level – you are taught how to introduce yourself, answer basic questions, learn the first few numbers – and build from there. The center supports the level you are at and you learn accordingly. It was a brilliant experience to have the chance to start learning Arabic and I intend to continue lessons when back in London where I am based currently. I think it's important to say that you feel very safe in Hebron. The center and volunteers are warm and accommodating at all times – you are supported. Some of what you see is heartbreaking, and the first time you are faced with Israeli soldiers holding large guns is jarring – but it is so important to see this reality in my opinion, to witness with your own eyes the situation here. We stayed with a host family – the Murad family. They live about a 20 minute walk from the Center. They are a warm, sweet family who welcomed us with open arms. Maria and I had two single beds in our own room, and shared a bathroom, kitchen and living room with one other volunteer. A few evenings we spent time with our host parents and their children – drinking the classic Palestinian nana tea, or eating delicious grilled food together as a large group. We were so glad we chose to do this rather than staying at an Airbnb or hotel – it was an authentic, personal, Palestinian experience with warm-hearted locals who have welcomed us back. There were so many things we loved about our trip and it was a whirlwind of sights, experiences, food, music, culture – and so many lovely people. Overall we loved our time at the Center, we intend to come back, and we were so glad to have seen Palestine with our own eyes – through the words of locals here. The situation is heartbreaking but it's so important for people to visit, to listen, to help, and to witness what is going on. There's also many happy moments, things to celebrate, embrace and enjoy – the beauty of Palestine and its people. It has been a humbling, empowering, thought-provoking and life-enriching experience.

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.

My experience at the Excellence Center has been amazing. The people at the center are patient and very accommodating to the things you are trying to accomplish. It is also a good way to immerse yourself in Palestinian culture and understand the occupation as well. Being able to have conversations about standing for justice with other like minded people is very encouraging. That is also another way in which this experience was very helpful. Each day I’d walk to the center and it was a good way to connect with people around the community and practice the Arabic I was learning. It also helped me to understand where these people are coming from and the daily struggles they have as a result of the occupation and the effects it has in their lives. There were a couple boys I’d greet each morning on my way to the center, and by the time I’d leave the center in the mid afternoon, they were just finishing up their work. These are children and should have more educational opportunities but as a result of the regulated life here in Palestine, these opportunities can be hard to find. In little moments such as my walk to the center, or as big moments as meeting lawyers and going to refugee camps, the center provided tangible ways to understand what life is like here. This is exactly what I was hoping to get out of the trip, as I know it will help better inform me for my future efforts in my career. It is so important as a future career woman to make these connections, so I can be the best I can be for the people I will encounter at work. I have learned to be a better advocate and speak for what is right.

My time with The Excellence Center was such a precious experience for me. I did around 9 weeks of intensive arabic and besides that was able to attend certain trips organized by the center. Refering to my language classes i was more then lucky to learn with a super professional teacher. He managed to adapt to what i needed from the very beginning. Because of his experience i could noticably improve my arabic within my stay. We had super interesting conversations during class and he always managed to keep me motivated in moments i had doubts or was impatient with myself. During my whole stay i was living with a lovely host family, which made me feel comfortable and welcomed from the first day. This was my experience with all the khalili people i got to know during my time here: huge hospitality, openess and warmheartedness. After weekend trips to other places in Palestine i was always happy to come back to Khalil, because i enjoyed the atmosphere here a lot. Ramadan here was an especially festive time that im happy i got to experience. I really hope that i can sustain the relations i made with the people i got to know during my stay and would love to come back here again as soon as i can.

Hello! My name is Anne, I am 19, and I am from the Netherlands. During my gap year I decided to stay with The Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine, for a month. The programme I participated in was the Human Rights Programme and I helped out with English Club. I stayed here in April and the beginning of May. During my time in Hebron there were about 10 other volunteers and internationals, and I got to experience the second half of Ramadan and Eid. My hostfamily was super welcoming and warm. I arrived with 0 arabic, and the family barely spoke English. Nonetheless, my host mom put ‘we are one family now’ in google translate when I arrived, which made me feel at home from the start. I found it to be special to have Iftar with my family and to be brought along to family visits during Eid. Having community breakfast with other volunteers and staff at the center was always a nice way to start the day. After that I would have Arabic class, go on excursions to special sites or people, or have English club. Most days the schedule was quite chill, I’d often spend my late afternoons in one of the local cafes with my friends to study Arabic together and have a nice hangout. During the weekends, which were Fridays and Saturdays, I definitely recommend visiting other cities in Palestine. There are so many historical sites to see, like 8th century mosaic floors of a historical palace in Jericho or the nativity church in Bethlehem. Seeing other places has shown me the rich culture and different atmospheres across the West bank. While visiting Banksy or even just driving on the roads and seeing the settlements teaches you the reality of occupation. One thing that, from my experience, the different places in Palestine all have in common is the warmth and kindness of the people. Before coming here, most of my friends and family were worried about my safety and and asked me why I had to go to Palestine, of all places. However, from arrival onwards everyone has been so nice, and I have not had a moment when I felt unsafe. Everywhere you go people will greet you, say ‘welcome to Palestine!’ and help you when needed. I think I will experience a bit of a culture shock when I am back home, as Dutch people in general are much more cold, and there won’t be coffee handed out in the supermarket. My overall experience with the Excellence Center has been excellent. The staff and Arabic teachers are kind and flexible. Hebron is a big city with lots of shops and stores and market places. I got to try all kinds of new food, my personal favorite is knafeh. I hope to be able to come back to Palestine soon in the future!

Hello everyone, I’m Adam from the UK and I have had the absolute pleasure of volunteering at the excellence centre for the past three weeks. During this time I have been able to tick many boxes off my list. Not only have I been able to visit Palestine, I have been able to engage with the community and be truly immersed in the culture. The daily struggle of the Palestinian people is one I hold dear to my heart having grown up watching the situation, so to have the opportunity to volunteer here has been amazing. During my three weeks I have visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem, refugee camps and also the Bediun areas where we got to see and talk to people who had built caves underground to live because the IDF were destroying whatever structures they made above ground. It was very important for me to not just come to Palestine as a tourist but to volunteer and help the community any way I could. At the excellence centre I was able to participate in English classes, which allowed me to interact with Palestinian youths, to laugh and organize games as well as other fun lesson activities. This was an extremely rewarding activity and as this was my first time teaching… anything. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect or even do. The other volunteers here and the staff were so supportive and I managed to pick it up and roll with it. I also did the Arabic study option, as a beginner in Arabic the classes were very informative and gave me enough to have a conversation which is an added bonus. The excellence centre is an extremely welcoming place, where everyone is more than happy to help. I guess this just reflects the overall Palestinian culture and the vibe I got in the west bank. From the moment I arrived by bus late at night I had already been driven to the centre by a lovely family and brought up stairs by another family to have coffee and cake whilst waiting for staff to come back. This was my first glimpse into what I could expect in Palestine and over the last 3 weeks, moments like this where I have been shown extreme generosity are very common, actually. My experience here has been filled with special moments due to coming during Ramadan. The feeling of sitting around at a table with new friends whilst waiting for the aathan to start is a something I won’t forget. Coming during this time period also meant we got the chance to be invited to local people’s houses and experience a true Palestinian iftar which, if I’m being honest with you guys. The food itself is enough to make me want to come back. The falafel and hummus will forever haunt my dreams and the rice and chicken dishes are second to none. But back to a more serious note, my time here living in the West bank has been an experience full of firsts and hopefully not the lasts. Until next time.

My time at the Excellence Center has been an experience I will never forget. From beginning to end, the people of Palestine have been the most genuine and hospitable. My host family, students, volunteers, even the local merchants welcomed me with open arms into their culture and daily life. For the short time that I was here, I participated in English Club, took Arabic class, volunteered at refugee camp Fawwar, and got to explore the city of Hebron. English club was my favorite activity I participated in. Not only did I get to witness ten- to sixteen-year-old children become more confident in their English-speaking abilities, but I got to build authentic connections with the students. The Excellence Center expresses that it “brings people together,” and that is exactly what happened this week. I am leaving with a lifetime of friendships and memories. Thank you to everyone who made this week what it was. The Excellence Center is a magical place, and I will be back inshallah!!

During my week at the Excellence Center, I began learning Arabic, I worked with Palestinian kids in an English club, and got the chance to go to a refugee camp and talk with some students about their experiences. I honestly could not recommend this program enough. The community of volunteers and workers here are fantastic. When working with Rafat and Osama, the leaders of the program while I was there, I always felt as though my best interests were taken into account and they both went out of their way to make my week the best it could be. Also, the other volunteers are some of the nicest people I have met. I immediately felt comfortable around everyone and was able to make friends and build community. Two of the nights I was here, we were able to have iftar at the center and it is one of my many highlights to my week in Hebron. Being able to learn about Palestine more, and doing it by engaging with and talking to Palestianians was so incredible and I could not recommend doing something like this with any other organization. My week here was so memorable and I cannot wait to come back.

I am a complete beginner and wanted to learn Palestinian Arabic to prepare for a visit in the future. This online program has given me a great start! I have a complicated schedule and my teacher was able to be very flexible. Above all my teacher, Duha, was extremely patient, and encouraging. She made the lessons fun and adapted to my pace of learning. I plan to continue learning with her in person when I visit. This has been a great experience and I particularly enjoyed the way Duha shared her love for the language, the area and even introduced me to her family! I highly recommend this program.

I love this program and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in learning Arabic! Although all of my lessons take place online via facetime, I still benefit as though I am learning in person. My tutor Saja is very helpful and accommodating to my schedule. She makes learning Arabic fun, and I have really enjoyed my experience online. I have seen my confidence and skills in Arabic improve so much in just a few months. I am excited to keep learning and can’t wait to use everything I have learned!

Taking Arabic class was great and quite possibly my favorite thing that happened this year and last year. Not only were the classes fun, but they were extremely helpful and I learned a lot. Now, after only a few months, I can speak Arabic with my family!

I have been studying with the Excellence Center for several months, and decided to continue with more lessons because I am enjoying how much I am learning! My teacher is really friendly and supportive, and encourages me to ask questions whenever I am curious or don't understand something. Because it is online with an individual teacher, the scheduling is flexible, and the content is also flexible based on my level as a student. I recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn spoken Levantine Arabic. I hope to one day get to visit the Excellence Center for an in-person program!

The experience I had with the online Palestinian dialect of Arabic course was very good. In 50 hours of study I learned a lot and greatly appreciate the lessons. I recommend wholeheartedly to do the program, the teachers and curriculum was very effective and fun to learn.

I was thoroughly impressed with the Centre's organisation and how well they planned a personalised iternary for me. I was able to see and do a lot of the things I wanted to do for instance, going to the Blind School or visiting the camps. However, Osama also planned a few addditional activities that were extremely enlightening such as seeing a local artist. I didn't know what to expect coming here as it isn't your typical holiday, but nontheless I was blown away by the hospitality of my host. Her family were so warm and welcoming, it almost felt as if I had known them from before. They were extremely accomadating, cooking food, giving us towels and creating a comfortable environment. They tried to get to know me even with their lack of English which was so lovely. The Arabic classes dramatically helped in acclimatising to the culture and enabling even the smallest of conversations to take place. When out and about, a lot of the locals would want to converse creating a greater sense of warmth towards the people. Though you would assume it is extremely unsafe due to a particular portrayl of the country, actually at times I forgot this was the case. The Centre did a brilliant job of making us aware of potential dangers if there were any. When we went to Shahada Street, we were told to take our passports for the security check point and allowed to visit a Palestianian family from this area. The entire experience consisted of tears of happiness and sadness. There were moments of thought provoking discussions that enabled us to gain a better understanding of things from the eyes of the people. A genuine perspective of the reality of the situation. I would highly recommend you make the visit to come here and see first hand how the country is like. It will be far from how you expect it to be and will truly blow you away with it's warmth. It is safe and hosts a great atnosphere. An experience of a lifetime! Things we did: Arabic classes Taught English Visitied Shahada Street Met Nisreen and heard her story under the occupation Visitied Al - Fawar campsite Visited the Blind School Visited a local Artist - Rani Sharbaati Visited a Professor from the University of Hebron Vistied Ibrahim Mosque and Mosque of Younus Visited Jericho/Bethlehem.

I had an amazing time with the Excellence Centre. In just two weeks, I have had visits to numerous organisations, including women's organisations, hospitals, schools, law firms and other community projects. This has provided me with an in-depth insight into the human rights situation in Palestine and the challenges that individuals face. The Centre have an excellent teaching program in Arabic, which was useful for me as a beginner. I travelled solo and felt safe walking around Hebron. I enjoyed meeting volunteers from around the world and the staff were always welcoming and supportive. Thank you!

I originally signed up for a one-week program in Palestine but extended it to two because of how much I was enjoying the experience. I was initially a bit apprehensive about safety but not only did the Centre always ensure that we were suppported, but the situation in general was much safer than I was expecting. The program includes multiple trips to the Old City, Bedouin and refugee camps, visits to local organizations, and cultural sites. Overall, I would definitelty recommend this program. The staff were always incrediby friendly and eager to learn about where all of the volunteers came from.

This was my first experience in both Palestine as a whole and the first city to visit in Al Khalil. I joined the law and human rights programme with the Excellence Centre for a week and it was truly eye opening and insightful. What we see in the media is only a small glimpse of the reality here on the ground. I was able to talk to legal professionals and their lives here in Hebron and I was able to talk to locals and understand their struggles living under occupation and segregation. I feel more inspired to do more to promote human rights now and can't wait to be back in Al Khalil again!

I am Amelia, age 31, I spent a week going the Women's Rights programme. Every day was an incredible chance to be immersed in the culture, politics, people, joy, laughter and sadness that the amazing city of Hebron has to offer. The staff were some of kindest, most passionate people I've met, I felt fully supported. I felt completely safe as solo female traveller, the locals couldn't do enough to help you. My hosts became family to me. This is a life changing trip -I can't recommend your visit enough!

Hello! My name is Michael and I’m from the UK. I’ve been here at the Excellence Center for 3 months, doing a variety of different programs. For the first month I did the ‘volunteering with Palestinian children’ program. This included providing English lessons at the Center to children of all ages, as well as visiting a number of local schools. I also visited other educational centres and refugee camps in the surrounding Hebron area, providing English lessons to students. This experience was so rewarding and the children of Palestine are absolutely amazing! For the second month of my trip I completed 2 weeks of intensive Arabic, which allowed me to really practise and improve my Arabic, giving me the confidence to speak more with the local people. My teacher Saja has been amazing! I have really enjoyed my lessons. Saja has been very kind and supportive, making the lessons fun and engaging. She has helped me so much. For the second month I also took part in the Human Rights Internship which has included visiting a variety of different places and organisations here in Hebron and the surrounding area to highlight the Human Rights situation for the Palestinian people. This has included a number of lectures about the history of Palestine and the current situation here in Hebron and the West Bank. I have visited the H2 area of the city and met a number of people and families living there who have told us about their daily lives lives, describing the difficulties of living in an Israeli controlled area. Some stories have been difficult to hear but seeing it with my own eyes has highlighted the importance of hearing and sharing their stories. I have also visited places of historical importance, such as the old city and Ibrahimi Mosque and I have also met a number of individuals and organisations within Hebron such as schools for disabled children, the Hebron Center of Commerce, a law firm, hospitals, clinics, a radio station, a film production studio, a keffiyeh factory and refugee camps, that highlight the situation for Palestinians here in Hebron. In the surrounding Hebron area I have also visited Masafa Yatta, an area where Palestinian homes are at risk from demolition by the Israeli Government. For my final month I mainly did the Human Rights internship, taking part in the activities described above as well as some teaching in local centres and refugee camps. During the weekends I was able to travel to a number of different cities in the West Bank and Israel including Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Ramallah, Nazareth and Haifa. Palestine is amazing and beautiful! Being able to explore the country was wonderful. I feel so safe in Hebron and the Palestinian people are the friendliest people I have ever met. During my time here I have lived in a flat with other male volunteers. The flat is nice, spacious and has all of the mod cons for a great stay. I am a vegetarian, so although many local Palestinian dishes include meat, I was able find vegetarian food quite easily. Some of my favourite foods included falafel, hummus, fresh bread, a large variety of fruit and vegetables and salads. The Excellence Center environment is so friendly and supportive. The staff have been amazing and supportive, listening to to any concerns you may have. When I wished to change my program slightly to incorporate more Human Rights, this was not a problem. The Center is also a great place to practise you Arabic in a supportive environment. All of the volunteers at the Center have been from around the globe, so it has been so interesting and enjoyable to meet different people. My lasting impression of Palestine is of a people who are so hospitable and kind. Despite the challenges of occupation, the people are wonderful. My experience has made me appreciate my life. Palestine is also so beautiful and I hope to return soon. Come to Palestine!

Introduction My name is Mami, I am from Japan, currently I undertake a postgraduate study in migration and development. I participated in “Volunteering for Palestinian Refugees” program between 8th January to 21st January 2023. Safety in Hebron Although the situations for Palestinians are complicated, I felt very safe in the city as a foreigner. There was not one moment when I felt in danger. In my opinion, this is the most welcoming place I have ever been as a foreigner, with people saying hi, welcome to you everyday on the street with smiles, and I never experienced any racism nor those pushing to make you buy something / trying to rip you off. 3G network works well in most places, although you need to get a SIM card from here (the one from Tel-Aviv didn’t work in Hebron). Homestay During my 2 weeks, I was at a homestay with a family in Hebron, with another Dutch girl also volunteering for the excellence centre. My host family was absolutely amazing, one of the warmest people in the world with a lovely sense of humour. They have experience hosting over 11 years, to more than 40 people from all around the world. In their apartment, myself and another Dutch girl shared a bedroom separate from the family’s house and provided us with a private shower and toilet for us to share. We were often invited to eat with them and have a chat in the evening around their fireplace, and the living room was always filled with laughter. Spending time with this lovely family, I started to think a lot about what it means to be happy, what we should seek in our life. It was so nice to see many people visiting every day, and relatives having tight knit communities. They also mentioned how children are raised by the whole family and relatives, which is very different from what mothers experience in Japan or in the West. I deeply appreciate all the kindness they have given me through the homestay and thank also the excellence centre to introduce this family to me. Just one tip for travelling – Don’t come on Friday night / Saturday morning. There is no public transportation and private taxis could be very expensive. All other days, you can travel by affordable trains from airport to Jerusalem and then shared taxi from Jerusalem Damascus gate to Hebron.

Here is some feedback for you! I came to Hebron to study amiya Arabic commencing 1st of January 2023 for 2 weeks, as a taster session in advance of planning a longer trip next year for myself and my husband. I had three hours of lessons every morning at the centre from Sunday to Thursday with Mahmoud, one of the teachers at the centre. The lessons were tailored specifically to what I needed and my level; and they were excellent... Mahmoud was very engaging and provided a good blend of local dialect, some MSA at my request, colloquial expressions and useful phrases. I feel that my spoken Arabic has definitely improved since I've been here in just 2 weeks and when I come back for longer, I feel it will make a huge difference to my understanding. The experience has been enriched by some excursions organised by the centre; notably to a refugee centre which was both extremely informative and uncomfortable in terms of the plight of the Palestinians, however these experiences are crucial in understanding the lived experience of those who are here. I travelled in winter when Hebron is cold, and I would recommend people travelling here to dress comfortably and for cold weather. Many of the buildings are not centrally heated, using small heaters instead and so I packed a hot water bottle and it was invaluable! At all times I have felt safe travelling in Palestine both on my own as a woman and with the group, and the initial trepidations I had before travelling here was assuaged shortly after arriving. People are extremely kind and helpful if you have any issues. Staying with a host family has been an incredibly warm experience where no problem is too great and you are part of the family immediately. On this trip I have largely stayed around the Hebron area, but in future trips I plan to travel more widely and see more of this amazing country. The Palestinians are hospitable and welcoming, the food is amazing, and my impressions post-visit are very positive. I would encourage anybody considering a trip to Palestine to go for it! Much of what we read in the news about Palestine is biased and so I would counsel people to see the country for themselves. Anybody with an interest in learning more about the culture, the history and human rights situation in Palestine, or learning Arabic should utilise the Excellence Centre as they are set up for facilitating these experiences.

I spent three weeks at the center and I came in not knowing what to expect. It was the first big/ long trip I have taken on my own, and I could not have asked for a better experience. The center is full of kind and welcoming people, who took me throughout to city to learn more about Palestine and the struggles of the people who live here. My time here was so informative and such a wonderful overall experience. Additionally, I stayed with the most wonderful family who took me in and treated me like a daughter. I hope I have the opportunity to come back soon!

I spent the last 6 weeks doing the Human Rights program with the excellence centre Palestine, over the 6 weeks we learned about the history of Palestine Maamoun I found it very interesting and moving to learn about the horrific history the Palestinian people have delt with. The irish history is quite similer as asides to being colonized by a foreign power, This is why i found the histories classes to be one of the most interesting part of my stay here. We also learned Arabic with our teacher Duha , we had 3 one hour classes and week and very it very helpful with day to day interactions with the locals and we are all considing to continue our lessons online with excellence centre after our stay. Our course coordinator Osama had daly trips organized for us we had trips all around the WestBank it was amazing way to see the city and get to know the very welcoming people of Palestine. It was also very eye opening as you see the struggle the people have to endure by the Israeli soldiers. Over all i had an amazing experience here at the excellence centre, Meeting some of the nicest people of my life who I will never forget. I would highly recommend the excellence centre for anyone considering travelling to Palestine.

I spent the last three months as a Human Rights volunteer/intern with The Excellence Center, and will depart with one of my most significant life experiences. I came to Palestine,with a special interest in the political situation, both on a personal level, and a national level, coming from Ireland - a country that strongly criticises the human rights violations committed by Israel upon the Palestinian people. I am grateful to the dedicated coordinators of The Excellence Center Marwa and Osama, for making my time here so valuable by providing many opportunities, and catering to my requests so that I could I have a vastly informative experience about the Israeli occupation, from the local to the national level, as well as an insight into the bureaucratic, legal, economic, social, healthcare systems; and the media. The first week, Ma’moon hosted the Human Rights in Palestine Lecture, and he covered everything from memory. He recalled specific dates, and intricate details from memory. Ma’moon is a very skilled teacher, as well as a wonderful person, with whom I became very good friends. The inclusion of Arabic lessons in the programme is a vital aspect, and my teacher Marwa made the classes very enjoyable and easy to learn. Marwa was patient, and always so kind even when I was struggling with the alphabet at the beginning, because I found it tedious to study! I was fortunate enough to have one on one classes, and so we tailored my classes to learn as much vocabulary and language as possible according to my learning capacity. Marwa is really open minded and approachable, I could confide in her about anything, and have definitely made a friend for life! There is always a relaxed, easygoing, fun, vibrant environment in the Center. With such a diverse, international family from Palestinian to Irish, British, Australian, German, Norwegian, Danish, Filipino/a, everybody was so kind and friendly. During my time in Hebron, I travelled around the West Bank, visiting Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho, Jerusalem, Nablus and Masafer Yatta. I always felt very safe in Palestine. Palestinian people are one of the kindest and hospitable I have ever met, I was surprised to see that Osama even leaves his car unlocked! During my first week, I also lost my phone temporarily in a “service” and the taxi driver went completely out of his way to track it down and retrieve it for me. I stayed with a Palestinian host family, who are so generous, kind and hospitable. However, as I am thirty years old, and used to being very independent, I found it hard to really mix with the family, as it is not in my nature to stay home all the time. I enjoyed being involved with other local human rights organizations, so while I was fairly independent, I did not feel as quite independent as I would do, when I am usually abroad. I think it would be worthwhile to stay with a host family for possibly one month, however I think it would be in The Center’s advantage to open a shared accommodation for female volunteers, perhaps from age twenty-five upwards. As a vegetarian/vegan living with a host family, particularly a very traditional one, it was awkward for me to cook hot food. I personally have forged a very strong bond with Palestine, and am very sad to leave. I would really like to come back in the future and possibly stay for at least six months. Palestine is one of the most beautiful, culturally rich places I have ever visited, with the most incredible, kind, funny, resilient people, and I wish to continue learning Arabic so I can return and converse like a Hebronite! My favourite experience to date is visiting Masafer Yatta. Thanks to The Excellence Center, I was introduced to this enriching place, with breathtaking scenery, and some of the most sorrowful situations I’ve seen, where houses and schools are being demolished. After I returned more than five times, to stay with the local people and their children, appreciate the magnificent landscape and document their stories that so desperately need to be heard and broadcast. I truly had one of the most enriching, enlightening and productive three months of my life, and I’m so thankful to my Excellence Center family for giving me this opportunity. I know it will not be the last time that we shall cross paths! شكراً كتير Rachel Farrelly

My time at the Excellence Center allowed me to immerse myself in Palestinian culture and learn Arabic. I was able to learn about the unique situation in Palestine from different perspectives including law and even from an artist's perspective. It was through the center that I was able to find other human rights organizations in Hebron and was able to work with them as well.

My name is Hattie Langdon, I am from the UK and I participated in the Intensive Arabic Programme. I really enjoyed my Arabic lessons with Maryum, they were a lot of fun and I learnt a lot for 1 month of studying. I have learnt the fundamentals of reading and writing and I can hold a basic conversation on a range of topics. I would highly recommend the excellence centre for students like me, who have never studied Arabic before. The environment at the centre is bustling, with a lot of people from all over the world and lots to do. Everyone has been incredibly kind and welcoming. Alongside my Arabic course I have also been taken on tours to the old city of Hebron, AL Fawwar Refugee Camp as well as meeting some local artists. On the weekends I got the chance to visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jerrico, Ramallah and Nablus. My favourite trips has been to Jerrico to visit the dead sea and hike Wadi Qelt. I have also had the opportunity to live with two different local families who have been amazingly generous and have made me feel at home in Hebron. Living with local families has allowed me to practice and improve my Arabic every evening. I also join them for dinner in the evenings which has meant I have had the privilege of trying many local cuisines. Despite tensions in Palestine, I have always felt safe on trips with the Excellence Centre. Palestine has been a truly beautiful country to visit with amazing food and the kindest people. The people I have met here is what will stick with me the most. Their generosity and the stories they are happy to share has really amazed me and I am leaving Palestine much more informed on it’s history and current political situation.

Hi, my name is Osmn, and I’m from Norway. I have a master degree in teaching and I work as a primary school teacher back home in Norway. I participated in the programme called Teach English & study Arabic for 4,5 weeks. At the excellence center I taught at two private funded schools, and also students who study English at the excellence center. It was great fun! I have also participated at the arranged trips they offer to experience different parts of the West Bank. I have had the best Arabic teacher I could have asked for. Saj’a is one of the most talented teachers I have met, and I have learned so much from her. Her way of teaching is inspiring and I will most definitely try to keep up with my Arabic when I go back home. The staff and teachers at the center are so lovely, and I have had so many great conversations with them. Teaching with Isaac was very interesting and I have learnt a lot from him. I have also enjoyed being with the other internationals very much. The male dorm was great. Good standards and a great place to chill. I felt very secure in Hebron, even with the ongoing tension. Most people here are so friendly and you will get a lot of invitations by people on the street to come join them for coffee. I suggest you do it! The food is of course amazing, especially compared to Norway. I will miss my daily falafel at the corner falafel place. I really enjoyed the programme, and I will most definitely recommend it, especially for teachers who want to experience teaching abroad. Me sjåast att!

My name is Cormac and I’m from Ireland. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. Each day we met different political actors and learned a lot about the quotidian aspects of Palestinian culture and life in Hebron. The randomness of each day allowed us to immerse ourselves within the centre which gave me an understanding of the country I don’t think I could have gotten back home. The site visits varied greatly from industries to commerce and also a number of human rights organisations. We also were taught by teachers in the centre about apartheid here in Palestine and I had the opportunity to learn Arabic as well. These lessons were taught by Marwa who took great care and was very encouraging throughout each class. The centre’s other teachers were also very accommodating and helpful. As each weekend approached, I visited Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Ramallah, places I never thought I’d get the chance to go to. My overall experience was one I will never forget and I will definitely be visiting again.

My name is Alicia, I am 22 years old from the United Kingdom and I came to the excellence center to participate in the healthcare programme for 5 weeks, however I went on to extend it to 7 weeks. During my 7 weeks at the center, I did healthcare specific visits such as visits to hospitals, meeting healthcare professionals, went to a women’s rights clinics which had a healthcare center attached, visited the al fawwar camp where I visited the health center and went to 2 different nursing colleges. Additionally, I did a 3-part nursing workshop with nursing students. I also did other activities which were specific to other programs such as going to the tourism office, going to the human rights defenders office, meeting a lawyer, going to the special educational needs school, the blind school, the art gallery, the palmotion office, went to the H2 area, had a tour of the old city, went to the ceramic factory, the kafiya factory, the Bedouin villages, a children’s center, the women’s kitchen and finally I also had some opportunities to help the teachers at the center in their lessons. Throughout my time here I had weekly Arabic lessons, I didn’t know any Arabic before arriving, but I know I have now progressed with the alphabet and being able to read. I have found all the staff, other volunteers, and students at the center to be incredible. I knew before coming that it was going to be an amazing experience, but nothing could prepare me for how kind and welcoming everyone would be. During my free time I also visited other cities such as Ramallah, Jericho, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. Living with my host family has been one of the greatest experiences I have ever had, my host mum, host dad and their children are a beautiful and kind family and made me feel welcome and part of their family as soon as I arrived. Their extended family have also been so welcoming and have included me in everything they have done. I am so lucky to have met them all and truly feel like I now have a second family here in Hebron and I am already planning to come back and visit them, any volunteer who has the chance to stay with this family are incredibly blessed. Hebron is a beautiful city, and its people are so kind, and the 7 weeks here has gone incredibly fast. For the majority of the time, I felt safe in Palestine and the staff were always willing to assist with whatever questions or help you need There are so many things I loved about my stay here so it is hard to choose one specific aspect, however, the thing I will cherish the most when I go home will be the people I have met and the hospitality shown, the host family, the teachers, the other foreigners, and everybody else I have met have shown me a kindness I have never been shown before! The most important thing I wanted to mention about the center are the incredible teachers, I think they truly make the centre and without them the experience would not have even been half of what it has been. They are the greatest group of people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting- Amani, Anas, Duha, Ibrahi, Isaac, Khitam, Mahmoud, Mamon, Marwa and Saja are so kind, caring, compassionate and never fail to put a smile on our faces! Getting to know them has been one of the greatest experiences and they are an absolute credit to the centre and anyone who has the oppurtunity to meet them will be very lucky.

My name is Esther Pérez, I am twenty-five years old and I am from Spain. I have studied the Degree in Journalism at the University of Valencia, and later I have done the Master’s Degree in Culture of Peace, Conflicts and Human Rights at the University of Granada. Currently, I have been collaborating for a year as a volunteer in Red Cross organization, as an external communication reference. I have done the Journalism program at the Excellence Center. I arrived at the Excellence Center in Palestine a month ago, on September 15, 2022. I am a journalist for human rights, and in recent years I have been studying in depth the historical and current situation of Palestine, so I wanted to come to see first-hand this situation of colonization. I discovered the excellence center by chance, looking for different centers with which to collaborate on the internet. This center caught my attention because of the different programs they have, as well as the opportunity to learn Arabic, because that could help me to explore new stories around the world. During this month I have visited many sites and had the opportunity to meet workers and human rights activists in Hebron, as well as local Palestinians, in the context of occupation. I attended the Grape Festival, made visits to the ancient city of Hebron and the Ibrahimi Mosque, went to a Bedouin Camp, visited the Hebron Chamber of Industry and Commerce, a tourism agency, the Hebron pension center, different agencies and media, such as the WAFA communication agency and a radio station. I have also visited human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Defenders. In terms of education, I have visited schools: such as a school of art and culture, the Al-Hussein school, and a school of autism and for blind students. All these visits have given me extensive knowledge about the current situation of Palestinians in Hebron, from different perspectives: communication, education, health, politics or the economy. It is a great opportunity to be able to know first-hand how the context of occupation affects the Palestinian people living here in Hebron, due to the numerous checkpoints, Israeli military control and settlers. On the other hand, about the Arabic classes, I have received during this month three hours each week. During this time, I have learned to have a basic conversation as well as introduce myself. Basic knowledge that we need in our day to day: numbers, days of the week, months of the year, adjectives, pronouns, determinants, some verbs and basic words. Now I am able to introduce myself: what my name is, how old I am, where I live and with whom, what I did yesterday or what I will do tomorrow, or what I study. All this knowledge in Arabic language I have been able to put into practice in my day to day, on the one hand, with the staff and other volunteers of the center, and on the other hand, with my host family. Throughout my stay I have felt very safe in Palestine. I arrived with fear and something insecure, because the great number of news that comes through the media in Spain are quite negative, and only talk about violence and conflict. Also quite unsure by the questions on my arrival at Ben Gurion airport. But when I got here, everything went well. And little by little I got to know the lot of positive and life things that the city of Hebron has, as well as the hospitality and kindness of all people. Shops, restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, shops, the beauty of the old city... the city of Hebron, despite its complicated circumstances due to the occupation, is full of life and joy. Another of my fears is my English, it is the first time I have had to express and communicate in English. And I was afraid because of my limitations. However, all the staff of the center and the rest of the volunteers have always been very kind to me, and have made me feel very well when I have expressed myself in English. All the staff of the center is always ready to help you, and welcomes you every morning with a big smile. As for the rest of the volunteers, I return to Spain with great friendships. I have been able to learn a lot from them and their perspectives. And we've had great times together. It is very nice to learn from people from different parts of the world. In addition we have made several trips together, we have practically been able to know all of Palestine: Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah and Nablus. I think these have been the best times I've ever had here in Palestine. It has been very good to be able to know the different cities of Palestine, and the circumstances they live due the occupation. In this paragraph I would like to talk about my host family, since the first day I have felt at home. And I have had the opportunity to try a lot of Palestinian dishes, I love Palestinian gastronomy! Both the parents and the children have made me feel like one more in the family. In addition, I have shared a room with Rachel another volunteer of the center, and I have been able to enjoy a lot with her. Definitely, I recommend everyone to come to the center to do the communication and journalism program. Palestine needs ethical journalism, and it is a great opportunity to learn about the occupation situation firsthand, and then to be able to communicate and give a voice to the Palestinians globally.

Hi, my name is Zoe and I am a 19-year-old politics and economics student from the UK. While at the Excellence Center, I participated in the women's rights programme so I spent most of my time visiting different organisations and talking to women about their experiences living and working in Palestine. It was incredibly inspiring to see their determination and creativity, even in the face of such severe challenges. I especially enjoyed meeting some of the female journalists, both at the WAFA agency and at the Al Huriya radio station. At the core of the Palestinian struggle is a fight against supression of the Palestinian perspective and false narratives propagated by the Israeli and international media. It was shocking to hear directly from these women about the ways in which the news agencies had been targeted by Israeli forces; through forced eviction from the building, nighttime raids and destruction of equipment as well as opposition in the field. While hearing about these challenges, I was especially struck by their relentlessness and courage which really highlighted the importance of the work they were doing. The Arabic lessons at the center were very well structured, focussing on both reading and speaking. Marwa was an amazing teacher and being able to apply everything we learnt immediately talking to my host family and other people we met around Hebron made the language much easier to remember. Apparently, I’ve even picked up a slight Hebron accent! Staying with a host family was such a privilege as it allowed me to have an insider perspective on the culture and feel properly integrated into the community. I was even invited to join my family at a wedding which was an incredible experience! The environment at the center is warm and friendly so I felt at home after no time at all. The other volunteers and staff get along very well and I have made many friends I know I will stay in contact with. One piece of advice is to try and be really open to trying new things and using all the Arabic you learn without worrying about making mistakes. I felt safe most of the time in Hebron. There were a couple of times when we came back late from visiting other cities where it had gotten dark and I had to get a taxi home, but the other volunteers I was with were very good at making sure everyone got home safely. As with everywhere, it is important to take precautions, but I felt safe enough to travel by myself and found people friendly and eager to help. While here, I also got the chance to visit some other cities in Palestine; Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nablus. It was really interesting to see the differences between the cities and experience a broader range of Palestinian culture. I would especially recommend Nablus- the Kanafeh there is world renowned! After spending 2 weeks here, I would definitely love to come back! I have really enjoyed getting to know Hebron and the people here and would like to spend more time travelling throughout Palestine and further developing my understanding of the situation here. I have been incredibly struck by the warmth of the people here and the beauty of the landscape and culture so would definitely recommend visiting!

My name is Kate, I am from the Netherlands, and I studied law and politics. At the Excellence Center I followed the Human Rights programme. I also had around 3 hours of Arabic lessons a week. My teacher was great. He tailored a programme exactly to my needs and got me motivated to learn. In addition to the lessons, being around so many people who are willing to teach their language and help you speak the language really helped me learn so much. The best thing I liked at the center were the teachers who work there. They did not only teach us Arabic and Human Rights, but they were truly there whenever we needed. They were so kind and they really created a warm and comfortable environment. During my stay we had many site visits with the Excellence Centre. For example, we visited the Masafer Yata area, refugee camps, the courthouse, a law firm, a hospital, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, and so many more. We also explored Hebron itself - we received a tour in the Old City, explaining the current situation, and a visit to the beautiful Ibrahimi Mosque. We also visited the glass factory and the Kufiya factory in Hebron. Next to site visits, we also had people over at the Excellence Centre to talk about Human Rights, such as a journalist that covers conflict areas and warzones. During the weekend, many volunteers like to travel and visit different places in Palestine. We’d usually plan something as a group and everyone that wanted, could join the trip. We’ve been to Jericho, the dead sea, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and many more places. The people in Hebron are absolutely amazing. I feel so welcome and they make sure that you have everything you need and want. The city itself is very lively, at any time of the day you can find people on the street. There are so many cute shops and the food is really good! You cannot tell a Palestinian you are full, they won’t listen - they will keep giving you food. I enjoyed my stay with my host family. The family has some younger children, and during my stay they taught me some of the basics of Arabic and I tried to teach them English. The family did live quite far away from the center, which meant we were really dependant on the driver and/or people from the host family to drive us to and from the center and a lot of taxi drivers did not know the area very well. If you’d like some more freedom I would recommend asking for a host family that lives closer to the center. Hebron is a pretty safe city. A lot of the people are really helpful and friendly. Although, like any other city in the world, you have to use your common sense. I personally was always together with other people, and I rarely went out on my own. This is a personal choice of course, and this does not mean that it is dangerous to go out on your own. The culture towards women is a bit different, so keep that in mind when you get here. The thing I like most about Palestine is the people. As mentioned before, the people are so friendly, helpful and welcoming. My experience in Palestine is one I will never forget. It has been a truly special time and I would recommend it to anyone that is interested to learn more about the situation in Palestine, its culture and its people.

My name is Monika and I am a final year Biomedicine student. I am 28 years old. I come from Poland but I live in London. I also work as a senior healthcare assistant. In my job I provide clinical assistance to healthcare professionals. I decided to participate in the Volunteer in Medicine & Healthcare at the Excellence Centre in Hebron, Palestine. The short time at the Centre was filled with interesting and fun activities. The staff was incredibly helpful and accommodating. They went above and beyond making sure I utilised my time in Palestine. Thanks to them I learned more about the culture, history, everyday struggles of people living here and how the healthcare system operates in Palestine. I visited two hospitals – public and private – and talked to medical and laboratory staff. The centre also organised two meetings with science students during which we could discuss differences between education in UK, Poland, and Palestine. I was impressed by the students knowledge. Together with other volunteers, we went to the Old City and Al Ibrahimi Mosque. We witnessed the difficulty of people living here, who have to go through numerous checkpoints. We talked to so many people from different professionals – from shoe makers, business owners, teachers to healthcare professionals. We also visited Al Fawwar refugee camp where we talked to UN workers. During my short time at the Excellence Centre I learned some very useful Arabic phrases, words and numbers. These have already helped me communicate with locals and the expressions I was taught, will be very useful while talking to patients at work. The staff at the Excellence Centre is professional, kind and always smiling. They have created a wonderful, friendly environment for the volunteers from all over the world. The atmosphere is very welcoming and a discussion is always encouraged. As I only came for a week, I will also visit Bethlehem to see more of Palestine. Living with a Palestinian family has been an incredible experience. This was a great insight into the life of people here, who welcomed me with open arms. We bonded quickly, exchange few stories, cooked for each other and I went to my host mum’s beauty salon to use her service. Talking to people here, who are incredibly kind and friendly has definitely been a highlight of this experience. I felt very safe and comfortable in Palestine. As a single woman I never felt uneasy. Every time I struggled to communicate with locals, a stranger would join and help. People are very hospitable and proud of their culture – I really admire them. This has been one of the best cultural, educational and travel experiences I have ever had. It was a great time with plenty of opportunities to gain insight into Palestine. I highly recommend to everyone to come here and participate in the programme. The mission and hard work of the staff at the Excellence Centre to educate – that is both Palestinians and foreigners – is truly remarkable and amazing. Everyone, from staff, locals to volunteers was smiling and had a positive attitude. Palestine is a great country with amazing people.

My name is Rachael. I am British/American but spent most of my childhood in France. I am currently pursuing a master's degree in France and the UK in IR with a focus on diplomacy and the Middle East. I spent three months in Hebron participating in the Human Rights Program at the Excellence Center. As part of this program, I met with a multitude of grassroots organizations, local government authorities and international organizations (such as OCHA, the ICRC and UNRWA), all working on issues of human rights in Hebron and Palestine. In addition to weekly human rights visits, I gave English lessons in two villages close to Hebron with students ranging from ages 8 to 15. I also received a few hours a week of Arabic classes. I had studied some modern standard Arabic before coming to Hebron, but these lessons really helped me learn how to speak the Ammiya dialect and communicate with people in Palestine. The Excellence Center has a welcoming, easy-going and friendly environment. You will get to interact and develop friendships with the staff, the teachers, the students and the other international volunteers. The staff are always willing to take care of your concerns and adjust things as needed, so do not hesitate to voice your suggestions and recommendations as they arise. The staff and teachers are also always willing to answer your questions, about all topics. Depending on what time of the year you come there can be a wide range of how many volunteers are at the center (when I arrived in June there were roughly 20, in July we went up to 40 and in August it went down to 10-15). There is a great sense of community at the center, and it is wonderful to be able to bond with other like-minded international volunteers. What is great about the Center is that you have two consecutive days off per week which gives you time to travel around the country. Transport is relatively easy to most places which means I was able to travel to Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jaffo, Nablus and Jericho. I definitely recommend trying to visit as many places as you can! As a woman I was able to live with host families which was a great experience. I stayed with two different families. The first family I stayed with for two months. They were absolutely lovely however I was living in a separate apartment from them, and I wanted to have a more immersive experience and practice my Arabic more. When I voiced this to the center they were very understanding and immediately put me in another host family. My second host family was so wonderful and welcoming, and I was really able to have a full immersive experience into the Hebron culture and language. Regarding safety and security, I definitely felt safe in Hebron and Palestine at-large. Palestinians are some of the most welcoming and generous people you will ever meet and are always willing to help if you have any issues. However, as a woman, I did experience and witness a few uncomfortable situations with men, particularly young adult / teenage boys. This is not behavior that is ‘normalized’ by Hebronites at large and people were very upset and angry when we told them about the things we experienced. Unfortunately, these are things that happen all over the world and are therefore, unfortunately, to be expected everywhere (in my experience). Although Hebron is a very conservative society where men are very respectful to women, some men do not treat international women the same way they would treat Palestinian women. I am only writing about it here so that women that come in the future know to be aware of it and thus retain the same level of caution and wariness they would in any country. I want to emphasize that this would NEVER stop me from coming back to Hebron, or Palestine. I could not emphasis this enough!! This was not my first time in Palestine, and I will certainly be back. I loved everything about my time in Palestine and would absolutely recommend that anyone who can, comes and sees Hebron with their own eyes at the Excellence Center. I have developed strong bonds with the incredible people that live here. Palestinians are unbelievably resilient and while I had presumed them to be skeptical of internationals, especially people from countries whose governments fund the occupation like mine do, they could not have been more kind, generous and welcoming. I will miss Palestine’s warmth, people, and food everyday but, inshallah, I will be back soon!

My name is Joshua Boyes, I am a doctor in the UK about to start training as a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. I chose to come to the Excellence Centre to do the Medical and Healthcare Programme for 3 weeks. For me, this involved visits to various hospitals in the Al-Khalil including a government hospital, a private hospital and a newly built but non-functioning hospital. On these visits I was able to meet with and discuss healthcare in Palestine with doctors and other healthcare professionals. I was surprised to learn that the main barrier to improved healthcare is the allocation of equipment to the hospital. There are plenty of very competent doctors that I met throughout my time and their main complaint was not having the resources to do their job. The other challenge was the sheer volume of patients in a cramped government hospital, while the new hospital struggle to exist at capacity due to the lack of equipment. After learning a bit about the healthcare situation in Palestine, I was then able to provide some lessons to students at the local Hebron University. For me this was the best part of the whole programme. The students came from a wide range of disciplines including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, midwifery, lab science and biology. In these sessions I was able to share with them some of my own clinical experiences and provide some training on communication skills, medical ethics and academic writing. The students were very engaging and asked lots of good questions, I was impressed with their knowledge and enthusiasm. They were incredibly grateful for the information I shared with them. Through this teaching I was also able to learn a lot about them and asked many questions about the healthcare system in Palestine. We discussed life at university, what they think of the doctor-patient relationship in Palestine as well as ethical issues in both the UK and Palestine. My favourite moment was seeing the students debate real ethical cases and present their arguments for and against. Alongside the Medical and Healthcare, I also received Arabic lessons from one the of the brilliant teachers at the session, Saja. The lessons were really fun and interactive, and I learnt lots of useful phrases that I could then use in daily conversations. The overall environment of the centre was equally conducive to speaking Arabic, as there were constant opportunities to speak with others and ask questions. To be honest, there were definitely times when I wish I was studying Arabic at the centre full time rather than teaching medicine. Furthermore, this experience has given me a great boost and inspired me to continue to learn Arabic so that I can hopefully come back and explore the Middle East some more. As for Palestine itself, there is so much that I could say or write. It is difficult to put fully in to words all that I have experienced in Palestine and all the emotions that I have felt whilst here. Whilst initially I was worried about what the situation might be like, I have had no concerns during my time here. In all my interactions with Palestinian people I have felt welcomed and a desire to connect. People have been incredibly kind and generous and approach life with a great joy. This has been true of the Palestinians I have met but also the other volunteers. I cannot speak highly enough of this experience and programme. On a slightly lighter note, the food has also been a definite highlight. Every single dish that I have tried here has been delicious and full of flavour. My particular favourite was eating fresh figs for breakfast, one day I managed to get through about 12! When I applied to the programme at the Excellence Centre, I did so without any particular enthusiasm or excitement. I was simply looking for something interesting to do whilst awaiting to start my new job. However, the time here has far exceeded my expectations. Whilst it hasn’t all been easy and there have definitely been challenges, I have really loved my time at the centre, and I truly hope that I can come back some day.

Hi, I'm Hisham, originally Moroccan but born in Spain. I'm a pharmacy graduate from the University of Barcelona, currently studying a PhD in cancer sciences at the University of Southampton, UK. I joined the Arabic Immersion Intensive programme for the month of August at the Excellence center in Hebron. I must say that after spending a whole month in Palestine, I can feel that my Arabic has greatly improved. I've been taught by two different wonderful teachers who were very attentive and supportive, and taught us not only about the Arabic language but also about the Palestinian culture and heritage which is something that unfortunately we don't know much about. Upon arriving I had my mind set on continuing to study Modern Standard Arabic or Fusha, but after speaking with Marwa and the teachers I realized that even if Fusha is used widely in mainstream media and studies, no one speaks it in the streets. Hence, I changed my mind and started studing the Levantine Dialect, with just a couple weeks of classes in the center I was able to understand the most common words the locals used and communicate with them easily. I've been able to interact with plenty of locals, people in Palestine are extremely friendly, open and welcoming, they're willing to help you out in whatever it is that you need, and this has probably been the thing that has struck me the most. I've been invited over by a taxi driver to have maqloubah at his house, I've been invited by strangers to join them at restaurants, and I've been offered plenty of cups of tea and coffee for free! I've been able to visit Ramallah, Jericho, the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, Bethlem, Jerusalem and Aqqah, all beautiul places with plenty of history. The center took us on trips to the old city with a guide which were very insightful and we managed to learn about the daily struggle Palestinians live when having to deal with the occupation. My mom was quite worried when I told her I was going to Palestine, she was scared and didn't want me to go out of fear. Upon arriving in Palestine, I also had some misconceptions but after living in Palestine myself, I can say that it's all lies. I've never felt safer when travelling, when I got lost I asked a guy for indications and he took me in his own car and drove me to the spot I needed to go. My overall experience has been fantastic, from the Palestinian people, to the teachers, and to the other students, I've enjoyed every single moment that I've been here and I can't recommed it enough!! So don't hesitate, and come to the Excellence Center in Hebron!

I participated in the volunteer and learn Arabic course for 1 week and then the intensive Arabic course for 2 weeks. In my first week I was able to help teach English to students who were all a joy to be around and so enthusiastic. The teachers in the classes were really supportive by telling me what level the students were at and explaining the lessons to me. In the next two weeks I studied Arabic in the intensive Arabic programme. I have definitely improved my Arabic whilst here and all the teachers are so friendly and helpful. I came with very basic knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic and the intensive Arabic programme has helped me become faster at reading and writing and understanding the language better. My Arabic teacher was amazing and extremely helpful. All the other teachers at the centre were also very friendly and the students in the classes were all so sweet and eager to learn. The environment at the centre is really inviting and accepting of all different kinds of people from anywhere in the world. It’s great to meet people from all over with so many different reasons for coming to the centre. During my time at the excellence centre I got involved with numerous activities including going to the old city and taking a tour, visiting the kafiyah factory and cooking local Palestinian food. Whilst in Palestine I visited Jericho and the Dead Sea, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and the old city. All of these places were really easy to get to via a shared taxi. I would go back to visit all of them again if I had the chance. Especially Jerusalem as there is so much to see. Whilst in Hebron I stayed with a host family who were so kind and accommodating. They offered food and cooked for myself and my roommate on numerous occasions and took us to parties and made me feel like part of the family. Palestinian people are the friendliest people I’ve ever met and most people go out of their way to help you. You could come back to Palestine just for the people. Hebron is also a great place to stay as it has easy taxi services and access to all other places. I felt extremely safe in Palestine and was not once worried for my safety. My favourite thing about Palestine is definitely the people, however, the food is also amazing and trying the local food is a must. I have so many stories from my 3 weeks here but my favourite has to be being invited for food at our taxi drivers house. (12 of us) we went for makloubah and he and his family showed so much hospitality. This is a great example of how kind Palestinian people are. I would Certainly visit Palestine again and the excellence centre. I even intend to continue my Arabic classes on line back in the UK. I have had 3 amazing weeks and will treasure my time here for life. I would recommend both volunteering at the centre or learning Arabic there. Thanks so much Excellence Centre!

My name is Nate Long and I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the State University of New York at Geneseo. Currently, I am earning a Master of International Affairs degree from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. During my two-month stay in Hebron, I participated in the Excellence Center’s Human Rights Program. This program allowed me to participate in weekly visits to government ministries and international and local non-governmental organizations. I also had the opportunity to visit with local artists and with Palestinians affected by the occupation. I visited many different organizations and offices, including the United Nation’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Halhul, the Governor of Hebron, the Office of International Affairs of the Hebron Municipality, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, and the Human Rights Defenders group in Hebron. In addition to weekly human rights visits, I also taught English to children in Al Fawwar refugee camp and in a few other communities in the Hebron governorate. I also had the chance to learn Arabic through weekly classes at the Excellence Center. I came to the Excellence Center with no knowledge of Arabic and I came to learn the alphabet and gained the ability to engage in small conversations by the end of my two months here. I feel like I have a solid foundation to build off of now thanks to the Arabic classes that I was able to participate in. This will greatly benefit my career aspirations in international relations and my desire to study the politics of the Middle East more in-depth. The Excellence Center staff were some of the kindest people I have ever met. The center staff is very welcoming and eager to assist volunteers as they get accustomed to living in Hebron. The international volunteers were all very friendly and I made many good friends here from all over the world. My students in the villages where I taught were great and they were very eager to learn English. During my time in Palestine, I lived in an apartment with two other volunteers. The apartment was owned by a family that we had limited interactions with, but they were very nice and welcoming. My living accommodations were good. The only thing I wish I had more of was cooking equipment so that I could have cooked some more food on my own. Other than that, I had a great living experience in Hebron. The people of Hebron are some of the nicest I have ever met while traveling. They are eager to show foreigners their shops and the inviting nature of Palestinian culture. I was invited over to multiple dinners during my time in Hebron where we enjoyed classic Palestinian dishes such as Makluba and Mansaf. I also traveled extensively throughout the West Bank and the 1948 lands during my two-month stay in Palestine. I traveled to Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jericho, Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Tel Aviv. I managed to visit most of the religious, political, and natural sites in Palestine, including the Dead Sea, the Mount of Temptation, the Church of the Nativity, Al Aqsa mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Mount of Olives, and the beaches of Jaffa. My favorite experience while traveling was going to Jerusalem during Eid and watching the sunset over the Old City from the Mount of Olives with my friends. I would definitely recommend the Excellence Center to others. I had a great time and learned a lot about the situation here, especially how the occupation affects the daily lives of Palestinians in Hebron and the greater West Bank. My lasting impression of Palestine is the resiliency of its people and the kindness of those I met throughout my time here. I have never felt more welcomed and wanted somewhere in all my life. I truly think Palestinians are some of the kindest people you will ever meet.

Hello, my name is Alexia Malaj, I’m 23 years old and I’m form Italy. I have a bachelor’s degree in international Cooperation and Conflict Management and right now I just finished my first year of Master in Human Rights and Multi-Level Governance. Here at the Excellence Center I participated in the Human Rights Program for 1 month. The program is very broad and i did a lot of activities. First of all, many stimulating visits to human rights organizations and associations, meetings with activists to talk about the occupation in Palestine and meetings with people and families in refugee camps and occupied territories who have told us their stories. In addition, at the center I also had the opportunity to study Arabic, 3 hours a week, and to teach English to the children in the surrounding villages. After a month in Palestine I certainly learned some Arabic. I didn't know anything Arabic before arriving here but thanks to the lessons of the excellence center I can have a basic conversation with the Palestinians (introduce myself, explain what i study and what i do, ask directions, studied a lot of verbs to use while communicating). The staff at the center is very welcoming and kind. They will help you a lot! Also the teachers are amazing. The environment is really nice, it’s a big family where you can have the opportunity to make new Palestinian friends but also international friends who share your same interests! While staying here I had the opportunity to visit many places! From the old city of Al Khalil to the desert of Masafer Yatta. I also visited Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Nablus and the Dead Sea. Palestine is beautiful and it’s absolutely worthy to come here. The people are so nice and they will welcome you and make you feel part of their families, tell you their stories, invite you to parties and family gatherings. Families here treat you as you were part of them and act like they’ve known you forever! The feeling is amazing. During my stay in Palestine I felt very safe. The people are lovely and they help you a lot. There is no danger, everyone is nice to you. I personally had no safety problems. In Palestine I loved everything, from the food to the people to the culture. But one of the things that impressed me more is the hospitality. I loved Palestine and i’m willing to come again. I really had an amazing experience and I recommend this to anyone.

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. 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.

I am Suzan, 33, from Belgium and a language teacher myself. I took a two weeks intensive Arabic class at the Excellence Center in Hebron. My teacher Maryam was great. We were just two students and both of us wanted the same: to practice and improve conversation skills in Levantine Arabic. Maryam did a wonderful job facilitating that, providing us with plentiful opportunities to speak and talk with each other. In Hebron I lived with a host family that was very friendly and generous. They invited me and my roommates several times for dinner, to sit in the garden or just to talk. I felt very safe in Hebron. I walked the streets alone during the day and at night and it was completely safe. Palestinian people are also very willing to help when you get lost or have a question. During my weekends I visited Jerusalem, Ramallah and Bethlehem. It was amazing to see other parts of Palestine. I was only in Palestine for a short time but it was a great experience. I talked to many Palestinians and learned a lot about their lives and how they live under Israeli occupation. I would definitely recommend studying Arabic at the Excellence Center. And I hope to be back in Palestine sooner than later, inshallah.

My name is Donna-Maria Corr and I am from Ireland. I was on the Volunteer Teaching English and Learning Arabic programme for two months at the Excellence Centre in Hebron, Palestine. Part of my activities involved assisting some of the Palestinian teachers at the centre. The local teachers would teach English grammar rules through Arabic, to ensure that students had a good foundation and understanding of the grammatical rules before I would begin a practice session with the students. This was a helpful experience as I came to the centre with little teaching experience, and I believe that this helped increase my confidence in the classroom. I also enjoyed learning Arabic, and Marwa was a fantastic teacher. At the centre I was able to participate in some activities such as, a tour of the old town in Hebron, I got to visit Ibrahim Mosque. I also had the opportunity to speak to some local Palestinian business owners in the old town and I got to hear their stories. This was a very eye-opening experience. The centre also organised a trip to Dar Saba Monastery near Bethlehem. I got to meet many international people and local people during my time in Hebron and friendships were formed. During my time at the centre, I was able to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah. I was able to see and do so much and it was an experience of a lifetime. During my time in Hebron, I stayed with a host family. This was an interesting experience, as I could really experience Palestinian family life first hand. My host family were very kind and welcoming. Palestinian families are very much like Irish families, we value the importance of family life and I liked how close the family are. I had two unpleasant experiences, both with taxi drivers in the city while I was taking a taxi to my host family, but this was nothing to do with the centre and not within their control. I preferred not to get a taxi after this, and mostly walked. To clarify, I didn’t feel unsafe on the street walking, it is just like walking in any city and most people just wanted to chat and welcome you to the city. Overall, I found the people of Hebron very warm, friendly, and welcoming. My second day at the centre I was walking back to my host family house, when I got lost. I was worried and a bit stressed, as I didn’t speak any Arabic and I had yet to get a SIM card, so I had no internet. I made my way to the Regency Hotel, and they spoke English to me. The staff at the hotel were very helpful, I was offered a drink and one of the staff contacted Marwa to find out directions. This confirmed that local people were kind and willing to help you. My overall impression of my time in Palestine is that the effects of this occupation are evident, the Palestinian people try to carry on with their day to day lives in peace from what I have witnessed. However, it is everyday things that most of us take for granted in our own countries, that are made difficult for Palestinian people and it will not be covered by media, such as the electricity cutting out, the shortage of water supply, 3G internet, rubbish bins overflowing, locals not allowed free movement of travel. Life is difficult for Palestinians, but despite this the people of Hebron are some of the kindest, most peaceful, and welcoming people I’ve ever met. I would recommend for anyone to come here and experience the occupation for themselves, but it’s not just a better understanding of the occupation you gain, it’s the amazing people you meet while you are here. I would like to thank the excellence centre for everything they do, this is such a vital community centre for the people of Hebron and so many children, young people and foreigners benefit from the centre. Marwa, Osama and all the teachers at the centre do an amazing job. It’s clearly not just a ‘job’ for them, they genuinely care about what they do. I would like to thank them for all their help and support, and I hope to return in the future.

My name is Linnea, I am from Germany and I am working as a marketing manager. I came to Palestine for participating in the human rights program and study Arabic. I spent in total six weeks in Hebron. The human rights program mainly consists of various visits to different organizations, institutions and meeting people who live under occupation in Hebron. I really enjoyed the human rights program because it helps to get a better understanding of the political and societal situation in the West Bank and especially in Hebron. At some point, it is also very challenging to process all the information and especially when it comes to meeting people living under occupation and hearing about their daily life in Hebron. What I liked the most about Palestine are the people! This is one of the most hospitable society I’ve ever been to. Everywhere you go people invite you for coffee or lunch and make you instantly feel like part of their family. Although adapting to a new surrounding is very challenging in the beginning, Palestinians make it easy for you to feel at home. This also applied to my host family: from the first moment I was part of the family and they were giving me space but also invited for lunch or diner and kept their door always open for me. And also I felt that especially the kids are amazing in Palestine: so energetic, open, interested, kind and warm-hearted. I really enjoyed being part of this society! During my time in Palestine I also had Arabic classes. My teacher was amazing because it was a great mixture of being challenged but still feeling very comfortable during the course. Every time I felt like I was learning something new and the classes were also a lot of fun and great memories! Besides the program the center also organizes other activities such as having dinner together at the center or visit other places in the West Bank. It’s perfect for a change and to get to know the staff and other volunteers/internationals. Regarding safety - I felt quite safe in Hebron. You can easily walk alone in the main areas during the day time and most of the people are very helpful and supportive. If you keep in mind several things such as not walking alone at night in quite areas or when alone, sitting in the back of a taxi then everything is fine. These are precautions you mostly take in any other city in the world. I’d definitely recommend the human rights program if you’re interested in learning more about the situation of Palestinians. Although after some time it also becomes tough to mentally process everything you see, hear and experience. For me it was a life changing experience as I could experience and learn about a completely different life and circumstances which really made me value and appreciate the freedom and equality I have back home! Thank you for this great experience and keep on bringing people together

Hi everyone here is Carol from Switzerland. I’m a physiotherapist and I chose the Medicine & Healthcare Programme of the Excellence Center. During my Programme at the EC I had the chance to visit some places in Hebron, as hospitals, refugee camps, and local organizations. I participated in some presentations about the Healthcare system and they gave me the opportunity to organize a workshop about health topics. The Arabic lessons give me the chance to communicate in a certain way with my host family and the people around me. Of course practice in everyday life was helpful for learning new words and repeating the others. I also learned useful idioms for everyday life. The time spent at the EC was instructive and interesting, all the staff of the center was very kind and of course the Arabic teacher too. Getting involved in this Programme led me the opportunity to get in touch with others International Volunteers, we had time to share our experiences and to taste the local life. During my stay in Palestine, on my days off, I visited some places like Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Ramallah also with my host family. Travelling around Palestine and its nature was suggestive, I had the chance to admire its amazing sunsets on the houses rooftops and go through its beautiful hills. Living in a host family was the best part of the experience. This gives me the chance to practice and learn Arabic every day and to have a full immersion in Hebron's culture. We spent a lot of time together, I learned how to cook some typical dishes, how to dance on particular occasions like graduation parties and how people in Hebron live their life. Palestinian people in general are very kind and they always try to help you in all the ways they know. I had some reserve before leaving home but I never felt unsafe in Palestine in general. Traveling from Ben Gurion to Hebron was easier than my expectations and all the people I met were very polite and they made my trip more comfortable. I felt completely safe also in Hebron of course as in every other place in the world you have to pay attention especially to the traffic and how to cross the street. I really enjoyed my time in Palestine. The food and the nature around were amazing, of course the food was my favourite thing. Getting in touch with another culture can be harder than we think but for sure it is worth it and thanks to this experience I learned how to be patient and flexible. I would say that my time in Palestine was very interesting and changed my view, caused by the media, about this place. The Excellence Center gave me the chance to discover a beautiful place. I recommend the Center to every person curious about life in Palestine and ready to learn some Arabic. The center offers you the occasion of fully living in this place.

My name is William and I am from Canada. I spent one month at the Excellence Center doing the intensive Arabic program. This meant that for three and a half hours a day, from 08.30 to 12.00 I had lessons on 3miyyeh Arabic. I was in a group with one other boy who was at my level, and once he left it was essentially one-on-one lessons. I have found the lessons very helpful, as not only are we in the middle east but also the teachers know a lot on the subject and were always eager to supply words and materials outside the course. Inside the Center was a wonderful environment because everyone is there for similar reasons. It was a good environment to study, or even simply sit in the sun and talk about hat adventures we had been on. After lessons I would often tag along with the other programs, and most often this meant going to refugee camps or visiting humanitarian groups inside of Hebron. Not only would we get lectures on a wide range of topics from experts, but also would have opportunities to go on trips around the West Bank. Most notably, we went on a trip to the Mar Saba Monastery as well as to Bethlehem. These more ‘fun’ trips were great for building up friendships with other students, with whom I am keeping in touch with after I leave. On the weekends there is also easy access to the rest of the West Bank and Jordan by means of the service system. Jerusalem is only an hour away, and it’s not uncommon for people to arrange travel together. I personally went to Ramallah, Nablus, and Jerusalem with other students and had a wonderful time. Hebron is a noisy but peaceful city. It doesn’t have quite the charm that Jerusalem or Bethlehem has, but because tourists are much more uncommon the people are welcoming and always eager to help. It’s not uncommon to be walking along the street when someone starts talking to you, then after a few hours you get invited to a wedding or some other function. Hebron is also quite a safe city, relatively speaking. While the traffic here is certainly dubious, I have never once felt in danger in H1, and even H2 is relatively safe so long as you handle yourself well. I very strongly recommend the intensive Arabic program here at the Center to almost anyone, and I have had nothing but good experiences.

Excellence Center Review My name is Dana and I’m from Chicago, IL USA. At the excellence center, I was a participant in the field study and healthcare programs. I had a pretty good experience at the center because I myself am Palestinian and I got to see and learn so much about my country. I got to see first hand what life was like in Arroob and Fawar refugee camps, I got to go on some of the human rights trips and check out a rep productive and women’s rights center, talk to Palestinian families about their experiences, attend presentations and workshops about the Palestinian reality as it relates to human rights and healthcare, strengthen my Arabic, and also teach English. I had a marvelous time with my host family who are people I now consider family. At the center itself, the teachers are fantastic and so fun to talk to and laugh with. They are so knowledgeable about Palestine and always willing to answer any questions I had and I really appreciate that. I also made some really great friends here from all around the world! I have friends in Japan, Holland, Britain, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Canada, Australia, and the US! It’s so cool to get to meet all these people with different experiences and ideas and have really cool conversations at the center and at coffee shops about anything and everything. In regards to safety, I generally felt very safe. There are definitely people who will stare because we are foreigners and sometimes there are small children who come up to you and want to talk to you, but they’re usually just very curious and excited. One of my favorite memories in Palestine was when the Tawjihi results came out and for two days the whole country was celebrating with fireworks and music. I even got to attend one of the celebrations and got to see how everyone goes from house to house congratulating the students for succeeding on their exams. It was really beautiful to be a part of. The only suggestions I would make is maybe sending out a welcome packet or welcome call of some sort of everything a person should know before arriving like how to get there, the specific living arrangements, etc. Also things were a little day by day sometimes which is fine, but it’s something to keep in mind that you may not always know what you’ll be doing a few days in advance. Overall, my experience at the excellence center was very positive! I learned so much about our family history and about what the daily experience is like with the occupation and apartheid. I can’t wait to come back to Palestine again and spend even more time here.

My name is Elizabeth and I’m a 21 year old college student from the United States. At the Excellence Center, I participated in the Human Rights Program for two months. At my university in the U.S., I study Arabic, Middle Eastern Culture, and Islam, but I also have taken many courses about Palestinian literature, film, and history and am involved in Palestinian activism with a group of students on my campus. At the Excellence Center, I attended regular visits to companies, organizations, government offices, and important cultural sites. Some of my favorite visits were to Hebron’s old city, the UN OCHA office, and the Human Rights Defenders office. Became I am also interested in Palestinian art, some of my other favorite visits were to various art studios around Hebron where I was able to meet a wide variety of Palestinian artists including a painter, oud player, glass worker, stop motion film-maker, and stone carver. Along with site visits, I also received Arabic instruction every week and taught English in Al-Fawwar Refugee Camp. I had previously studied Modern Standard Arabic for two years and my lessons at the center allowed me to focus more on the spoken Palestinian dialect. Between my Arabic lessons and living with a host family, I was able to pick up many new dialect words and phrases. My Arabic teacher was also incredibly flexible and crafted our lessons around what I already knew and what I wanted to learn. Teaching English also provided me with more opportunities to practice my Arabic and I had a wonderful experience teaching my class of middle schoolers for a few weeks. The environment at the Excellence Center is very warm and welcoming. Every single morning I was greeted by local students playing outside, teachers and volunteers hanging out on the steps, and the staff working inside. Most days, once I was done with my responsibilities at the center, I would find myself in a group of international volunteers and local staff members alike on my way to a restaurant or cafe. Despite the large number of volunteers at the center throughout the summer, I felt like the staff at the center were very attuned to my individual needs. Osama made sure that I got to see everything I wanted to see in Hebron during my time at the center and Marwa always made sure that I knew I could go to her with any problems that might arise. Outside of my time at the center, I spent weekends in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Jericho, and Jaffa. There was almost always a big group of volunteers heading someplace for the weekend and people were always willing and eager to give hostel recommendations and to share service rides. Each city in Palestine has its own unique character and I definitely recommend trying to visit as many places as you can! I felt very safe in Palestine. People here are very eager to help you, give you rides, and invite you to their homes and I always felt safe accepting those things from people I had just met. In fact, my other international friends and I often marveled at how safe we felt in situations that we would normally avoid in our home countries. While I found Palestine to be a very safe place, of course I do recommend that female volunteers retain the same levels of caution and wariness that they would in any other country. I never walked home alone after dark, told my friends where I was going, and texted them when I got home safe. As a foreign woman, you should expect lots of attention from men and boys and should know that they will be much quicker to speak to you than they are to local women. While I did receive unwanted attention, I never once felt like I was in danger here in Palestine. Living in Hebron and with a host family was a very positive experience. I spend Eid al-Adha with my host family, went on a family vacation to Jericho, attended weddings and graduation parties, and overall felt very included in local Palestinian life. I quickly felt like I was part of the family and felt at home living with them. My host “mom” worked for the Hebron Governorate and she was able to set up a meeting between the Excellence Center volunteers and the governor of Hebron. Along with all of the fun activities that I joined with my host family, we were also able to have many conversations about the occupation and the reality of life in Palestine that were more in depth than any other conversations I had. My favorite experiences from living in Palestine came from my friendship with a local artist here in Hebron. We first visited his studio as a group from the center, but I was later able to return to his studio to paint (we graffitied a bench that now lives in a shoe store in Hebron) and he also introduced me to other Palestinian artists. I was even able to go with him to Bethlehem for a competition between young Palestinian artists in the Banksy Walled Off Hotel where I met Sliman Mansour. Another one of my favorite experiences was when I got to meet the rapper Tamer Nafar, who I’ve researched for the past year, after a concert of his in Jaffa. My overall experience at the Excellence Center was very positive. Through the Excellence Center, I met wonderful people from Hebron and from all around the world. The volunteers who come to the Excellence Center, while their backgrounds are wildly diverse, come with a shared set of values and a shared commitment to the Palestinian cause. The staff at the Excellence Center are also incredible and I made many friends among staff members here. I learned so much about the occupation and the human rights situation here through lectures and visits that the Excellence Center organized. I would certainly recommend the Excellence Center to anyone who was interested in visiting Palestine and I absolutely loved my time here. After two months in Palestine, I am still astounded by the overwhelming kindness and generosity of the people here despite the realities of the occupation. I stood in the wreckage of demolished homes, watched IDF soldiers confront my friends, and spoke to many people whose family members have been killed. Still, the kindness of people in Hebron does not waver. I will always be in awe of the resilient spirit here, whether it manifests itself as a commitment to teach English to a younger generation, a dedication to documenting and disseminating events that take place here, or the creation of profound and beautiful art

This programme gives you the opportunity to join on average about two field trips to organisations that work in occupied Palestine. Those range from international organisations like the UN or the ICRC to local activist groups. Furthermore, we visited factories producing local goods and businesses, as Hebron is the commercial centre of Hebron. As part of the programme you participate in about a 3 hour Arabic lesson a week in a small group. While those lessons help to learn some basic Arabic don’t expect to get fluent… For that you should participate in the Intensive Arabic programme for at least two months and study hard! Don’t worry you will also have the opportunity to participate in some of the Human Rights activities. As there are many international students at the centre, it is great place to find friends and exchange the experiences you made in Palestine. The staff at the centre is very helpful, albeit you might have to drive your one programme. On the weekends you can go on self organised trips, with friends you made at centre or alone. Everything within Palestine is easily reachable and not too expensive. If you are here for a longer period, you can even go to Jordan and visit Petra and Wadi Rum. In Hebron, I shared a modern apartment with under students from the excellence centre. The apartment was great and had everything we needed. Also, as Hebron is the economic hub, you can get anything you need from local shops. Hebron and Palestine is extremely safe place to visit. While the idea of occasionally having to pass checkpoints might be frightening at first - it really isn’t. As a foreigner you most certainly will nicht face any problems. My time in Palestine was great, I met many interesting people, had some really good food and was able to travel throughout the country. I can recommend the centre to someone who wants to learn about the situation in Palestine or who wants to learn and improve his Arabic speaking skills.

My name is Tereza. This summer I decided to participate in Law Internship provided by the Excellence Center in Hebron. I was always interested in situation of Palestinian people, and I took this as an opportunity to practice and get better in Arabic and learn more about the applicable law in Palestine. When I considered possibilities to travel abroad and learn Levantine Arabic, I basically didn’t consider for visiting any other country than Palestine. Palestinian people are very kind and hospitable. My stay with host family is amazing, all members of family are very caring and nice, keen to help me with Arabic and excited to practice English and get better in that. The one month stay allowed me to focus on Palestinian dialect more and get better in that, as well as travelling and attending various activities provided by the Center. I am very glad I could also visit various places and institutions (as a part of my program), as Hebron Governorate, UNRWA, Red Cross and many others. This part of my program in the Center was one of the most helpful regarding understanding the situation in Hebron, and at the same time making this experiment unique. I really enjoyed my Arabic lessons. My teacher Mahmoud was the best teacher I have ever had for any foreign language, and I am leaving with the feeling I got much better in understanding and speaking Arabic. During my stay, I had possibility to travel to Ramallah and Nabulus with my host family, to Jericho and Jerusalem on my own, and to Bethlehem, Batir and Mar Saba within the trip organized by the Center. Regarding safety – Hebron is safe city. All the people around me, including the host family are making sure I feel comfortable and relaxed. I feel safe in this place and very welcomed. There are absolutely no concerns about my safety in Palestine as a foreigner. During my stay in Hebron, I focused mainly on topics related to my studies, meaning law and Arabic language. There is no better place to improve my skills in Arabic language then around natives. Regarding my law internship – as many European lawyers and law students would agree with me, we have a very little knowledge of law systems outside our countries or Europe. I consider this as a unique possibility to understand better the sources of Palestinian law, its application, division, and have a possibility to talk with the local lawyers. The applicable law in Palestine is often a compound from different sources, including neighboring countries and Ottoman empire. During the lectures, I focused mainly on Sharia law, system of courts in Palestine and also the political situation here. The Excellence Center is doing their best to provide all important information on their website beforehand, so once you arrived, you can already feel like in your second home. I would recommend to others to participate at any program provided by the Center.

My name is Jamil Shiha, and I am Palestinian from America. I was in the Teach English and Study Arabic program. During my stay in Hebron, I also participated in activities here such as visiting the Old City and presentations from other volunteers at the Excellence Center. I found my Arabic lessons here very helpful. They helped improve my speech, vocabulary, and grammar. The staff at the Excellence Center was overall great. They were very nice, generous, and helpful to me. I enjoyed living with the volunteers at our dorm. I felt safe living in Hebron. After volunteering here, I look forward to coming back to visit again. I had a great experience volunteering and learning Arabic at the Excellence Center and recommend it to others.

I had such an amazing few weeks in the excellence centre, what an invaluable education it was! I visited many human rights activists within the community and groups working with marginalized people in the area. I visited refugee camps and spoke with locals about their experience. I gained a true insight into life here and hope to share my experiences with many others and encourage them to come to hebron to experience it for themselves.

Hello, my name is Audria, and I am from the United States. I have two bachelor’s degrees in International Studies and Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures from Indiana University. During my time at the Excellence Center in Palestine, I participated in the Teach English & Study Arabic program. As an English teacher, I gave multiple private lessons and taught large classrooms with students of all ages and levels. In addition to preparing for lessons and teaching certain classes, I gave a presentation on the experience of teaching for other English teachers at the center. As for my Arabic courses, I had one or two lessons per week with an Arabic instructor. These courses helped me learn more about the Palestinian dialect and Ammiya Arabic as a whole. I visited a few sites with the Human Rights Program, including a trip to the Governor’s Office and the Hebron Municipality. Additionally, I went on a few trips with the entire Center, which included a site visit to a mountainous area where we ate dinner together. The Excellence Center’s environment is very open, caring, and easy-going. The staff and faculty are always willing to answer your questions and take care of your concerns. The Center is quite lenient with your schedule and available to your suggestions and recommendations. Other volunteers are nice and tolerant, as most of them come to Palestine with a similar sense of curiosity, adventure, interest, and respect. Throughout my time in Palestine, I visited several cities and places. I traveled to Ramallah, Jerusalem, Nablus, and Bethlehem. I visited more southern parts of Palestine with my host family. The host family I stayed with was lovely and very welcoming. Through living with a family from Hebron, in Hebron, I was given a full immersion to the culture and the language. In regard to safety, I felt very safe in Hebron and Palestine at-large. Other than normal uncertainties and moments of hyper-awareness that are expected with any travel experience, my time in Palestine was safe and secure. My favorite thing about Palestine is the people, the Palestinians. Of course, the food and the environments are delightful, but the people are what make Palestine great. My favorite stories are simply of the many laughs and moments I had with the friends I made through the fellow interns and volunteers at the Center. Overall, my experience in Palestine and with the Excellence Center was beautiful and lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed my time. I highly recommend this experience to others, especially those that want to fully immerse themselves in the culture, language, and the environment.

My name is Nico, and I am from the U.S., where I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies. Here at the Excellence Center, I was part of the Women’s Rights and Human Rights volunteer program for two weeks, which consisted of visiting local human rights and women’s rights organizations in order to learn about the work they were doing and the challenges that they faced. While I was here, I also took some Arabic lessons, which I found helpful and appropriate for my level. I knew some Arabic before coming, so the lessons were focused on getting me to speak more in conversation, and to fill in words and phrases specific to Palestine and Hebron that I hadn’t learned anywhere else. In all, they were exactly what I had hoped they would be when I signed up. The staff, other students, and everyone involved at the Center were incredibly welcoming, friendly, and helpful. Any time I needed help finding an ATM, an open restaurant, or how to take a trip to a different city– I could ask others and they would happily give me the information I needed (or point me in the direction of someone who would know). People in Hebron were also very friendly and welcoming– every day I would be greeted by “Hi! Welcome to Hebron!” as I walked past people. I felt very safe in Palestine, as people may have been surprised by the presence of a tourist, but often went out of their way to see if I needed help or advice. I never felt unwelcome or uncomfortable in Palestine or in Hebron. With the center, I visited areas around Hebron and took a bus trip with many other students and teachers to Mar Saba Monastery near Bethlehem, one of the oldest still active churches in existence, to the village of Bitar, where we sat in the natural park and visited the roman bath and pool, and to the wall within the city of Bethlehem. By myself, I visited the Old City of Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Bethlehem, where I saw the Church of the Nativity and many other historical sites. People in Palestine and at the center were incredibly welcoming and helpful. One of my favorite stories was when I took a taxi to Bethlehem and the driver asked me if I liked arabic coffee. I told him yes, not thinking much of it, but the next thing I knew we were pulled over on the side of the road and he was buying me a cup of coffee and water. Like this experience, people here go out of their way to help and to welcome you, and every day was a wonderful new experience that I would suggest to others to take!

Although, I could stay only for a week, I’ve learned some useful phrases, could engage in the culture. Everyone was very kind and helpful and welcomed friendly. Whenever I had a question, I always could fine someone who could help me out, answer for my questions. Before my arrival to Hebron, I’ve spent one day in Jerusalem and I have attended to a trip to Bethlehem with the center, which was amazing. Many times, I walked home alone during the night. Even though I wasn’t familiar in the city, I felt safer than in the city I live. Besides, anytime I got lost I always found someone who could help me out or drop me. I can’t emphasize one specific part, because I have enjoyed my entire staying. However, I gained a lot of experience about the happenings in Palestine. If someone wants to learn about Palestine, I would recommend the program for the first.

I found the Excellence Center on the internet and after reading the reviews of other students and volunteers, I chose to come here or two weeks for the Intensive Arabic in the Laventine/Shaami accent. I've been to Jerusalem before so I knew what to expect at the airport. After couple of hours of wait and a few questions, I was given 1 month Israeli visa (a separate piece of paper and not a passport stamp). Getting from the airport to Hebron (via Damascus Gate) was easy and cheap in a shared taxi. When I arrived in the Excellence Center, I was greeted by Usama and Marwa who welcomed me and took me to my accommodation which was about 30 mins walk from the center. I had the option of getting taxi but I really enjoyed the daily walk to and from the center. I was in a class with two other students who were at similar level - one from Spain and another from Italy. We had all studied Fusha before and were attempting to learn to speak in Aamiyah. The lessons were well structured and all teaching was in Aamiyah Arabic. While it was difficult at first, our teacher really helped us slowly progress. We practiced speaking, writing, listening and writing. By the end of the first week, I started to get more comfortable with the accent and felt confident enough to try speaking with the local shopkeepers and kids around the Excellence Center. I would highly recommend the Arabic program. There is only so much one can learn in 2 weeks and I wish I was able to stay longer. Before I came to Hebron, everyone was concerned about my safety. Besides the Arabic, I visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem's apartheid wall, Biteer Valley, Refugee camp, Dar Sara Monastery near the Dead sea, Old Hebron market and Ibrahimi Masjid (areas under Israeli control). At no point did I ever feel unsafe or uneasy. As long as I showed my passport and visa, I was able to go through various checkpoints without issue. Everyone at the Excellence Center is extremely friendly and helpful. I cannot thank Usama enough for personally helping me with some charitable activities that I had requested privately. Marwa also randomly invited me to her house for tea and sometimes for dinner. If you're looking for Arabic program you will not be disappointed with the teaching here.

My knowledge of Arabic was limited to the basics before I came to Hebron. I had taken language classes for two semesters in college and wanted to learn the spoken language. I decided to take the intensive course with 20 hours of classes per week. I learned a lot during the two weeks at the center. My teacher was great and taught me a lot of new things. She used creative teaching methods and sometimes in the afternoon instead of going to the classroom we went to a coffee shop or sat down at the soccer field close to the center. Not only my teacher, but also the rest of the team at the center was great. The atmosphere there is very pleasant. The center organized several excursions: we visited the old town, a weaving mill and went hiking near Bethlehem for a day. During the two weeks I lived with a host family. I lived on one floor of the house with another student. We played with the children, talked with the adults and were able to improve our Arabic easily. The family also took us to visit relatives, showed us culinary highlights and the best places in the city. Their hospitality was amazing! We even got to spend the holidays with them and kept meeting new parts of the family. Hebron is a bustling city. People are very welcoming. You often hear them shouting "Welcome to Palestine!" They are also incredibly helpful. We lived just outside the center and took the bus sometimes. The bus drivers always took the time to make sure we were on the right bus and got to our destination. At no time did I feel unsafe. In the city, people want to talk to you from time to time. They are usually interested about where you are from and what you are doing in Hebron. I never felt uncomfortable at any time. I enjoyed my stay very much and will definitely come back to Hebron!

My name is Elisha. I am from the United States and have a degree in English and Intercultural Studies. I participated in the Intensive Arabic program at the Excellence Center. During my time at the center I was able to enjoy time with other participants and staff over breakfast, join a tour around the old city of Hebron, and go on a trip to explore a monastery and spring near Bethlehem with the Excellence Center community. My time in Arabic classes was very enjoyable and challenged me to use new vocabulary and communicate useful information about daily life and my experiences. My teacher went at a great pace throughout the lessons and had fun activities planned to help us learn and practice. The environment at the center was welcoming and warm. Everyone was willing to sit and chat and ask questions about each other as well as help with any questions about the program or life in Hebron. Living with a host family was an amazing and unforgettable experience. There's nothing like learning and experiencing a culture and language with locals, and my host family was incredibly welcoming and generous, inviting us to join in their family life and activities and showing us around the city. The people in general were very welcoming and willing to help with directions and finding things around the city. Although Palestinian food is delicious and the landscapes are beautiful, I think the part I enjoyed most about being in Palestine was the people. I enjoyed their openness and welcoming spirit and spending evenings chatting with the host family out on the balcony, grabbing a juice or tea at their favorite cafes, or playing games with the young children and grandchildren in the home. I am thankful to have experienced even a short time in Palestine and will remember the kindness and hospitality I received. I would definitely recommend the Arabic program at the center because it was very helpful to be immersed in the language in class, around the city, and with the host family. Being able to learn about the history and culture of the people was also incredibly valuable, and wish I could have stayed longer.

Hello! My name is Sude, and I'm from the United States. I recently graduated from college with a Bachelor's degree in sociology. I've been at the Excellence Center in Hebron and participating in the Human Rights Program for what has shaped up to be a very short month. Though you may be intimidated at first by how busy the center seems, most days are actually pretty predictable. During my stay, I went on trips everyday with locals to various organizations to learn more about daily life in Hebron. I had the opportunity to visit Hebron University to learn about educational opportunities in the city, Fawwar Camp to hear from residents and to understand how they organized amongst one another to provide services that the UN could not, in addition to Tel Rumeida and Shuhada Street to observe how apartheid manifests in the heart of this city. Though you may be going on these trips with large groups, I'd encourage you to take the time to speak to activists and locals one on one. This will both enrich your experience in the city and allow you a better understanding of life in Palestine. You may even find that they connect you to other organizations with whom you can volunteer. Besides the various site visits, I was given two Arabic lessons per week to learn the Palestinian dialect. Especially if this is the first time you're learning Arabic, I'd advise that you take plenty of time outside of class to study vocabulary and grammar, in addition to trying to speak with your host family or other Hebronites who don't know English. Though the teachers at the center are great, classes are not sufficient in and of itself to learn any language. During my time here, I've also traveled to various other cities, such as Jenin and Nablus. These make for easy and exciting weekend trips. Make sure to ask the staff at the center for travel advice! During the day-to-day operations at the Center, I loved hanging out on the steps or on the benches right outside the main entrance with the staff, students, and volunteers. All of them were incredibly hospitable and eager to have a conversation. In fact, I think I've made some of my best friends on those steps. Initially, I'd planned to split my time in Palestine between Hebron and Jerusalem. However, after staying with my wonderful host family, I decided to scrap that idea all together. Though you may be unaccustomed to certain traditions or expectations, know that your host family will take care of you as if you were their own. I've loved spending time with them and their relatives, doing my best to speak Arabic, sipping no less than four cups of coffee during the day, and playing with the children. Generally speaking, Hebron is a very safe and welcoming city. People are open to helping you should you need it, but you'd benefit from knowing a few essential phrases in Arabic. Most of the volunteers here spend their time outside of the center exploring the wide array of cafes on the main street. There's even one right next to a riding stable, should you want to take lessons while you're here! Now, while you're here, you best learn the art of haggling as you may be overcharged for just about any item you wish to buy. Personally, meandering through its streets with my camera in hand is when I felt most connected to this new city. Walking up towards the Old City, I often came across people who pulled me aside, asked where I was from, and without hesitation, bid me to come into their homes for tea. Once, an old man who had stopped me in my path went out of his way to walk me down another road, pointing out buildings which had seemed mundane to my untrained eye, but which were actually host to a complex history. Palestine is an inarticulable experience. There is no doubt in my mind that you'll love your time here and leave wishing that it had lasted just a little bit longer. Just make sure that when you do leave, you take with you not only the memories of a summer abroad, but also the resounding, collective message of the people here: Free, Free Palestine!

I'm a German social worker in her thirties and I spent 3 months at the Excellence Center in Hebron as a volunteer in the Women's Rights program. For the majority of my stay, I was the only one in this program, so I shared most of the activities with the volunteers from the Human Rights Program. Therefore, I not only met with specialized organizations and activists for women's rights and empowerment of women, but also got a broad overview of the human rights situation in general thorugh meeting human rights acivists and advocates in general. At the beginning of the program, the manager and me planned for me to first meet a variety of representatives of the Hebronite society and have visits to different parts of the city and the nearby villages and rural areas, so as to learn about the problems and needs of women and get a better unterstanding of the societies here in general. We also planned for me to join workshops visits of women's rights organisations and subsequently offer workshops on my own, based on the women's needs and priorities. Unfortunately it turned out to be very complicated to join other organisations in their activities, but based on the meetings and conversations I joined at the center (English club, French class, visits to the refugee camp, my Arabic lessons, and informal conversations with Palestinians in general) I felt comfortable enough to offer workshops for girls and women, starting around the halfway point of my stay. In the workshops we focused on deepening the understanding about women's rights by exchanging ideas and experiences, as well as empowerment to advocate for what they believe in and the change they want to see in their society. I learned a lot from the women and girls and their perspectives on their rights, equality, feminism and protection from violence. I hope that I could give back a little by providing these platforms for discussing and analysing these issues and listening and respecting their viewpoints. Part of the volunteers program were also 3 hours of Arabic lessons per week. I had some experience prior to this stay with the Egyptian and the Lebanese dialect, so my goal was to learn more about the Palestinian dialect. The lessons were mostly one-on-one, only in the last three weeks I shared the lessons with someone on a similar level due to big number of internationals coming for the summer to the center. I enjoyed the lessons throughout my whole stay because my teacher listened to what I wanted to focus on (speaking and listening). The lessons helped me a lot to improve my speaking skills in everyday situations as well as provided me with the specific vocabulary tailored to the women's rights program. After three months I feel comfortable to express my needs and navigate everyday situations as well as more complex conversations surrounding women's rights issues. When I arrived at the center the group size was roughly a third of what it was in the last month, so I got the chance of getting to know the center's staff really well and spent a lot of time with them in and outside the center. I also formed friendships with the international students, by hanging out together in cafés and going on weekend trips together in the Westbank. The more international people came to the center and local students joined the classes, the more chaotic became the organisation of the center's activities. Personally I appreciated the flexibility in the planning and organisation, because it allowed them to adapt to my personal situation and energy level (I had to go home for a month in between and I got sick while being here), but it can be frustrating for people who want to have a steady schedule and know exactly what to expect from their program. I advice anyone who comes to the center to clearly and respectfully communicate your needs and expectations as well as your boundaries to the center's staff. From my experience, they will do everything in their power to meet your expectations and respect your boundaries. Like most women in the program I got the chance to live with a host family and I couldn't have been happier with the placement. They welcomed me very openly in their lives and I really appreciated how they accepted me as a new family member while at the same time respecting my need for independance. I loved spending time with them, laughing and joking with them as well as having important discussions about politics and social issues, and above all I enjoyed the amazing food they cooked! Overall the first thing that comes to my mind when reflecting on my stay here is how incredibly kind and welcoming the Palestinian society is and the amazing connections I got to form here in a relatively short period of time. I also really enjoyed the homecooked food and the beautiful nature, but in the end it is the people I got to meet here in the center, during our visits and trips and of course my host family, that made my stay here one of the most satisfying and rewarding experience of my life. As I am about to leave I'm already planning my return here because there is much more to do here than I got the chance to in these past months. Before coming here for the first time I was lucky enough to have friends who have been to Palestine before and could tell me about their exeriences. They could therefore explain to me that the situation is really safe here for foreigners and that I don't need to worry about my safety if I just listen to the locals on what is safe and what isn't. Overall I feel sad and frustrated about the current situation under the Israeli occupation. The many human rights violations which occur almost daily, and I almost never heard about back home in Germany, were sometimes unbearably painful to observe, but I never felt worried for my own safety. While the occupation is the strict framework of the life here in Hebron, there is so much more here to learn, to explore and to enjoy, so people should not be deterred to come here because of the occupation. The Palestinians will make the trouble of coming here worth it, that I can promise!

My name is Vicky and I am Costa Rican-American. I studied International Studies at American University in Washington, DC, and I specialized in environmental sustainability and peace and conflict resolution. I also studied Arabic for three years in college, but I wanted to come to the Excellence Center to practice the language more and learn the Palestinian dialect in the Intensive Arabic Program. I spent a month at the Excellence Center. I chose to come to Palestine because I wanted to support the Palestinian people and their freedom from occupation and I love Palestinian culture, like Elia Suleiman’s films, writing from Mahmoud Darwish and Ghassan Kanafani, and dabke. I travelled to Palestine four years ago but I only spent two weeks in Nablus and Jerusalem, and I wanted to return to make deeper connections with the people and the country. At the Excellence Center, I took three hours of Arabic lessons five days a week. Although I had previously studied Modern Standard Arabic for three years in university, I realized that I did not have much practice speaking in the dialect. After a month of practice with my teacher every day, I feel much more confident in my ability to hold conversations with people on a variety of topics. The staff, teachers, and volunteers at the Center foster a welcoming environment, especially as we gather together for breakfast, have coffee together throughout the day, and often have conversations about complex topics outside of class. Sometimes after my lessons, I joined the other students and volunteers on tours to the Old City, the Ibrahimi Mosque, the Hirbawi Kufiya factory, Hebron University, and the National Association of Human Rights Defenders. Outside of the Center, I travelled with a group of volunteers to Nablus, where we stayed in a cultural center at Balata refugee camp. I also travelled with some volunteers to Ramallah one weekend, and we visited the Yasser Arafat Museum. I enjoyed living with my host family, speaking Arabic with them, helping the children practice English, and trying traditional foods like warak diwali and molokhia with rice. We celebrated family members' birthdays together. The family home has a beautiful garden, and sometimes I would go home in the afternoon to study Arabic in the garden, but sometimes all of the children would come to our section of the house and it could be hard to focus on work. But most of all, the family is very sweet and generous. Even though I will be in Ramallah next month, my host mom invited me to return in two weeks for Eid al-Adha, and I am looking forward to spending this special holiday with them. When I first came to Palestine four years ago, my first impression was that people are so kind and willing to help you even if they hardly know you. Now, my impression is the same, and this is what I liked most about Palestine and why I wanted to return. There have been several times where I speak to someone I hardly know, and they invite me to their homes for coffee or dinner. I feel very safe in Palestine, maybe even safer than I do in the United States or at home in San José, Costa Rica. One of my favorite memories about Palestine occurred a few days ago, when I was walking alone through the Old City and I saw an old woman sitting in front of her shop where she sold traditional tatreez embroidery. By coincidence, I realized I had met her three years ago in Washington, DC when I worked at a magazine on Middle East affairs, and she had been invited to sell her products there in DC. She invited me to drink tea, and we began to speak in Arabic about the occupation, the situation in the Old City, and how her organization supports women in the villages near Hebron, giving them an opportunity to sell their beautiful, handmade products. It was a memorable experience. I could understand the conversation in Arabic, despite the complicated topics, and I learned so much from her. In spite of violent occupation, the Palestinian culture and identity is alive and beating, and I have an immense respect for everyone in Hebron and Palestine. I recommend the Excellence Center, especially to those who want to join the Intensive Arabic Program. Thank you!

My name is Johanna, I am 31 years old, and I was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden. I came to Palestine and the Excellence Center to study Arabic and to participate in the Women’s Rights Program for a duration of two weeks. It only took me a few days before I started to really feel at home at the Excellence Center. I also felt very welcome and comfortable with my host family right away, and it was perfect that I could be placed with a family that did not speak any English, since this gave me all the more opportunity to practice my Arabic. Staying with a host family has been among my most valuable and pleasant experiences here. About half way through my volunteering program I decided to sign up for intensive Arabic lessons, instead of only taking three hours of lessons per week, since I wanted to focus more on the language. I have been extremely content with my teacher, Mahmood, both with his choice of material and his methods of teaching. He has tailored the lessons to my needs so that I have got the most possible out of them, while I have also enjoyed our time together in the classroom immensely, laughing and learning at the same time. Overall, I have only positive things to say about the people at the Excellence Center, both the staff and the volunteers. There is a large diversity of backgrounds and life experience among the volunteers, but the one thing everyone at the center seems to have in common, staff as well as volunteers, is their passion for learning and growing. Sometimes this environment that is so full of life and inspiration is in stark contrast to the stories we have heard during visits to local organizations, from people we have met here, and from the local teachers at the center. We have met with activists who document crimes committed by Israeli soldiers, people who run an organization that gives women in the areas most affected by the occupation a chance to learn how to build a business model and to fund their projects, and we have visited the Fawwar camp on the outskirts of Hebron, learning about living conditions in the camp and talking to a family that lives there. Since I came here only for two weeks, and the weekends are the only time to travel outside of Hebron, I have not had the opportunity to visit a lot of places in the West Bank. I went to Ramallah twice and also did a quick visit to Nablus, but it was on a Saturday, so there was a lot of traffic and I needed to catch the last minibus back to Hebron, which did not leave me with a lot of time to explore the city. However, what I always appreciate the most when staying in other countries is spending time with locals, which I have had many opportunities to do here. Last time in Ramallah, I met someone who works as a paramedic for the Red Cross, and he told me a story of when he had an Israeli soldier point a gun to his head because he refused to hand over the keys to the ambulance he was driving. He showed me a photo that someone took of the incident. I cannot choose one favorite experience from my stay in Palestine, or one favorite thing about this country. I can list some concrete things that I love: the people, the landscape, the food. Of course, the atmosphere at the Excellence Center and the sense of belonging and connection that I have had with the staff and the volunteers are an important reason why I have loved it here. But in the end, the reason I need to come back is simply in how I feel, which I also cannot quite describe. There are also still a lot of places and things to see and many people left to meet. If I did not have to go back to Sweden to work, I would without a doubt have extended my stay.

My name is Garrett and I am from Texas in the United States. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Palestine and at the EC. I engaged in numerous activities relating to learning and teaching languages, visiting various locations in Palestine, and engaging with Palestinian families and individuals. I found my Arabic lessons at the EC to be very useful, and learned a great deal while I was in Palestine. It is very useful to learn vocabulary at the excellence center, then go out in the streets to practice and use the words that I learned. There is no limit to how much you can learn during your stay. The center and Al Khalil are an excellent environment to learn and practice. The excellence center has a very welcoming environment. You will realize immediately that everyone at the center is very kind and helpful. They will be very happy to help you with any questions or challenges you face. I participated in visits and field trips almost every day that I was with the Excellence Center. They bring volunteers to government buildings, local organizations, and beautiful natural sites. While I was in Palestine, I visited almost all of the major cities, but one month is not enough to see all of Palestine. I was able to visit Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Al-Quds. While I was there, I was able to visit the beautiful natural sites there, and spend time in the city centers and old cities/markets. Living in Hebron was a seamless experience. I found the people to be very hospitable and welcoming, and at no point did I get the feeling that the city was unsafe in any way. I truly enjoyed my time in Palestine and it’s hard to outline my favorite thing about the country. I thoroughly enjoyed the food, nature, and weather, but sweeter than all of these things was the people. Everywhere I went, I found people welcoming me, curious to speak with me and help me with whatever I needed. My time here has created a strong and lasting impression of the country and people that will stay with me long after I return to the US. Among my favorite experiences here was when I went up into the mountains in Halhul and ate Sajiyya and smoked argila while watching the sunset from atop a high vantage point. My overall experience in the Excellence Center and Palestine at large was very pleasant, and I genuinely hope to return one day soon. I’m thankful for the entrance into Palestinian society and way of life that the Excellence Center provided me.

Hi, my name is Fionn, and I come from Belfast, Ireland. I graduated from Cambridge University last year, where I studied Palestinian literature, like Darwish and Kanafani. This made me fall in love with my Palestine, but the empathy I felt towards the Palestinian cause was often contradicted by the distorted image of Palestine in Western media. For this reason, I chose the ‘Journalism and Media Program’ at the Excellence Center. I am really glad I chose this program. There were many journalists who came in and spoke to us, and we also visited radio stations. I even made some connections with journalists who invited me to work alongside them, and I probably learned the most about Palestinian media in this way. Aside from this, there were many human rights related activities organised by the Center, including several tours, a visit to a displaced Bedouin village outside Hebron, trips to refugee camps and meetings with human rights activists. All these visits were eye-opening for us: even though I knew about the suffering of the Palestinian people before I came, witnessing it was a surreal experience. I really enjoyed my Arabic lessons at the Center. Even though I knew no Arabic before I came, my teacher Dallia was unbelievably nice and patient, and I felt like I learned very quickly with her. When she unfortunately had to stop teaching me due to a serious family illness, the Center promptly found me another teacher, Anas. Like all the Palestinians who work at the Center, he is friendly, funny and genuinely talented at teaching. It may sound like a cliché, but the Center really does feel like a family. Many of the volunteers, like me, had never travelled alone before, and so we were initially nervous, before Osama, Marwa and the rest of the staff made us feel immediately at home. You meet people from all around the world here, yet everyone shares a common love of travel and desire to learn more about Palestine. Before the end of your first week here, you know you have made friends for life. There is a fantastic atmosphere at the Center. You are never bored here: even when you have free time, there is always someone to chat and joke around with. I will never forget the Palestinian willingness to laugh, at almost everything. I think it was so important for me and others to not only learn about the occupation and suffering, but also about the incredible optimism and friendliness of the Palestinian people. My host family were amazing, and did everything they could to make me feel at home. There is strong sense of pride here—not just of Palestine, but of Hebron itself. I am really glad I chose Hebron to visit and, as a woman, I felt completely safe here. To be honest, I felt more safe than any other major city I have visited in Europe. One of the funniest moments of my experience was when a famous Palestinian Tiktoker visited the Center. I had been in Palestine for less than a week, and only knew a couple of phrases in Arabic— one of which was alhamdulillah (the common response to ‘How are you?’). The Tiktoker, when filming the Center, suddenly put the camera on me, and said ‘Good morning’ (sabah alkhayr). In the video, you can see the panic in my eyes as I reply alhamdulillah, although I was fairly proud that I’d managed to say anything at all in Arabic. Everyone looked confused. The celebrity continued to question me in a torrent of Arabic. I froze, widened my eyes, and began to laugh hysterically. By the end of the day, every Palestinian I had met so far had seen the video, and shouted ‘alhamdulillah’ every time they saw me. It was probably one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, but the endless banter that followed perfectly encapsulates the familial, jokey atmosphere of the Center in general. If you come here, it will not only be one of the most informative experiences of your life, but you will also become part of something really special. To use an Irish colloquialism, the craic at the Center is always, always great. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

My name is Sheila, 45 years, from Germany, more precisely from a little village called Glems, population 1200, located in the southwest of Germany. I would describe myself as blessed, very curious, young at heart, fearless and of course somehow charmingly crazy in my own way. Then: I quit running a hostel and being self-employed in January 2021. During Covid I had a lot of time to think about myself, we all experienced that, even though I wasn´t inactive, I worked for friends´ businesses, did any kinds of office works, waitressing, cleaned up… and I figured out what I really love: People, making people at least smile, helping, travelling and broadening my horizon. At that time Afghanistan was the main subject in the news and I realized that I reacted emotionally strong to the stories of people who had to leave their country under fear of death…Refugees! THAT´S IT! There are refugee-projects all over the world, most refugees need existential help and most refugees are from Arabic speaking countries – great, I always wanted to learn a totally different language and I always wanted to go on a language trip… Now: I´m sitting in the sunny front of the apartment that´s owned by the best Palestinian host family Marwa & Osama moved me to, sharing the apartment with an American Mormon beauty, writing about myself, Palestine and the Excellence Center after I spent 3 months from the 27th March until the 26th June 2022 as a totally changed person. On the one hand I could write a book on every single day I had here and on the other hand the situations, experiences, and stories that happened here just make me speechless. But one thing is for sure: I am a part of a lot of families now! Excellence Center: Marwa & Osama are the heart, Rafat is managing from Germany, with the lovely Khitam and the highly passionate teachers and of course some of their excellent family members at the Excellence Center. I started with the Intensive Arabic Course, 20 hours per week of one-to-one lessons. The time I started there were not a lot of students, so I was lucky to have the one-to-one lessons as a total beginner starting Arabic from zero. Nada, my teacher, is 23 years old, professional, structured and very patient. Her lessons were always prepared, she was very aware of my needs and my way of learning, flexible to adjust at any point of progress, so that I felt comfortable and successful. I love her! After one month I changed into the Refugees Program. That basically means teaching English (mostly to children), interviewing refugees, local people and different organizations about structures, economy, education, all-day-living, the issues, struggles and human rights violations caused by the occupation. It then turned out that the Refugees Program became a mixture between the Refugees Program and the Human Rights Program that even surpassed my expectations. I appreciated the flexibility of Osama. He had to deal with my individual expectations like - I had never taught before at all, - I didn’t want to teach children, - I was interested in economic structures, education system, possibilities and solutions He made it possible that I experienced all of it in a for me perfect way. I taught adult refugees in the refugee camp, I had an English Club with teenage girls and I interviewed lawyers, teachers, activists against human right violation and children’s right violation, managers of different kinds of community centers etc. I visited schools, kindergardens, the Hebron chamber of commerce, a Bedouin village and all the pride the Palestinian people have in trying to change the situation and seek freedom. It was always possible to tell Osama about your interests or if you wanted to dive deeper into a subject, he is the one who helps you to meet with the right people. Marwa organizes all the teachers, students, volunteers, internal workshops and meetings about teaching and studying in general, or presentations about the experiences of leaving students and volunteers. And Marwa is responsible for the host families and apartments. Besides that she teaches Arabic and she is a mother of the happiest one-year-old girl in the world. She leads the most unpredictable parts and I don’t know how she does it – huge respect! She has to deal with a lot of sudden changes every day, literally everyone has different needs at different times, no structure, no red line, nothing to rely on… and guess: She´s able to move mountains to make you happy. THANK YOU min albii! All in one, the Excellence Center has a vibe that is very welcoming, warm and familiar. As I confirmed to Rafat 4 months ago, he sent a message with “Welcome to the family”. Me as a German I just thought “yes standard – phrase, nice and polite”. Now I know better… I AM part of the family and it feels great! Palestine: Yes, it is there and it is real and it is existent! Palestine is beautiful, authentic, lively, heartfelt, hospitable, resistant, religious, proud, safe, funny, mind- and life-changing and EXISTENT! I recommend Hebron, I highly recommend the Excellence Center and I recommend the experiences you’ll just get here in Palestine!

As an English teacher you will have either one or two lessons per day. This can be one-on-one lessons or classes. The Center places a lot of trust in its teachers and you are really given an opportunity to bring your own benefits and styles. Arabic lessons would be 90 minutes every day in the morning. There is a range of levels to suit you, and it they are either two or one-to-one and so very productive. The Center is very accommodating to people of different backgrounds and skillsets. The fulltime staff here are welcoming, and the longer term volunteers become good friends with them and also amongst each other. Regardless of your exact role, you will have the opportunity to go on visits organised by the Center to engage with local activists and learn more about the situation in Palestine. The situation in Palestine and Hebron is extremely safe for foreign volunteers. Locals are hospitable and go out of their way to welcome you. This is helped by the good reputation the Center enjoys in the city. Do not let negative and false stereotypes stop you from coming here. I had the time to visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Nablus, Ramallah and other places - which I would recommend any volunteer to do.

My time in Palestine was unforgettable experience and the people I met made the entire trip, from the Palestinians to the other volunteers at the centre. While the accommodation was basic and there were a few problems they were fixed quickly and the hospitality of the people easily makes up for it. My experience teaching and studying Arabic were excellent, especially as someone who has never learnt any Arabic before coming to Palestine. Overall a great experience

INTRO My name is Luke Hudson. I am an American born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I currently live in St. Petersburg, Florida, where I work full time as a restaurant manager and study full time at Eckerd College. I am in the process of obtaining two bachelor’s degrees. My first degree is in International Relations (B.A.) with a specialization in Human Rights and a regional concentration in the Middle East. My second degree is in Political Science (B.A.). I’m also acquiring a minor in Arabic. In Palestine, I participated in the Summer Internship at the Excellence Center (EC). I chose this internship for a variety of reasons. First, I decided on Palestine for its Arabic -as I am studying the Levantine dialect of Arabic at university- and its intriguing political conflict. Because of this conflict, human rights violations are happening daily, and this provides me the unique opportunity to research and learn about the topic firsthand. Additionally, I chose the Excellence Center in Hebron because of its reputation, magnificent Arabic instruction, human rights internship, and most importantly, its flexibility. I could only travel for less than a month as I cannot afford to take over a month due to my job. Also, I needed 150 internship hours for University credit. However, the Excellence Center was highly flexible and willing to work with my schedule. So, combining ECs flexibility, Arabic instruction, and internship made the decision easy. ARRIVAL & THE BEGINNING My first impression of Palestine was interesting. I have never traveled outside of the United States. So, it wasn’t surprising I experienced extreme culture shock – as any first-time traveler does. However, unlike most travelers who travel to popular tourist sites like Paris or Costa Rica, I traveled to Hebron, Palestine – an area rich in tradition yet negatively affected by the Israeli occupation. Because of this, I would argue that my culture shock was much more dramatic than others. A seven-hour time difference, radical driving, an unknown city, a foreign language, and much more were enough to give me the jitters. Nevertheless, I adjusted all thanks to the Excellence Center’s warm hospitality. I flew into Ben Gurion Airport. After many delays and a cancellation later due to complications by American Airlines, I finally arrived. The transition from the plane to my taxi wasn’t too complicated. Ben Gurion Airport is relatively easy to navigate as it displays English throughout. Baggage claim was easy as well. However, I only seemed to have complications at customs as I was asked the same questions three times after I told the agent I was traveling to Hebron for my internship. They weren’t too fond of me traveling to Palestinian territory. However, I remained consistent and composed, and they let me through – only telling me to “be careful over there” – this felt shallow. However, I was at customs for only about ten minutes, so my customs experience was a breeze compared to others. The EC had arranged a private ride from the airport to the Center for me. A friend of the Center picked me up in his black sedan. Unfortunately, he didn’t speak English, so the ride was slightly awkward. However, he delivered me to the Center safely in roughly an hour and a half. The faculty at the Center greeted me with traditional Palestinian coffee and introduced me to the members present. Afterward, I was driven to my residence. As a male participant, I stayed in a shared flat with fellow male participants at the Center per customary measures. According to US standards, I stayed alone in a “not-so-nice” place the first night. Naturally, this made me worried, but the Excellence Center assured me I was safe and comforted. Once my colleagues moved into my residence the next day, I felt even more secure—however, more on my living situation later in this article. SAFETY, SECURITY, AND HOSPITALITY IN PALESTINE Did I feel safe in Palestine? On my first night, no. But, this is only because I have never traveled outside of the United States nor to the Middle East. So, I would argue that anyone in my position would feel the same. Nevertheless, I soon lost this feeling the very next day as I started my internship at the Excellence Center. As stated previously, the Excellence Center is genuinely, well, excellent. They provide everything and more that one may need to succeed and to feel comfortable and safe. I can say for sure that it is indeed safe here. Take it from a first-time traveler. Additionally, regardless of what one may presume, the Palestinian citizens are remarkably hospitable – you just have to be brave enough to create conversation. Palestinians are highly family-oriented. Because of this, though you may not be blood-related, Palestinians treat their newfound friends as blood. I can say this from experience as I made a fantastic friend and now brother named Mohammed at a local gym. He spoke broken English, and I spoke broken Arabic. Together, we shared the common interest of exercise, and over this interest, we created a bond I never would’ve found in the States. We eat, work out, smoke sheesha, exchange language, and have fun routinely. Moreover, I have created over five other additional friends I routinely hang out with. In the States, it is hard to make a strong friendship this fast. In Palestine, all it takes is patience and respect, and within minutes, you have created a friend that will keep you safe as if you are family – as you have become family to them now. They will keep you safe. Also, living and learning with your colleagues here establishes a sensation of warmth and security. SUMMER INTERNSHIP My internship included multiple trips and meetings to essential locations, the opportunity to teach English to Palestinians both privately and in group settings, intensive one-on-one Arabic lessons, and individual writing compositions like article construction and revision. Weekly I worked from 8:30 to 18:00 with the ability to leave for coffee breaks or lunch Sunday through Thursday. I also had the freedom to work remotely at one of the local cafes if I was writing or revising. I often used one of the classrooms at the Center to work as well. I worked this much because I needed to acquire the 150 hours of work required by my University in my short three weeks at the Center. The first week consisted of trips, presentations about human rights, teaching English, and article drafting. I made many friends at the Center and built a fantastic relationship with my students that first week. My second week consisted of strictly immersion trips and meetings. Without diving too deep into detail, I visited the Old City of Hebron, Al-Shohada Street- where we interviewed a Palestinian widow living around an Israeli settlement, a local Refugee Camp- where we interviewed a refugee family- the Hebron Chamber of Commerce to interview the Head of Commerce, the Office of the Mayor to interview the Mayor, a local secondary school to learn about the Palestinian education system, and the Governor’s office to interview the Governor of Hebron. Both my brain and my notebook are filled with notes and valuable information. My third week at the Center consisted of intensive Arabic, where I had one-on-one instruction for three hours. Doha, my excellent instructor, catered to my learning style and taught me a great deal of Arabic in only one week. I am entirely able to have intermediate-level conversations already in this short time. We built an incredible friendship, and I highly recommend learning with her. She is terrific and inshallah I will see her soon. There were also new excursions and presentations I also attended throughout the week. LIFE, FREE TIME, & TRIPS Unrecognized to the western mind, thanks to biased media, Hebron is built like every other city. The city hosts a plethora of shops, cafes, and activities. Every day I would be at a local cafe, restaurant, or a different destination where my friends and I would eat, study, play games, meet people, smoke sheesha, drink delicious mocktails, and laugh. One night we even went horseback riding after being invited to a Palestinian’s home for dinner (this happens all of the time – take advantage of it). For avid gym-goers like myself, there are a couple of options around. Depending on where you live, anyone can find an affordable gym. Prestige Gym was the choice of all of the men given that its location was close to our flat. However, Future Gym is the best according to the locals. After work, if I wasn’t meeting up with anyone at a cafe or different location, I would find my way to the gym for a good workout and sauna. If the Center didn’t already have something planned for us during a weekend, participants had the opportunity to travel elsewhere. Ramallah, Nablus, Jerusalem, Jericho, and the Dead Sea are all locations within reach. During my free weekends, I traveled to Nablus, Jericho, and the Dead Sea. During my last week in Palestine, I traveled to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv with fellow colleagues as we all had flights around the same time. We toured popular spots and frequented fun restaurants and clubs. Depending on your schedule, participants have a significant amount of free time in their schedule. Even I still had a great deal of free time working nine hours or more. Others, like those just studying Arabic, have the most time for adventure. So, every schedule is different, with ample opportunities for exploration and relaxation. LASTING IMPRESSIONS The staff at the Center is incomparable. Every member is willing to aid your every need, practice Arabic with you, and will run with any requests. In addition, the Center is clean and homey; it provides a significant amount of space for both learning and bonding. Mahmoud, one of the Center’s tour guides, made a lasting impression on me. His knowledge, hospitality, and humor are something I will truly miss. Yet, I know I will see him again soon one day, inshallah. What I will surely miss the most is Palestinian’s hospitality. As stated before, Palestinians provide a warmth that I have never felt in the States, nor will I ever feel again, I believe. Being invited to homes, farms, weddings, etc., is uncommon in the United States; however, here, it is custom. You are never alone here as anyone will take you in as their own. Writing barely encompasses what I feel. Moreover, the geological views that Palestine offers are genuinely breathtaking. My photo library is stacked with images – mainly from Nablus, as Nablus consists of glorious mountain ranges and ancient archeological sites. Being surrounded by so many different colleagues with varying ages, ethnicities, nationalities, backgrounds, education, and knowledge of the area allows for extreme self-exploration. I often felt unworthy to be in the presence of some of my fellow colleagues who knew multiple different languages and have traveled to thirty or more countries. Most of them had a better idea of the area and conflict than I and the language. So, it was pretty intimidating, yet liberating, as I was able to learn from them, thus expanding my mind. Therefore, each colleague established something new within my spirit, and I have made everlasting friends I plan to meet with again inshallah. CRITIQUES & SUGGESTIONS No program, place, or institution is perfect. Though the Center comes close, it’s crucial and mature to discuss my critiques. First, I would like to discuss my living arrangement. The men’s living quarters isn’t necessarily a five-star Airbnb. Not that I cared about the physical appearance of the flat, but with bedroom doors missing handles and locks, a loose front door handle, broken cabinets in the kitchen and master bedroom, and anonymous clothing left behind in the wardrobe, one may be slightly concerned. Additionally, during my stay, my flatmates and I did not have hot water for over two weeks, and the water occasionally stopped running throughout my stay, leaving us without water some days. Along with this, it took some time until we received a fan to cool the flat during the summer heat. Granted, I do not want to put the entire blame on the Center, as we gentlemen are responsible for communicating all needs and complications during our stay. But, water is a basic need, and not having running water some days is alarming. However, the Center quickly reacted when we called on them to fix the issue. I think with a thorough inspection of the space and appliances, a deep clean, removal or the repair of items and pre-existing belongings, the purchase of essential utilities like fans, kitchen supplies, fresh bed sheets, pillows, cleaning supplies, and insect repellent the men’s flat will become an adequate living space. Secondly, I would like to critique the structure of the Center and its programs. I was a part of the summer internship, which meant I would attend the activities of the human rights program, teach English, attend all immersion field trips, write articles, create presentations, and have intensive Arabic courses. My program was the most expensive and blended all programs in one. However, colleagues who strictly participated in the intensive Arabic program or only taught English would attend the immersion trips and human rights presentations. This is not included in their outline or tuition. Moreover, these programs cost much less. Therefore, I felt my tuition cost was unfair as it seemed anyone could join any event at will regardless of their chosen program. There needs to be stricter enforcement of programs in the future to ensure the fairness of pay and a better outline of each program in person upon arrival. I would suggest an orientation day on the first day for each new participant. This orientation would explain their chosen program in-depth, provide a weekly schedule of said program, a tour of the Center and the surrounding city, the faculty members, expectations, commute help, what the Center does and offers, and a space to answer all questions. FINAL REMARKS My experience in Palestine and my internship at the Excellence Center is one that I will cherish. Between the work I completed, the research I acquired, the students I impacted, the Arabic I learned, the knowledge I gained, the memories I experienced, and the friends I made, my short month in Palestine exceeded my expectations. I will never forget the people and their inherent hospitality. Nor will I forget the truth that I obtained here about the occupation and the lives of Palestinians. I plan to fight for Palestinian freedom in the ways that I can. I will meet my friends again. Without the Center, I would not have accomplished my goals before arrival. The Center is the only choice I would recommend for someone looking to be humbled and impact themselves and others. Thank you, Rafat, Marwa, Osama, Doha, Sajah, Mahmoud, and my other friends for teaching, welcoming, and creating our bond. Inshallah, I will return.

Activities My main activity was teaching English to Palestinians of ages between 4 and 33. I did this in the Fawwar refugee camp as well as at the Excellence Center in Hebron. In both places this was very rewarding, as my students were basically already happy that I was just there, and even more when we had interesting conversations that encouraged them to further practice their English skills. It became apparent that in many cases, the interaction with me was the first opportunity to practice especially their spoken skills outside of a classroom. Often this motivated them to continue learning and improving their abilities to have a conversation in English. Arabic Lessons The Arabic lessons with Marwa were not only helpful and practical, but moreover set in a motivating learning atmosphere=) As I was in a host family that spoke mainly Arabic, at the beginning of my stay of course I barely could understand anything if my host mom wouldn't translate it for me. As time went by and I continued learning Arabic with Marwa, I was so happy to realize that my Arabic skills were improving quite fast. On the one hand, this was because I was in an environment in which I was highly exposed to written and spoken Arabic, but on the other hand it also had to do with the fact that Marwa focussed on teaching me very helpful vocabulary and grammar that I could use immediately. A big *thank you* to Marwa for the interesting and very useful lessons, and the relaxed atmosphere that enhanced my learning curve! Center's Environment I feel so lucky while I am writing this, because literally everyone was nice, welcoming and eager to make me belong! I enjoyed hanging around with the staff and the international fellows so much that I would find myself long after the classes have ended still sitting at the Center and having interesting (and funny!) conversations, e.g. about Palestinian culture and everyday life, about funny aspects of the English and Arabic language, about life in Hebron and many topics more. Now that my stay is coming to an end, I am full of gratitude (and sadness...) as it feels as if I have an extended family in Hebron now - it includes all those who beautified my time at the Excellence Center. Visits The Excellence Center made possible many visits that were tailored to my interests and wishes - I am very grateful that so many doors were opened to enhance my knowledge and experience of Palestinian life in the West Bank. These included tours through the Old City of Hebron and the Ibrahimi Mosque as well as a kindergarden and community center in the Old City; an excursion to Ramallah; a tour through a women-only kitchen that supplies food to families and school canteens; experiencing the graduation party at a school for blind children; visiting the only Kufiyyah factory in the whole of Palestine; going on a hike to see Palestine's beautiful nature; giving a class at the Tanweer Center in Beit Ummar; and incredibly insightful excursions to the Law faculty at Hebron University and to the Chamber of Commerce in Hebron. All of these visits enhanced my understanding of Palestinian life in the West Bank significantly and the open exchanges were incredibly insight- and fruitful! Living with a host family Eventhough I lived a bit outside of Hebron in a town close-by (about 20 minutes by car away), very early on I came to see it as a privilege: Firstly, I had more nature surrounding me and the commute to Hebron made for a nice division between "work time" and "leisure time." Secondly, I had a more nuanced experience of town-life and city-life, as there are slight differences between the two. In a nutshell, I got to see another layer of Palestinian life that would have otherwise been hidden. Most importantly, my host family was incredibly welcoming. From day one, I was part of the family, and this weren't empty words, but lived everyday experience. At the beginning, I had to adjust to the fact that being part of the family means also not having as much me-time as I was used to in Europe, yet I communicated that openly, as well as my vegetarianism. At first this was slightly frowned upon due to its unusual nature: "Me-time instead of us-time? And no meat? You are weird..." But as time progressed, so did the acceptance of my host family, and at visits to other family members they would even advocate for me and explain why I wouldn't eat meat. So I highly recommend being aware of your boundaries, setting them straight at the beginning and bringing along a notch of patience - sooner than later you'll enjoy your time as a family member and you won't want to leave. Safety and Security in Palestine As a lone woman in a foreign country you're always faced with the question of how safe it is being in the streets on your own. I have to say, here in Hebron there wasn't one incident in which I felt unsafe or menaced. Quite on the contrary people here are very courteous and eager to ensure you have a pleasant time. For unseasoned female travellers: As a woman that is noticeably from a different country, you will get looked at (briefly, but noticeably) when you walk on the streets. But this is due to the fact that tourists here are rare, and thus it is unusual to see foreigners. A male fellow international told us that he got looked at because he wore shorts, which is again a highly unusual thing here lol. I can say from my own experience that even these incidents are short, and of a friendly kind. Thus I wouldn't hesitate to recommend coming here and seeing for yourself how welcoming, kind the people here are - they're curious and grateful to get to know you. What I liked most about Palestine What I liked most about Palestine was definitely the people. The resilience and joy of the people I have met here is impressive and heartwarming at the same time. The sense of gratitude that I got from so many acquaintances about me being here and wanting to know more about Palestinian life was so overwhelming. Often I felt unreasonably special, but I quickly learned that this stems from a culture in which hospitality is a high, if not the highest virtue and I felt this every day I spent here. I am very grateful to having gained so many new, interesting, and honest friendships and already look forward to - insha'Allah - coming soon again! My favorite experience in Palestine There were so many nice incidents during my time here! One of the funniest was when my fellow international friend Sheila and I gave our last class in the Fawwar refugee camp. We thought of having a nice game of musical chairs and every time someone would lose a round, they had to make a sentence in English with a given noun, verb, and adjective. Everyone took each round so serious and truly wanted to get a seat, it was hilarious and we had so much fun while actually learning English! Recommendation My time here is unforgettable, so many doors to places and people's hearts were opened thanks to the Excellence Center. If you are interested in more than just a superficial tourist-y glimpse, I highly recommend coming here and taking part in Palestinian everyday life according to your interests and wishes. Not only will you be warmly welcomed, but moreover contribute to lasting learning experiences - the local's, the internationals', and your own.

The Excellence Center is a great place for anyone looking to improve their Arabic, gain cultural exposure, and learn more about the political situation in Palestine. After 2 weeks there, I advanced in Arabic more than I expected and felt part of the Excellence Center family! This is a wonderful opportunity for those needing flexibility. You can go as little as one week, and you can choose your exact start and end dates. It's great for people with full-time jobs who can't take off a whole semester.

Having started my experience with the Excellence Centre (EC) with the Refugee Programme, I spoke with Osama and Marwa to change my programme on to the Human Rights Programme. Having enjoyed my experience in Al Fawar Refugee camp, and having watched another two volunteers join the Human Rights Programme, I was curious to see what I could learn from it. The format of the programme consisted of attending meetings, tours and Q&A sessions with a variety of professionals and groups. Ranging from social issues to political ones, I was fortunate enough to sit in on meetings with, and learn from, human rights activists, women's rights activists, lawyers, local charities and NGO's, radio personalities and journalists, whilst also doing tours of contested areas. Each day was different on this programme and what you learnt would all depend on who you met. There were highly enlightening discussions we took part in, such as the political talk we had with The Human Rights Defenders Group. Every meeting we had was different in nature, and on some occasions we would have discussions with individuals whose core principals were very different to my own, though I found this added more value to the programme as the possibility to have an in-depth conversation with someone with an opposing point of view, about a sensitive topic, is not an opportunity which comes by often. Every so often the programme would spring up a day which you would not expect. Like the day we were taken to the Hebron Blind Charity Association. A fantastic experience in which we met a group of people who put their heart and souls into empowering the blind children of the city. In an occupied land, where restrictions are placed on almost every aspect of life, it was inspirational to see an organisation such as this thriving. Each individual room was purposefully and thoughtfully crafted, the equipment of the highest quality and the structure well thought out to not just give the blind children a safe and loving place to grow, but also where they are prepared to enter the real world without letting their lack of vision holding them back. Having the privilege to witness this charity, I found another form of resistance, one which succeeds under any circumstances. The Human Rights Programme is one in which you will have both memorable and forgettable days, but the options will always be given to you. You will get great insight from a variety of perspectives about what life is like in Palestine, and one of its key strengths, as with any programme you choose with the Excellence Centre, is that if you are open and communicative with Marwa and Osama about what it is you want, they will go above and beyond to get it for you.

The feelings of nerves, curiosity and excitement were all present the way they had been during my first week of school, at my first job and the first time I moved away from home. Everything was brand new. The streets, the food, the people, I didn't know what to expect and had no idea what my time is going to be like in Khalil. I had done plenty of research on the Excellence Centre website, read a lot of reviews, watched a lot of their videos, and the message of safety was always conveyed, but hearing from someone else and experiencing it yourself are two very different things. I arrived to Khalil in the late evening. Having asked around a bit and got some help from the locals, I found the Excellence Centre and waited for Osama and Marwa to arrive as it the Centre was already closed and having had no internet I couldn't inform them until I got there. They welcomed me, gave me tea, showed me around the centre and took me to my host family. I was greeted with the famous Arab hospitality. I was fed well and shown where I was going to stay. It was the middle of February and bitterly cold, especially indoors. I was fortunate to be given my own room and my own bathroom however the cleanliness was definitely not up to standard. As I had arrived on a Thursday evening I had the next day off as Friday is part of the weekend. Having completed Friday prayers my host family invited me to a barbeque in their garden. It was delicious and we spoke at great length, with all of them having a lot of questions about my background, my reasons for coming to Palestine, what I thought of it so far, and it was great to watch them all together being a family I have grown real affection for. Saturday was my first day at the centre and it was very active. Students of all ages were going in and out of different classes and I was invited to one of the English classes with students ageing 10 to 15. Soon enough I was asked to take over and I introduced myself, answered a lot of questions and in turn asked a few myself about their daily routines and interests. I was then introduced to my Arabic teacher Doha and we had our first Arabic lesson which was followed by joining another teacher in the centre, Annas, in helping him teach his English class. I arrived on time for breakfast the second day and enjoyed a spread of hummus, baba gunush, falafel, salad, bread, tea and coffee. I was introduced to the rest of the members of staff of the centre and the visitors who joined us for breakfast on that day. Every day different friends of the centre would join us for breakfast or drop by to say hello and all would make the effort to converse and welcome me. The second day I sat in on an English class and then got taken to Fawar Camp. The refugee camp I came to work and teach in. The journey took half an hour and Osama took drove myself, Alicia, a Swiss volunteer, and Doha. The camp was drastically different to Hebron city. A dirt bumpy road spit a deteriorating encampment. Shops selling the basics had hoards of men sitting outside of them, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. We arrived to where the lesson would be taught and were greeted by 30 Fawar camp students. Happy and excited to see us, and eager to learn but struggling with being disciplined and paying attention. Though they were receiving an education, it was clear to see the difference between them and the students of similar ages who would come to the Excellence Centre in the city. Good kids, but severely lacking attention and opportunity. After the class I was shown the rest of the camp and saw the environment thousands were forced to call home. All the people I interacted with, whether young students or adults, within the Excellence Centre or out on the street, everyone welcomed me to Palestine and Hebron with open arms. People were genuinely happy to see an 'ajnabee' (foreigner) in their city. Shopkeepers and restaurants refused to accept money when realising I wasn't a local. I asked one why he, like others before him, insisted on not taking payment and he told me that it was important to the people of Hebron, and Palestine, that when a foreigner leaves they leave with the best possible impression of their country. So they tell their own people about the positivity and spread the message on their rich, hospitable culture. Over the next few following days I found myself teaching a number of classes, answering a lot of questions about who I was, why I came to Palestine and what I my experience was like so far. My first week was a blend of teaching English classes, receiving Arabic classes, going to Fawar Camp and receiving tours of the city. Being taken to the old city of Hebron, a beautiful historic place, with thousands of years worth of stories and culture embedded in its stone walls. Everyone in the Excellence Centre ensured I was taken care of and welcomed. Marwa and Osama checked up on me everyday to make sure I did not need anything, as did my host family. When I did ask for something, they made sure I got it straight away. Where I lived lacked cooking equipment and when I told Marwa about it she made a bag full of utensils, plates, pans etc and gave it to me so that I could cook for myself. My first week was a blur. It was intense, I saw a lot of faces, shook a lot of hands, ate a lot of food and was thrown into the Palestinian culture with support behind me.

My time at the Excellence Center was some of the best time in my life, I had so much fun and I laughed a lot. All the Palestinian teachers and staff are some of the best people I have ever met, they were extremely welcoming, respectful, friendly and kind. I felt more welcomed at the Excellence Center than I have anywhere else in my life. The Palestinian students were also very eager to learn and very excited to meet foreigners and speak English with them. My Arabic teacher was wonderful, she was very supportive and made our lessons together both fun and educational. The Palestinian teachers were always willing to help me with anything I needed for English classes and also gave me really great advice. Sometimes I joined classes with Palestinian teachers, sometimes I taught classes by myself and sometimes I taught with other international volunteers. I became more confident, comfortable and better at teaching English during my time here, thanks to all the people at the Excellence Center. The Palestinian people in Hebron were also wonderful and very kind. I felt very safe, as a woman, walking down the street in Hebron alone at night. I felt more safe here than I did anywhere else in the world. Sometimes people on the street would say hello, how are you, welcome, but it was always in a friendly way and I never felt hassled. It's very different to places like Egypt or Jordan. I found Palestinian men to be very respectful towards me, much more so than men in Western countries. I cannot recommend the Excellence Center enough, whether you want to just study Arabic, Teach English or do another program. The first few days were overwhelming because I was somewhere new and meeting lots of new people, but after that I started to enjoy it so much that I didn't want to leave. I had some of the best times of my life and met some of my favourite people ever. I would do it all again if I could!

My time at the Excellence Center was a fantastic intellectual, intercultural and social journey. Every week day (Sunday to Thursday) I had 3,5 hours of Arabic class with the extremely knowledgeable and pedagogically apt Doha as my teacher. Not only did Doha help me drastically improve my Palestinian dialect Arabic skills, she also was always able to teach me grammatical concepts and words in a fun and motivating way. She also adapted the class teaching plan according my needs whenever necessary. In addition to being a great teacher, Doha - and also her sister Saja who is also a teacher at the Excellence Center - conversed with me a lot in our free time at the school and thus introduced me to colloquial expressions, jokes and everyday language. The other staff at the Excellence Center was also always very helpful when I needed any specific information about Hebron or its surrounding (e.g. when I needed to get to Dura, a town next to Hebron), and even more great companions during my 1-month stay at the Excellence Center. Moreover the stories Anas and Ibrahim told me about their everyday life were exceedingly interesting and pertinent to my work as a doctoral researcher on Palestine. The center managers, Osama and Marwa, were also always willing to compromise and accommodate my needs regarding my living situation. Contrary to what you may hear from Western media, Hebron is actually a very safe and fun city to live in (in H1 area). There are many cafes and pastry shops that are open all day and long into the night. The food is among the best I've ever had. I was in Hebron during 2 weeks of Ramadan and must say that the Muslim month of fasting quite changes the city`s vibe. Restaurants and most stores are closed all day and life only awakes in the night. It is a interesting cultural experience for sure, but if you are keen on experiencing the culinary culture of Khalil to its fullest you might want to reconsider whether you want to come during Ramadan. Overall, the hospitality in Khalil is amazing. There were many times I was just invited for coffee or cocktails *(non-alcoholic ones) by strangers and I was also invited to a couple of Iftar dinners which were great fun. The Palestinian hospitality is unparalleled by anything I have seen elsewhere in the world. Last, if you really want 24/7 Arabic exposure, I recommend you see if you can stay with a host family, as I was staying in a shared apartment with other foreigners which limited my exposure to Arabic in the evenings. Moreover, I traveled to Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jericho, which was all very easy because the West Bank is not very big. And before I forget, it is quite cold in March.

My name is Ann Marie Mc Donald and I am from Ireland. I took part in the Human Rights programme at the Excellence Center in order to meet with prominent Civil Society Organisations in Hebron to get a sense of how the Israeli occupation impacts the lives of people in Palestinian, and to get some ideas on topics I could research for my final masters thesis. I met with human rights organisations, women’s groups, environmental groups, legal professionals as well as activists, to get an all round sense of the situation on the ground, and the challenges these organisations face in advocating for people’s freedoms and rights. I took Arabic lessons 3 times a week and my overall experience of learning at the center was really professional and interesting. The Excellence Center lived up to my expectations and more. As well as the professional learning experience from the staff at the centre, there is also the added experience of learning from the ever present and transient international visiting group as well as the added experience of getting to live with a host Palestinian family. I was hosted by a lady called Sada who has become a friend for life, who showed me true Palestinian hospitality. The center also organised fun days out to experience other areas of Palestine and to keep the experience interactive and light. I would encourage anyone to come to Palestine. In light of current world events, the situation in Palestine needs to remain in the minds of all of us in the International community in order to provide solidarity and advocacy for the people of Palestine.

My name is Conor, and I spent little over a month in Hebron, Palestine studying Levantine Arabic and Teaching English. The Excellence Center made this task, which was initially very daunting, painless and an experience to remember. I can't illustrate enough how much I'm going to miss the Center, the people in it, and the city of Hebron - but more importantly, I'm so incredibly grateful for my time here. I'll begin with talking about the people of the center. The administrators and Palestinian teachers at the Center are some of the kindest, most compassionate, and helpful people I've had the pleasure of meeting in my entire life. They go out of their way to make sure you are comfortable, happy, and able to fully enjoy Hebron and Palestine. The teachers are incredibly kind, and eager to help would-be teachers in adjusting to teaching in Hebron. The students themselves are smart, almost too smart for their own good, and made every day of teaching challenging - but in a fun way that maximizes the experience and helps the teacher to get the most out of their classes. The city of Hebron itself is outstanding. The sense of community and how welcoming the people are made me feel right at home. From bodega owners to clothing store clerks, every single person I interacted with in Hebron was incredibly kind and helpful, even if we couldn't communicate fully. It really does feel like a family at the Excellence Center. Everyone looks out for each other, and you are provided with an outstanding amount of structural support that makes the transition from whatever your home country is to Palestine incredibly easy and painless. The memories of the people I have in Palestine are memories that I will hold dear to my heart, and I can't wait to come back to the Center later on, where I know I'll be welcomed back as an old friend. I highly, highly recommend the Excellence Center in Palestine and I urge anyone who has an interest in Palestine, Arabic, or TESA to seriously consider the Teach English and Study Arabic Program in Palestine.

I am Alicia, I am 29 years old and I am from Switzerland. I came to Hebron to volunteer with Refugees in the camp for one week. My first Impression of Hebron was very positive, the people go out of their ways to help you. For one week I was staying with a host family in the city center in Hebron, they welcomed me with a warm heart and many questions. Every morning I went to the excellence center to have a traditional Palestinian breakfast. In the center I had Arabic classes with a teacher, she thought me daily conversations in Arabic, that were very useful. In the camp I was giving english lessons to the children, what amazed me was the high motivation from the children. My experience with the excellence center was very nice, everything was organized, the people were very welcoming and always happy to answer any open questions. I made new friends and also gained more knowledge about the situation in Palestine. My experience in Hebron was very educational and beautiful. I encourage everyone to come and see, feel the beauty of Palestine.

I have been messing about with Arabic for several years now. I spent three weeks on the intensive Arabic course at the Excellence Centre, and to my delight, my Arabic has improved enormously. I can communicate at last ! The Excellence Centre provides language classes, accommodation, volunteering and recreational activities. Everything can be tailored to your needs : the language learners and the volunteers I met at the Centre came from a variety of backgrounds and age groups, each of us having a different life experience and varying levels of Arabic. Everyone had a personalised programme according to their interests. This flexibility is one of the strengths of the Excellence Centre. The people of Hebron are very welcoming indeed. Tourists and foreign language students are never harassed in the streets, on the contrary, we are greeted in the friendliest manner possible. You can spend time in Hebron immersing yourself in language and culture, barely coming into contact with the political situation. For those interested in Human Rights and the problems of the Occupation, there is ample opportunity to dig deeper and to engage in solidarity actions. Again, the Excellence Centre offers a range of activities, after that, its all up to you ! I thoroughly enjoyed my time here, discovering a fascinating city while improving my language skills. Just one word of warning to future students : if you come in the winter, bring plenty of warm clothes ! Alison aged 48, from France.

Hi I am Tariq (as the Palestinians would call me), I am from France and have just spent 2 weeks in Hebron (Al Khaleel) with the Excellence center. I participated in the teach English and learn Arabic volunteering program. This program consists on giving some English lessons to children, teenagers or adults of different age groups and levels as well as getting some Arabic lessons on the side with a one-on-one teacher. The lessons were of great quality and I am leaving, although haven spent only 2 weeks, with the full alphabet and how to read it and some conversation. I thank my amazing teacher Marwa for that ,) The center is in a recent building close to the center of town and has all you need to learn and share. I stayed in a shared apartment with other volunteers very close to the city center. It has all you need to stay from 1 week to 3 months. During my stay I had the opportunity to travel to Ramallah and Bethlehem on day trips. Transport is very accessible and cheap. If you are concerned with safety in Palestine, you shouldn't. The whole experience felt an easy ride in Palestinian territory, the local people are extremely welcoming and always up to show or help you around. I leave full of good memories and encounters, the overall experience was wholesome and I plan to come back as soon as possible to keep improving my language skills and discover more about Palestinian history, culture etc... Thanks everyone !! Bashufak !!

I had a great time at the Excellence Center in Hebron! From the very first moment it felt like being part of a family and everyone was very welcoming! I got the chance to teach in various contexts, at the Center, in schools, and in refugee camps. I felt like students were always very eager to learn english and very motivated. I had the chance to stay with a host family, which truly was a great experience. They included my in their everyday lifes and showed me so many things! It was great to learn more about the Palestinian culture this way and to practice my Arabic. The Arabic classes were very helpful. Lessons are giving individually and focus on the most important things to learn. That way I could immediately practice the things I learned. Overall, I can really recommend coming to the Excellence Center in Hebron. People are really welcoming and I felt safe at all times.

My name's Jasmine, from Manchester UK. This is the best course for anyone wanting to study Arabic in Palestine. I can't recommend it highly enough -- immersive, welcoming, a good pace, and in Hebron which is an extremely welcoming city. Thanks so much to my Arabic teacher and now friend Bisaan and the Excellence Center for welcoming me. I felt completely safe all the time and think anyone, any age or gender, would feel completely safe here too. Shukran ktir.

In Palestine I arrived and was placed with a welcoming host family. Everyone at Excellence center was very kind, from the staff to the students. Due to the cold weather in the winter I wanted to live closer to the Excellence Center which the staff was very nice and accommodating. I was placed with a new host family close to the center with no questions asked. I spent a month in Hebron. I took Arabic courses, taught English, visited cultural sites, and taught classes in my specialty. The time in Hebron is unlike anything else. There are not many places around the world that have so much history and continued conflict today while being very safe.

My name is Celene and I am from Canada. I arrived in Hebron in January 2020 and spent four weeks here. That was my entry into Palestine. I came here as a volunteer at the Excellence Center in Palestine. I took 3 hours of Arabic lessons a week with Marwa. I was a total beginner but I learned a lot with her. She was a good, encouraging and patient teacher and I was able to make some good progress. As a volunteer, I helped with English either at the Center or at local primary schools. I met many kind, warm and motivated students. In general, I found the people in Hebron very friendly and always ready to help. I also enjoyed a variety of outings organized by the Center, particularly the visit at the glass and ceramic factory, the old city and a very informative visit to the refugee camp. I was also moved when we went to visit at her house a Palestinian woman who still is in H2 where the old market was, refusing to leave her home despite the pressure from the Israelis. I felt and still feel very safe in Palestine despite the negative press that it sometimes gets abroad. I feel safer here than I would in some parts of the United States! This visit to Palestine allowed me to witness the struggles of the people who are constantly harassed by Israeli soldiers, having to go through checkpoints and being severely restricted with their right to move around freely.

My motivation to come to Palestine was mostly political and in part from cultural curiosity which I have had as I study anthropology. It was my dream to live with Muslim people and see how they spend their daily lives, while Palestine has been the most attractive destination among other Arab countries because of my political interest. I have read good amounts of books on Palestinian-Israeli conflict and my image of staying in Palestine was, not that I was thinking here is dangerous, which is totally incorrect, but that it can be hard and I would probably face harsh realities. In short, I imagined Palestine as a place with its specificity. My assumption was partly true. I got to hear bunch of sad stories and those examples showed me that people living here are suffering daily from things I already knew from the books. When we have conversations, they suddenly jump into the topic of the occupation, sometimes even do not intend to, and they show me subtle, but clear anger for what they are talking about. Then they switch to brighter topics or daily conversations and the shadow I felt inside their voice disappears. Whenever you hear each of the stories, I assure you will feel so depressed that you need to stay away from it for a little moment. At the same time, contrary to what most of the people in the world who never visited Palestine think, which was kind of same for me before, these people are having daily lives as normal as people do in other parts of the world. It is stupid enough to inform you, “Hey, there is life in Palestine. People are living there just like us”. Honestly, though, I have never watched media, which introduces the aspect of Palestinian culture and life. Everything is about the conflict, the violence and the number of deaths. It makes the image of Palestine ugly and prevents people from coming here. Because of that, I needed some time to tell my parents that I was going to apply for this program. How political it is. How we are not aware of it! I assume this situation on media or whatever information available for people is more or less same in other countries. I cannot even summarize what I have got from this experience because it was not just knowledge on its culture and the politic, but it was something alive which I can see and feel from people and Hebron itself. Culturally, it was an amazing opportunity to live with my host family, through which I got to know their way of thinking as Muslims and as Palestinians. I cannot think of anything better than spending time with them throughout this whole month. If there was much space here, I would write about their hospitality, willingness to teach me Arabic and supports on everything. Politically, I found it much more difficult to solve the problem since I had a closer look on the situation, while at the same time, it motivated me to think of any possibility to work for it in the future. During the month in Hebron, Palestine, I learned so much, made a ton of new friends and gained once in a lifetime experience. It was amazing. I already miss Palestine and the people of Palestine.

My name is Steven Webber, I am 24 years old from the U.S. and I participated in the Volunteer to Teach English Study Arabic program in Hebron, Palestine. I chose to visit this beautiful country in order to further my Arabic skills and be able to speak the Palestinian dialect. During my stay in Hebron, West Bank, I’ve been welcomed with open arms by many people within the Palestinian community and have had quality time with other international students here at the Excellence Center in Palestine as well. My experiences participating in this program allowed me to acquire a great deal of proficiency in the Arabic language and helped me reclaim some of my lost Palestinian culture. I believe that the combination of me trying to learn Arabic while teaching English proved to be very beneficial as the combination of the two allowed me to fill in missing blanks when trying to teach the students and vice versa. Many thanks to the Excellence Center's staff and I will come back to Palestine Inshallah

My name is Olivia. I’m a nursing student from California. I came to Palestine to participate in the intensive Arabic language program. I studied in Hebron 5 days a week for 3 weeks. I came to Palestine knowing little more than the Arabic alphabet but now I’m leaving with a solid foundation in many aspects of the language. I’ve built up tons of vocabulary and developed enough of an understanding of Arabic grammar to read and write simple paragraphs, as well as have short conversations with Palestinians. My teachers Ibrahim and Marwa were wonderful! They incorporated many different methods of teaching into their practice so that every day was a little different and always stayed engaging. They were patient as I stumbled through learning new and unfamiliar sounds, endlessly funny yet always respectful, and very open-minded and receptive to my questions. The rest of the staff at the Center are really encouraging with the Arabic students as well. People were always greeting me in Arabic and willing to chat when I wanted practice speaking. Three weeks is not a lot of time to learn any language, and Arabic is a very rich language, so I plan to return to Palestine next year to continue my studies. When I do so, I will definitely be returning to the Excellence Center. While I was here I also participated in a few activities with other students and staff from the Center. We received a tour of the Municipality of Hebron and got the opportunity to ask questions about the City. We also went to see the village of Susya to learn about the way of life and the people there. Their history and struggle was heartbreaking but incredibly important for me to see. As a nursing student, I came with an interest in learning about the Medical system in Palestine, so I also got the opportunity to shadow a nurse at a Women’s clinic in Hebron for a day. Even despite the language barrier I learned a ton in that day and was actually put to work helping to chart and take patient’s weights and heights. I also got the chance to meet the families of many people who work at the Center. The staff and teachers invited us all out for dinner, arguila, and walks through the Old City frequently during my stay. Every meal was shared with warm people, hot tea, and endless laughter. I also learned how to cook a few Palestinian dishes with my host Marwa and her family. I stayed in Marwa’s home for 3 weeks with another student from the program. Marwa was so accommodating and made me feel at home with her family. We cooked together, shopped together, and she helped me with my studies in the evenings. Some of my favorite moments in Palestine were spent laughing with her in her home. She has a great sense of humor, and she’s sharp, witty, and sassy! My notebook is full of little quips and phrases that I learned from Marwa which got me joking around and teasing with the locals quickly. In addition to Hebron, I also traveled to Ramallah and Bethlehem on my weekends. Traveling between cities was not too difficult for me and I never felt threatened or unsafe. The presence of the IDF throughout Palestine is an undeniable reality, but traveling as a foreigner and carrying an American passport, many of the daily obstacles that Palestinians endure were not applicable to me. As I navigated through the cities, the biggest threat I felt was potentially getting rained on. Back home I live in San Francisco, and I can say with confidence that walking the streets of Hebron at night, especially H2, or Bethlehem, or Ramallah actually felt safer than walking alone at night in my home city. Overall, my experience in Palestine was beyond anything I could have expected or hoped for. I have learned so much in my short stay here, and I have made life-long friends at the Center who I plan to come back and visit as soon as possible

My experience first began when I travelled to Bangladesh to help the orphans, and it was the best experience of my life. I’ve always wanted to try and help make the world a better place, experience the struggles that those misfortune go through. Also I want to help the poor and see them smile through the hardships knowing that I’ve helped them live a better life.

My name is Luciana, I am from Santiago, Chile. Recently, I spent almost two weeks in the West Bank, where I volunteered in the Excellence Center for a little over a week. Even though my time in Hebron was short, I definitely made the most out of the experience, having one of the best and most intense weeks of my life. Upon my arrival to Hebron I was immediately treated in the most welcoming manner; I could not help but to feel I was among family. I was greeted in the Center by part of the staff with delicious local food, great conversation and even an invitation to the wedding of Rafat’s sister! I was very impressed by the hospitality and friendliness of everyone in Hebron. The Center’s staff was no exception, they were all very attentive, flexible and helpful, and I could tell they really wanted me to enjoy my time in Palestine. Osama and Mohammad made my experience in the Center everything I wanted it to be and more, by accommodating all the activities I wanted to do in my limited time frame, and always providing a friendly, fun and caring environment. I really enjoyed having breakfast every morning with everyone in the Center, which allowed us to catch up over some delicious food, and start the day full of positive energy. Since I was not staying for long, I wanted to keep busy, so I told Osama I was interested in participating in as many activities as possible. My volunteer program consisted in doing English lessons, which was appealing to me because, as Ibrahim -one of the teachers in Center- explained to me, English language is a tool Palestinians can use to spread their message and let the world know what is happening to them, hence being a form of resistance. It was very exciting to see that my motivation to teach and help was reciprocated with interest and participation on behalf of the students. I taught lessons to small children, school and University students and adults, individually and in groups of different sizes, and in places such as the Center, a public school for girls, the Palestinian Polytechnic University, Hebron University and a Women’s Organization. I also assisted in some lessons of the Human and Women’s Rights course, which was also a great chance for me to help students with their English while learning their perspectives and opinions on very important issues. I enjoyed planning the activities and carrying them out; the students were attentive, cooperative and showed they were very appreciative of the classes and wanted to make the most out of them. Furthermore, they expressed how happy they were to have us there, and were very interested in getting to know us and learning about our countries.

My name is Mariana and I was an intern at the Excellence Center for 4 weeks (from January 1, 2018, until January 26, 2018.) I studied Arabic and gave English lessons to locals. I also visited Hebron with a teacher from the Excellence Center who introduced to me the most important historical facts concerning Palestine, Israel and more specifically Hebron. The quality of the courses that I received was high and the teachers were very motivated and eager to make the lessons as enjoyable as possible. The whole staff, in general, was kind, welcoming and always happy to help. During my stay in Palestine, I visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho, and Hebron. I always felt safe, wherever I was. Hebron is a conservative but safe city. I will never forget the people that I met in Hebron. It’s not easy to describe how kind and generous the people is in Palestine and I’m looking forward to seeing them again. I would advise students who wish to learn Arabic to take classes at the Excellence center and meet the two Ibrahim ( ;) ) who are excellent teachers! The only issue I faced was the lack of organization for some of the English classes that I’ve given. There were too many children at various levels for one class and this was hard to handle. I also think that communication between staff and volunteers/ students could have been better sometimes. I suggest that the schedules should be made in a clearer way. However, Marwa did a good job at fixing some issues regarding coordination! I also think that it is more logical to provide lunch rather than breakfast because it’s easier to eat breakfast with your host family and you’re often at the center around lunchtime. Thank you for everything! انا مشتقلكو كتير

During my stay in Hebron, I stayed with a host family not too far from the Center. They were extremely accommodating, and I was truly spoiled, receiving home cooked meals every day etc. I felt very comfortable and relaxed. Living with a host family provided me with some insight as to how the locals live their daily lives. This has been an interesting experience and has enriched my stay here. With regards to safety, I don’t really see an issue with coming to Palestine or to Hebron. Although I didn’t really have any concerns before I arrived, my stay in Hebron has shown me that it is usually better to make up your own mind about a place rather than relying solely on what the media portrays. As a white woman, you will have many people stare at you and you will get some rude comments from teenage boys on the streets, but that’s as far as it goes, at least in my experience. Apart from that, Palestinian hospitality is one of kind. Be prepared to be invited to drink tea or coffee or spend the night by total strangers. Coming from a country that is rather formal and guarded this has been a pleasant contrast for me and it is probably what I appreciate most about Palestine. And then there’s the food…which is divine. Overall my experience in Hebron with the Center has been great. I met some very interesting people there and I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere in the old and new Center. I feel sad leaving the Center but I will no doubt come back and visit the people I met there. I recommend the Excellence Center to anyone who wishes to get a one of a kind experience in a conflict-ridden area while studying Arabic and/or volunteering.

I am a student from Germany that participated in the Study Arabic Program at the Excellence Center for one month. I study Middle Eastern Studies at university back home and Arabic is an integral part of my studies. The focus was set on Standard Arabic however, and we rarely got to practice what we learned. The two main reasons for me to come to Hebron was to start learning the Palestinian Dialect and to get a full cultural immersion before I go to Bethlehem to do an internship at an NGO and continue my studies at the University Bethlehem. As far as my Arabic goes, I have definitely noticed improvement. Of course, one month is not enough to really hold a longer conversation, but I am noticing the benefits of three hours of Arabic five days a week. My Arabic lessons with Du’a were one of the most enjoyable part of my stay. She is a lovely person and a great teacher, and I am very thankful to the effort she made with me. In general, all the teachers and staff at the Center are really friendly and laid back. It makes for a great atmosphere. I met many people through the Center, international volunteers and local students alike. The Center organises a few trips to other cities which you can choose to go on or not. In my case I went to Jerusalem and Jafa in a day, to the Dead Sea on another, and to Bethlehem. You will pay extra for these trips. There are also some smaller visits, such as the one to the Kufiyeh and glass factory, that are organised by the Center.

My name's Pam and I'm from England. I was volunteering teaching English at Excellence Center for 2 weeks, as well as writing some online articles about recent developments and events at the Center. I found the environment at Excellence to be perfect in every way: volunteers were all extremely friendly and easy to socialize with, and the students I taught were so sociable and welcoming that I met up with many of them outside of classes to play PlayStation, smoke shisha, jam with some guitars etc. The local staff were fantastic in every way too, and I simply could not have asked for a more amazing group of people to help oversee my volunteering experience. My view of the staff was also certainly aided by the extremely kind and inspiring teacher Ahlam, whose classes I sometimes assisted and whose friendly and caring attitude both meant that I had a wonderful time assisting and that the students in the classes were always delightfully engaged in the subject at hand. I went with Excellence Center to the keffiyeh factory in Hebron, and to the glass and ceramics factory too. I also visited a couple of schools in the area, and went on tours of the Old City and al-Ibrahimi mosque. Before I spent a couple of weeks at the Center I spent time in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Bethlehem as well, and the small size of the region makes travelling between areas (as a foreigner) reasonably quick, cheap and easy. Living in Hebron was fascinating in so many ways, and the location of the house the male volunteers were in meant that we were extremely close to so many of the major places in Hebron. If I'm being honest, I did certainly have some pretty dangerous experiences in Palestine and I won't say that it was always safe for me. Nonetheless, all dangerous situations (whether in Hebron or anywhere else in the nation) are in my opinion the inevitable result of choosing to be in specific areas where it is well-known that there might be some risk of danger, and which you accept in some sense by being there. Most problems are usually very localised, meaning that unless one wishes to look for danger or has chosen to be in less-safe areas, it is certainly possible to avoid virtually all issues quite easily. My favourite elements of Palestine would have to be the food, the hospitality of many of the people, and the depth of culture and history. I have dozens of wonderful stories from my time in the country too. I would say one of my favorite ones came when I was watching a demonstration, and I saw a soldier fire a tear gas canister from a rooftop onto the street below. As I watched, a young teenager picked up the canister from the middle of the street and successfully threw it back right onto the rooftop, landing directly amongst the soldiers who had just fired it. Some people around applauded, and I felt that even when putting aside all the politics of the situation, the sheer audacity, bravery and luck involved made it a somewhat unique moment without a doubt. After volunteering, my lasting impressions about Palestine are that it is a nation of breathtaking cultural, historical and religious significance, and that its people are usually extremely hospitable and welcoming in so many truly indescribable ways. Sadly there is definitely a level of street harassment and a dislike of outsiders from a small proportion of the population, but the truly astounding amount of friendliness and warmth from the vast majority of people clearly dominates, and provides for a wonderful overall experience. My overall experience of Palestine is of an extremely fascinating and different place to travel, and of Excellence Center as being a wonderful organisation run by lovely people that provides volunteers with genuinely meaningful work and a plethora of contacts in the city, thus ensuring a fantastic time. I would therefore recommend it without a shadow of a doubt. My only suggestion would be from the fact that, having heard many volunteers discuss it throughout my time here, there appears to be a consensus amongst them that the money required to be able to volunteer seems somewhat substantial when there are many nearby organisations desperately trying to find any volunteers whatsoever. I also know of people who would love to have spent half a year or more helping people out at the Center long-term, but instead reduced it to a month or so due to the financial element. I have no complaints whatsoever personally, but I do believe that the Center would benefit enormously from a major rethink of the financial element, because the potential to have a very large supply of long-term volunteers helping the community is certainly somewhat constrained in present circumstances.

I have been in Hebron for almost six weeks, and it has been an amazing experience, even life-changing. I have met so many beautiful people and enjoyed so many wonderful experiences. The staff at the Excellence Center have also been a joy to be around where each day brings new surprises. My Arabic teacher has been excellent in both enthusiasm and skill in providing a foundation to progress in the language. I have met people from everywhere and there is a stark contrast between what is portrayed in the media and the reality of Hebron. I found the people protective, unbelievably generous and hospitable, and constantly friendly. There is an unhealthy opinion that Hebron is dangerous; in this regard, the center has had more than 160 volunteers arrive with not a single issue concerning their safety. I had the opportunity to visit Ramallah and Bethlehem which was also extremely positive; in this vein it was interesting to note that Hebron has a more conservative Islamic lifestyle that only enhances the environment. I visited the Dead Sea where I was able to float on my stomach with my head well out of the water but make sure you dont get it in your mouth. A highlight for me was the trip to the Saab Monastry which is 1500 hundred years old like a Templar castle built on the side of a mountain rockface. I also lived in an accomodation only four hundred meters from the Tomb of the Patriarchs where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were buried. The history of this area is astounding. I was surprised to see that shopowners leave their shops unattended to pray or do busy, and nothing ever appears to be taken. I was also pleasantly surprised to observe how many people go out of their way to tell you that you are welcome in Palestine. Constantly I was offered tea, coffee, food and sweets. I cannot believe how skilled the Palestinain people are making pastries, and especially ice cream – I really think that they are the best in the world. On reflection, I am really impressed with the majority of Palestinian people. In Arabic they talk about a 'white heart' (Qalb Abyad) which is kind of how we say 'a pure heart' in English. In this regard, I have come to admire these people for their ability to enjoy life to the best of their ability despite suffering which has been at the hands of others including Isrealis and their own people. It has been an incredible opportunity to mature my thoughts and revisit my perspective that will no doubt add to my wellbeing for the rest of my life. I am a better person and have made a number of lifelong friends that I look forward to contacting in future. Don't be discouraged by the media. Palestine needs foreigners to contribute to the peace process as well. The great news is that you can do while having a great time.

My name is Anna and I am a 31-year-old journalist from Spain participating in "teach English, learn Arabic" program in the Excellence center. I decided to visit Palestine because I read a lot about rich Palestinian history and culture and I wanted to see for myself how an everyday life looks like in this region which is unfortunately often misrepresented in the media. Also, I wanted to learn the Arabic language. I applied for the Excellence center course because I was drawn to its program that tries to benefit the local community, as well as to allow participants to really get to know how the life in Palestine looks like. My first impressions were overwhelming: people of Palestine are so welcoming and friendly, making you feel like you are at home. My advice to everybody would be to let go of fears and prejudices one might have about the Middle East and come enjoy great music, culture, food, and the company of Palestinians. I feel completely safe in Palestine and people are more than willing to help if you need it. Of course, one should get familiar with the culture different from theirs to know do's and dont's, just like when traveling anywhere else. During my stay in Hebron, I went to the local schools and participated in English classes in Excellence center, group ones as well as the private ones. It's a good way to be in touch with people and get a more authentic experience and I was glad to see the students were so motivated and willing to learn. My host family made the whole experience amazing, making their home feel like mine too, I couldn't thank them enough. Living in Hebron means dealing with hundreds of different experiences and seeing a completely different world than of your own, especially if you are coming from Europe or North America, which makes it that much more interesting and gives you a new perspective.

I have been at the Excellence Center for nearly a month, and in that time have take trips alone to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and to the small village of Nabi Saleh, which is north of Ramallah. As an opening statement to this article, I can say it is surprisingly easy to get around on public transportation in Palestine, it is inexpensive, it is safe, and I have had no problems traveling alone. There may be a general impression among westerners that it is dangerous to visit Palestine. I have had several messages from friends back in the United States urging me to be careful and 'stay safe.' My impression at this time is that for foreigners, Palestine is safer than many other travel destinations, and certainly safer than many large American cities, especially at night. The only predictable danger here that I am aware of for foreigners is finding oneself involved in an altercation between Palestinian protesters and Israel soldiers. Generally, protest actions build over time, and while foreigners are often curious to observe a confrontation, one almost always has the option of walking away from such a gathering storm. Public transportation in Palestine is very good, and in fact it is certainly much better than where I live in Washington state. There is large bus service between all medium and large-sized cities at very low cost, often less than one dollar American. In addition, there is a huge fleet of yellow vans called sheruts or seervice, which roam throughout the cities and between cities. The cost of traveling from Hebron to Bethlehem, which is about a half hour drive, has been 9 sheckels, or two dollars, during my stay here. Lastly, there are taxis everywhere, and they too will take you anywhere within a city for a few dollars, or to another city for a higher price than a bus or sherut, but they will get there much faster. I have never had an unfriendly or negative interaction with anyone while traveling in Palestine. While I would say most Palestinians do not speak English (except for 'welcome' and 'where you from?'), everyone is willing to help, and if necessary an English speaker can usually be found. The one problem I did have was trying to get from Hebron to Jerusalem on a time schedule, to meet a tour given by the group 'Breaking the Silence' (former Israeli soldiers speaking out against the occupation). In a taxi or sherut the trip takes about an hour. My mistake was getting on a bus when I had to change vehicles in Bethlehem; the buses are quite slow, because they stop so often. That trip took two hours and I missed the tour. So, to sum up, traveling alone and volunteering in Palestine is very easy and as safe as traveling anywhere in the world. You can impress your friends back home with how brave you are while actually being more secure than in many places in the USA.

My name is Sophia, I am from the United States and I have spent the last three months volunteering with the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Middle East Studies with a minor in Arabic so my participation in the “Volunteer to Write about Palestine” program at the Excellence Center fit right in with my previous experience. My main task each day at the Excellence Center was to write two articles that would be put up on the EC website or distributed to other travel and volunteer information sites. I covered a range of different topics in my articles. I interviewed other international volunteers and wrote about their experiences and the work they were doing at the center. I got the chance to sit down with the director of the center for a discussion of which I later wrote about. Cultural and social norms of Palestinian society was also a topic I touched on regularly, these articles were important because they let prospective foreign volunteers get a sense of what Palestinian life is really like from the perspective of an international volunteer on the ground. Additionally, I wrote about practical subjects for future volunteers such as what to expect from security at the airport, how to navigate travel from the airport in Tel Aviv to Hebron, items current volunteers wish they had packed and items they packed but did not need, how to stay in touch with loved ones at home and how to dress in Hebron. My Arabic lessons at the center were an enormous help and definitely one of the highlights of my week. Having studied Arabic before my modern standard Arabic was already pretty solid but I was completely unfamiliar with Palestinian dialect, so that was what my lessons focused on. My Palestinian Arabic teacher at the center was certainly the best Arabic teacher I have ever had. Fairly regularly the EC would gather up all the international volunteers and take us to site visits around Hebron or in the surrounding area. During my time at the center I got to visit: a kufiyah factory, watch glassblowers in their workshop, see ceramics artisans molding and hand painting pottery, visit Bethlehem, eat traditional Palestinian food at the house of a student at the EC, walk through the old city and enter the Ibrahimi mosque. On my own time I went to Jericho and swam in the dead sea as well as visiting Bethlehem and Jerusalem several times I also greatly enjoyed visiting Ramallah. Living with a Palestinian host family was one of the most important aspects of my time volunteering in Hebron. I was immediately taken in as one of the family and I never ceased to be amazed by their hospitality. I would never understand the Palestinian culture and people as I do now without my homestay experience. I will never forget my time living with my Palestinian family. Secondly, my Arabic improved leaps as most of my family spoke little to no English. My Palestinian family gave me a sense of safety and security, I knew I had people here who cared and would look out for me. During my time volunteering in Hebron I have not once felt my safety was I danger. Knowing I must leave Palestine and the Excellence Center in just a couple days it is hard not to think of everything I am going to miss. I think the hardest part will be saying goodbye to my host family. Leaving the special aspects of Palestinian culture such has their welcoming and inclusive spirit will certainly be a huge culture shock when returning to the west. Lastly, I would not be truthful if I did not mention the food in Palestine. It is so delicious that I do not even want to think about being without it in just a couple days. Overall, I had a great experience volunteering with the Excellence Center and I would definitely recommend this program to any who are interested. The more people we have come to Palestine and see the true day to day life, feel their open , and witness their love for life and their fellow humans, the better.

My name is Lisa and I am on the Teach English Study Arabic Program at the Excellence Centre in Hebron. I am currently live England and am a university student of Arabic and Islamic studies I spent the previous year in Jordan and it was there where I became interested in doing voluntary work in Palestine. This was largely due to meeting and hearing the stories of a large amount of Palestinians in Jordan and coming to the realisation that it would be impossible to understand the history and culture of Jordan without understanding the history and culture of Palestine. I was further inspired to visit Palestine after hearing stories from other students in Jordan who had spoken to highly about both the beauty of the place and the warm hospitality of the people. Finally, I wanted to have the opportunity to consolidate the Arabic I had learned in the previous year and to improve my conversational skills. In Jordan, I undertook some voluntary work in which I greatly enjoyed helping others, meeting a large and diverse group of people and learning about their lives. I therefore decided to combine this love with my desire to visit Palestine by seeking voluntary work in here. Whilst I did not specifically seek voluntary work teaching English, after researching various voluntary programs, I decided that I would like to participate in an educational program as learning another language can give people a valuable gift for life. It was also apparent to me that the Excellence Centre seemed to offer the most structured program for this. On arriving in Palestine, I was immediately struck by the helpfulness of the people. This was because my journey from the airport to Hebron was rather confusing and it was amazing how many people rushed to help me. As it was a Friday in Ramadan and there were no taxis in the area, a minivan driver from Jerusalem took me to Hebron for a discounted fee as I was by myself and did not stop until I had found the Excellence Centre, albeit with the help of various groups of people. What was most remarkable was how a young boy got into the taxi to help with the journey. During this journey, I also was surprised by the geography of Palestine as it was very green and full of trees which was not what I had imagined. I was welcomed very warmly to the Excellence Centre and was kindly given a lot of coffee which was very needed after my journey! Whilst my journey to the Excellence Centre was rather stressful and not as planned, it was also a pleasantly surprisingly safe journey. The driver repeatedly warned me that there was no need to worry and despite what I had heard about Palestine on the news, I in no way felt threatened by the conflict during this journey. It was very touching that on my way to the Centre, my safety appeared to be the priority of so many people who kept on claiming that they were responsible for me. During my time in the Excellence Centre, I helped many people with their studies of the English language. I love to meet and become friends with a variety of different people from different cultures and countries. I traveled the significant historical and religious sites in Palestine in places such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jericho; places whose name’s I have heard so frequently throughout my childhood. Living in Hebron is a great change from Britain and even Jordan. My host family have been very welcoming to me and have taken great care of me.

Well, when one comes to Palestine, one is expected to have at least some idea and expectations of how it will be. How will the people react to me? Will it be safe or will it be dangerous? Will I fit in, will I be accepted? Where can I find the cheapest kebab? Legitimate serious questions may muddle your mind upon your arrival to this fascinating land but do not worry. Unless you have extremely surreal high expectations, everything will go better than expected. I personally did not know what to expect. I knew I was going to Palestine and I understood what that meant but I really did not know how to translate all that knowledge into the expectations of my own daily life. My attitude was to be positive and have an open mind about what would happen, and I do recommend this mentality as it will allow you to enjoy and get the best about the experience. Obviously, don't be naive, a little healthy skepticism won't affect your experience. For me, working with the Excellence Center and it's staff, teaching the children English and learning Arabic from my teacher in the context of Hebron and Palestine is being one of my best life choices. I'm already imagining of coming back! The main thing that will impact you is the honesty and generosity of the people of Hebron. You will be randomly greeted multiple times at the shout of “Welcome to Palestine!” during your stay and even invited to tea and coffee by complete strangers. Some will be anxious to know about you whilst others will simply let you sip your tea, relax and enjoy the hot drink. At the beginning, it can be surprising and I was wary at first, suspicious of their intentions (a Spanish trait, undoubtedly) but you will soon realize that this is simply a characteristic of the culture and the people and one you will surely miss when you leave Hebron. In my case, a male volunteer, there was no serious culture shock. I transitioned easily into the organizational and social life of the Excellence Center, thanks, both to the volunteers and the staff. One integrates smoothly into the Arabic classes, the English lessons, and other activities but I can easily disconnect when I get home, where I live with other male volunteers. Female volunteers and students must also integrate into the dynamics of their home, which can be much more challenging! To be honest, the best recommendation is to read and comprehend the advice and guidelines offered by the Excellence Center and ask any questions that may emerge. Use common sense, be critical and inform yourself about where you are coming from and will have a great vital experience!

This summer I participated in the Teach English Learn Arabic volunteer program at the Excellence Center for a little less than two months. At the center I taught English and studied Arabic with my amazing teacher Marwa. I also participated in a lot of trips and got to see Ramallah, Bethlehem and the Dead sea amongst other things. My time here has least to say been fantastic and I feel that I’ve went from knowing near to nothing about Palestine to knowing a great deal. I leave Hebron with many great memories. One of my best ones is from when I held an English summer camp for Palestinian children. In some ways it was a hard and demanding period but in the end the camp was really rewarding. We had a great time with the kids and I would like to meet some of them again when I come back to Palestine. Also since I and the other volunteers had the freedom to plan the camp by ourselves, we could fill it up with the acitvities that we found interesting. For example I started teaching Swedish to some kids and to my surprise they got really into it. I even kept on giving private Swedish classes to some of the kids for the remainder of my time here. I also made a lot of great friends from outside of the center. Palestinians are so hospitable and I often got invited to have coffee or shisha. One of my favorite experiences is from when I went barbecuing with some guys my age at the local swimming pool. Everything was planned very meticulously with us going back and forth to different butchers to find the perfect meat the day before. Next day we met early in the morning and traveled to the outskirts of the city where we found the swimming pool. Once there we had a great time swimming and playing around. Later we had shisha and grilled together in the sun, it was so nice! Also, I didn’t find this out until later, but apparently some of the meat we grilled was from camel which is pretty cool. All in all my experience in Palestine was unforgettable and I will miss the place a lot and all the friends I made here. I will especially miss all the wonderful persons at the center who helped me practice my Arabic with them. I am forever thankful. I wish to continue my Arabic studies and get even better after this. I would warmly recommend this program to anyone that is interested in Palestine or the Middle East. Of course volunteering isn’t always a walk on roses but I would glady participate in this program again, and hopefully I will next year or the year after that.

I was fortunate enough to participate in a variety of classes at the center. I provided assistance to the Beginner English Classes on numerous occasions, taught Intermediate English II, gave independent lessons, and led several workshops. All of the different opportunities to teach were very rewarding. In addition to teaching English, I was also able to further study Arabic while at the center. I enjoyed the Arabic lessons as they provided a unique chance to learn and use the local Palestinian dialect and not another or MSA. The staff and local teachers at the center are all exceptional people. From the moment you arrive, they treat you with the warmest hospitality. They all provide a piece of the great personality that the center has, and I greatly miss all of them. Teaching English to the local students will be the most rewarding experiences of your time spent in Palestine. Most of the students have a deep interest in studying English for various reasons. Rarely some will arrive and be wholly unmotivated to participate in class or complete any work between sessions, but the enthusiasm of the rest of the students more than makes up for it. There wasn’t a class that I taught or assisted with that did not have at least a few students show up significantly late. Don’t let that bother you because, rest assured, students don’t show up late as a personal slight to you. Punctuality will probably be one of the most obvious cultural differences you experience during your stay in Palestine. I was also able to participate in the majority of the site visits that the center offers. The normal trips in the city of Hebron are very fun and are guided so you are able to get a little more out of them than just walking by or through important locations. They also provide the chance to see a side of Hebron that mosts visitors will not see. The center also provided the opportunity to visit the bedouin village Susiya and the refugee town of al-Fawwar that provided a rare glimpse into the lives of other Palestinians. Apart from the center, I was also able to visit other parts of Palestine like East Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho and the Golan Heights. Hebron is a very unique city and visiting other Palestinian locations may give you a better understanding of what life in Palestine can mean. Hebron is a historic city with religious importance Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Being here will give you the chance to see these important sites and walk around the Old City. Most evenings are filled with smoking hookah, drinking coffee, and possibly playing billiards. There isn’t too much to do as far as recreation goes in Hebron, but you will be able to find the occasional pick-up football game and you’ll have plenty of time to read and hang out. Living at the center’s accommodations will not be the most pleasant part of your time in Palestine. It is a space appropriate for maybe four adults, but you may find it occupied by six volunteers. Be prepared to not have water at times and to share the small space with its few commodities with other, possibly less hygienic, foreigners. It will meet your needs, but you may find it a bit cramped. Security is a concern in Palestine. In most cases, You will notice security measures as they can make traveling here difficult. While arriving to and moving around the Palestinian territories, you will undoubtedly encounter Israeli checkpoints. For most, especially Western, visitors, these are often superficial inspections. Having said that, it is always advised to keep your passport and Israeli-issued entry document with you will moving throughout the area. If you are heading through checkpoints on foot, especially near religious or historic landmarks of Jewish importance, the soldiers may simply ask if you are Muslim or not. As for safety, the most dangerous activity you will partake in here is riding in taxis and busses. Outside of that, there is a small chance you may catch an errant stone or tear gas canister if you find yourself near a protest, but generally the situation is very safe here for foreigners. You will, however, attract a lot of attention as a foreigner in Palestine. For the most part it will be innocent. From time to time you will encounter Palestinians that may not be especially fond of foreigners. You may be walking down the street or through the market and be called a Jew or an Israeli, and some Palestinians will make other explicit comments. While that is not the most unsafe experience, it does register somewhere on the scale, but it is definitely the exception and not the rule. I would love to return to the Excellence Center and would recommend it to others looking to volunteer in the West Bank. The center is very different even from my arrival and is always headed in the right direction. The work that the staff and volunteers do for the community is needed and appreciated. Overall, it was a wonderful experience getting to teach English and study Arabic at the Excellence Center.

I chose to study Arabic at the Excellence Center for 2 weeks in May 2017. The Excellence Center offered everything I needed: Palestinian-dialect Arabic instruction, cultural field trips throughout Hebron, and a vetted home stay - all for an affordable price. The team at the Center was warm and hospitable and I felt at ease immediately. Hebron can be an intimidating place but the center connected me with a wonderful home stay family, took us on tours so we could get our bearings, and was a great home base for learning. I started each morning with breakfast and coffee at the center, used the morning to answer emails and study vocab using the center’s wifi, and then in the afternoon met for 4 hours with my Arabic instructor, Ibrahim. He tailored my classes to the topics of my work so I could learn the vocab I needed for my upcoming summer job. In the evenings, I would spend time with my host family who had three small children. The mother taught me to cook Palestinian dishes and we spent many nights staying up late taking over coffee or shisha. The second week I was there was the start of Ramadan which saw a significant shift in the city. There is a general slowdown everywhere and no one eats, drinks, or smokes during the day. This shifts one’s experience of city and studying considerably so take this into account when planning your stay at the Center. On the other hand, the evening Iftar and festive Ramadan nights are a wonderful experience as well. The families gather and you get the chance to meet family and friends as many invitations are extended. This two weeks was the best investment I could have made before starting my job in Palestine. I learned a considerable amount about Hebron, Palestinian culture, the political situation, Islam, all in addition to my Arabic study. These things have made my work and stay in Palestine richer and more enjoyable. It is a wonderful feeling to know I now have friends and family in Hebron! I recommend and endorse the Excellence Center and its Arabic instruction. This is a solid and affordable program which has a wonderful atmosphere and community to welcome you to Palestine.

Hebron is a very unexpected place. When I first arrived, I am not sure exactly what I was expecting, but what met me here was a city full of kind, friendly and welcoming people. This is my first visit to Palestine, and upon arrival, I immediately felt comfortable and welcome. It is impossible to walk down the street without constantly hearing ‘Welcome to Hebron!’ or ‘You are welcome in Palestine!’. For a woman from the Western world, normally you learn to ignore anyone who yells out to you as you walk down the street, but here in Hebron I very quickly learned to appreciate the constant polite welcomes and hellos that I received. Perhaps the thing that made me feel most welcome is my host family. They immediately went out of their way to make me feel as though their home is my home, including taking me to dinner and introducing me to their (very large!) extended family. It truly felt as though I belonged there, and that Hebron would always be a place where I would find friends and a second home. Of course, there are cultural differences that take some getting used to. First, arriving in the middle of Ramadan, I must continually remind myself that drinking water outside during the day will lead to an awful lot of angry stares. Similarly, one must always be careful to cover your knees, elbows, and collar bone when walking around the city. However, once you get used to these simple customs, fitting into the local culture becomes quite easy. One thing that is very easy to get used to is the food. It is different from the sort I am used to, but it is delicious. A lot of rice, meat, and vegetables cooked in a variety of spices and sauces. There are a lot of interesting things to see as well. The Old City, the glass factory, and a variety of museums and cultural centers that locals are always eager to tell you about. As a general rule, many people you meet on the street will offer to show you around, tell you about things to do or see in Hebron, and ask you if you are enjoying yourself in their city. It is a kind of friendliness largely absent from big cities in the Western world. Overall, my experience during in Hebron has been incredible. I have never felt such a warm welcome to a place of which I am a perfect stranger, and I already feel very comfortable in my unfamiliar surroundings. The next few weeks promise to hold even more experiences in getting to know my new temporary home, and I am excited to see what will come.

As Palestine was the first Arab country that I’ve been to, this was the first time for me to experience daily life in the Muslim culture. I knew a lot of things from theory or Arab friends in Germany, but apart from that a lot of things were new to me. I was surprised about how friendly, interested and open most people around here are towards strangers. It seems almost impossible to enter a Palestinian’s home without constantly being offered food. The hospitality can even become a bit of a struggle if you really don’t want that third serving or another dessert or the fifth cup of coffee. I was a bit concerned about the security situation and about not being able to walk around freely at all or experiencing incidents between Palestinians and soldiers on the streets. But I felt safe and walking around Hebron during daytime turned out to not be a problem at all. There are a lot of cheap taxis as well, in case you don’t want to walk. Knowing the directions in Arabic or having someone write them down for you in Arabic helps a lot to avoid confusion as just a few of the drivers know English well enough. I was surprised that traveling inside Palestine was not an issue at all. Anywhere I’ve went so far, service drivers and people on the streets were very considerate and always ready to help when I didn’t know how to get from A to B and happy to practice their English with me. Also traveling to Israel for the weekend is considerably easy when going through Jerusalem. I didn’t really know what to expect from work at the Excellence Center and how my weeks would look like. I was positively surprised by the relaxed and friendly relationship between the volunteers and the teachers. Sitting together for breakfast or coffee between classes in the kitchen or on the rooftop has become something I am looking forward to every day. A lot of times I help the teachers with English classes in the center or go to high schools in nearby villages where I teach together with another volunteer. Additionally, I did one-on-one conversational classes with older students at the Center. Almost all students are always very excited about the foreigners and during the breaks, they come to say hi, shake your hand or take pictures together. I would not have thought that so many people here are so passionate and motivated about learning English. What also surprised me was that volunteers are able to prepare a lot of the classes on their own for the most part. Even though it is nice to be free in choosing exercises and teaching methods, I think sometimes it would be good for the students if there was more planning together with their teachers for the sake of consistency. During my stay, I came to appreciate the hospitality of the Palestinians and their interest in foreign countries and cultures. At the same time, I noticed that being a foreign woman in a traditional Muslim country can become difficult at times. Whenever being shouted at by men on the street or getting marriage proposals by host family members I realized the cultural differences the most. Before I came here I would not have thought that I would be confronted with behavior like this on an almost daily basis. It would have been helpful for me if I had heard about this beforehand. Being told about the status women here and about how to best behave around men might prevent a lot of misunderstandings and irritations in the long run. I do believe that volunteering with the Excellence Center and living with a host family gives volunteers a unique opportunity to dive into the Palestinian culture and learn spoken Arabic while contributing to the community of Hebron. The two days off during the week are a perfect amount of time to travel around the area and explore Palestine together with other volunteers. The best recommendation that I can give to future volunteers is to take any chance to engage with the locals, try to speak as much Arabic as possible and ask questions if you’re curious about certain things. You might be surprised about their openness and their generosity. At the same time being able to clearly communicate when you don’t feel comfortable with something and to not be afraid of insulting them by not accepting every offer or piece of advice is just as important in order for you to make the best of your time here in Palestine.

At the Excellence Center I participated in three major types of activities. I organised professional workshops for university students, helping them refine skills such as academic writing and interview tactics and also ran activities sessions for younger students based on topics like Ramadan. Finally, I assisted in lessons for Beginners English. The Center also offers around three hours of Arabic classes per week. I really enjoyed these, and feel that they improved my confidence with Palestinian dialect. It would have been great if I had been here for longer and got more of a chance to practice the language, but I only stayed for a month. The environment at the Center is very relaxed and friendly, both among local teachers and international volunteers. Things can be a little chaotic and disorganised, but I think some of that can be ascribed to the timing of my visit – Ramadan is a very hard month to arrange lessons in, and student attendance is hard to enforce. I very much felt that the staff at the Center would help me with any problems I might be having, to the extent of lending me money when my card broke - a level of kindness I by no means expected. I went on site visits to Ibrahim’s Oak, the Old City and the Camel Sandal’s factory. All of these were incredibly interesting. It would have been nice to have the opportunity to visit and support more Palestinian businesses! In my spare time at the Excellence Center, I also visited the Dead Sea, Jericho, Tel Aviv and Nazareth. As transport in the West Bank is so easy to use, it was relatively simple to see a huge amount of the country, even though I wasn’t here for very long. I really loved exploring different parts of the region, and learning more about life here from the people I met. Life in Hebron is very different to life in a European city, but not totally alien. You can find most things in shops in the city, and in general it’s an easy city to get around, despite the lack of reliable street signs. Palestinian people are welcoming and interested in visitors to a degree that I found surprising at first. It is generally a wonderful thing to experience though – a simple walk home can lead to you gaining a new friend, which would never happen in Britain. I personally felt very secure while living in Hebron, to the point that I was perfectly comfortable walking around at night. However this might have been because I was here during Ramadan, so the streets always felt friendly and crowded. My one complaint would be that by the end of my stay, I was fed up with the male attention. I felt that there was a perception among a minority of men that I would welcome their advances, whereas in reality, it was always uncomfortable and occasionally a real invasion of my boundaries. My favourite thing about Palestine is a mixture of the landscape and the people. Travelling around by bus or taxi, I never got tired of looking out of the window and dreaming of all the things this land has seen throughout the centuries. One memory I particularly treasure from my time here is my arrival at the Damascus Gate on my first day in the country. I was tired and lost, and a very kind man not only showed me the way to the bus station, but bought me breakfast for the journey. Nothing could have given me a better demonstration of the kind of hospitality I could expect from my stay here. Overall my time in the West Bank has been extraordinary. I feel like I have been offered so much during my stay: people have shared their stories, their time and their food in the most unimaginably generous way. I feel honoured to have experienced all I have experienced.

Studying Arabic has definitely been the highlight of my stay in Palestine. At first, I was studying Arabic for 3 hours a week. I really enjoyed the gradual progress to the point where I was able to engage in basic interactions for my daily life. I’d been enjoying learning Arabic so much that I felt I wanted to make the most of learning in an immersive environment. I moved over to the intensive Arabic programme, which I’ve been participating in for the last 3 weeks. I’ve noticed a massive improvement and have reached the point where I can interact in basic conversations. The teaching is excellence, my teacher often asks for feedback as to whether I am enjoying my lessons and whether I have any ideas for improvement. The teachers are always willing to help you and the Excellence centre benefits from a relaxed family atmosphere, making students feel very at home. The staff and teachers are always willing to help. During my time here I’ve visited villages on the outskirts of Hebron as well as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho and the Dead Sea. The Centre organises trips in Hebron, I’ve visited a glass blowing factory, keffiyeh factory and a church. My favourite thing about Palestine is it’s people. I’ve been staggered by the lengths that the people here in Hebron will go to make you feel welcome. I’ve visited a student’s home and fed until I thought I would burst. On another occasion, I was lost, and after explaining my problem to a local man, was promptly led by the hand to my destination. Overall I’ve loved my time at the Centre. I really value the chance to contribute to Palestinian society, and I’ve made strong friendships. I hope to return one day soon.

During my time in Palestine I participated both in the TESA programme and the intensive Arabic programme. As a qualified teacher of English as a foreign language. I wanted to put my skills to good use, whilst at the same time using the opportunity to experience Palestinian culture and receive tuition in the local dialect. As a native English speaker I found helping to develop the student’s understanding of such useful and global language extremely rewarding. It makes such a difference to their future prospects and careers. I’ve developed close bonds with many of the students, found them eager to learn, and will really miss my time spent teaching in Palestine. I taught both regular and conversational classes at the Excellence Centre, at the local University, at a local girls schools and in a village just outside of Hebron. Overall I loved my time in Palestine and at the Excellence Center in Hebron

Hi, my name is John, I’m 24 years old, and I am from the United States. I studied colloquial Arabic at the Excellence for a month in the spring of 2017. Five days a week, every day, I had class from 8:30 in the morning until noon. At the center, I also ate breakfast together with other students, volunteers, and the staff and I sometimes participated in tours offered by the program. I have found my Arabic lessons to be really great, and the ability to have one-on-one tutoring has been invaluable. Coming from a background where I already possessed knowledge of another Arabic dialect, being able to customize the lessons to my needs was absolutely essential. A variety of approaches were used in order to help me learn the language, including listening and writing to stories, integrating vocabulary into my speech, watching videos, discussing the news, and more. I definitely noticed a strong improvement in my command of the Palestinian dialect. The environment at the Center is very welcoming. The staff are all kind and friendly, and also willing to help you out with Arabic, information about Palestine, or anything else. The other students and volunteers are all engaged in what they do, and are excited about being in Palestine. Overall, this makes for a great ambiance at the center. With the center, I was able to visit a keffiyeh factory and a ceramics/glass factory. Additionally, I went to the old city with someone recommended from the center. All of these experiences I will definitely not forget! In my time in Palestine, I was also able to visit Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. The West Bank is relatively small and easy to get around. It is definitely worth taking advantage of your time here in order to explore other cities outside of Hebron. With that being said, life in Hebron can be quite special. The people are incredibly hospitable and tolerant. People are open to discussing many subjects with you, and are often excited to meet foreigners. I did feel safe in Palestine. While caution should always be taken, if one is smart and aware of their surroundings, one should feel secure here. What I like most about Palestine is the people--their hospitality, talking with them, and learning about their culture. This includes learning more about their food, politics, and traditions. I will definitely leave Palestine and its people with a bit of sadness, and recall them fondly in the time to come. Overall, I would definitely recommend staying at the Excellence Center in Palestine to people searching to learn Arabic. It is a great chance to immerse yourself in the language and discover a new culture in a secure and friendly environment. I, for one, do not regret it! Comments/Suggestions: I wish to note that I really enjoyed my experience here and think overall things are great, but I will offer some constructive criticism nonetheless. The center’s laid-back and welcoming nature are fantastic; sometimes, though, things can seem unclear perhaps due to this (which personally doesn’t bother me, to be honest). While I am happy to go with the flow, other people might find it more disconcerting that, say, it is not clear what exactly happens when arriving to the center for the first time. For example, I came and waited for an hour before someone came, and even then I didn’t know exactly where I’d be living, when I’d start lessons, etc. Conveying this message in email before arrival would make more sense, I think (which would perhaps require a more exact time of arrival on the part of the participant).

My name is Emmy. Next year, I am also going to attempt the courses of Conflict Studies. With my study my interest was more focused on the religion of Islam and the Middle East culture. How typical it could possibly sound, I am a fervent believer that every one should be treated with respect and integrity no matter what his religion, origin or thoughts are. The choice of Palestine as first journey to a new world felt directly right for me. As much I could tell or remember from my classes, nothing compares with the experience self of meeting a culture, people and a country. The Excellence Center proposed a volunteering of helping Palestinians of every age with their English in exchange of the guarantee life experience. The reason I chose for the Excellence Center is also because I am more than aware of the chances I have as a young woman born and raised in a context where everything is just a matter of choosing between the opportunities. I am thankful everyday that I can attempt classes and learn. I wanted to share the knowledge I had right chance in Palestine and Hebron, people are very friendly, food is tasty and the city is safe as a women to travel. I could only admit that this experience taught me more lessons than I gave.

As a general rule of thumb, the further you move east, the less things make sense. However, and this is important, it works, and the more you engage yourself with the culture, it’ll start to make sense to you too. For example, it is considered rude to eat straight away after you’ve been served; the opposite is true in Arabic culture. In Hebron, there are no pedestrian crossings, you just walk across the road wherever seems appropriate and cars will stop for you. Learning these idiosyncrasies and cultural differences is important and you must be open, flexible, and adaptable to these cultural norms in Palestine. Palestinians are always willing to talk: Strangers in the street, vendors and shop owners. It’s a great opportunity to practice their English and your Arabic. Coffee, tea, cigarettes and shisha are consumed in vast quantities, perhaps to offset the cultural ban on Alcohol in the city. If you’re hankering for a drink, you can head to Bethlehem. To be honest, if no one else around you is consuming alcohol you’ll get used to it pretty quickly. It’s nice to take a day trip to Bethlehem and Jerusalem to see something different, or to see the occupied section of Hebron (do take precautions when you go to this section of the city). I wish I could stay longer and I hope to back, but who knows!

My name is Sara, I'm from the north of Spain. Now I'm living in Madrid where I study Economy and International Relations at Rey Juan Carlos University. I'm very interested in the Middle East and I'd like to work here one day. At the beginning of this month I lived with a host family in Tabaqa, Dura. I've lived there for two weeks and then I moved to another host family in Hebron. With my first family I was very happy, it was a big family and they lived in the same street so I was always having tea with my cousins or playing with the children outside, etc. However, one day my host father told me that I had to move to Hebron but I didn't expect that so it was difficult for me. My second host family is smaller, the parents are very young and they only have two sons, but I'm very happy too, they are very nice and I feel very comfortable with them. I think that staying with a host family you receive a full immersion in the Palestinian culture and society. I arrived in the last week of Ramadan so I had a lot of Iftar meals, and the final party of Eidl; I was part of the Palestinian society for this week. I also went to two Palestinian parties where I danced and ate with the women. Here in Palestine it's easy to be involved in their culture because everybody invites you to their homes or their parties, Palestinian people are characterized for their hospitality. I've been studying Arabic this last year at university and I arrived here knowing the letters and the numbers so I could read and write, this way is easier to learn. The problem is that the Arabic countries speak their own dialect and I learnt the formal Arabic that it's a little different. Arabic it's a difficult language and it requires time so I suggest to come here with a little notion of the language. I saw here everything I read in the news and in my history books, but by myself. Actually it was my first motivation to come here, to know and see all what I was told about this country. In Hebron there are almost every day confrontations between the settlers and the locals and if you are interested you can learn and listen stories about people and about what happened since 1948, for me it was very interesting. I have visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, the Dead Sea, Haifa, Acre and Ramallah, I've discovered the differences within this country and its people by travelling. So I recommend to visit the most you can and learn the most you can from this beautiful country.

Living in Hebron, I feel that I've gained a much more dynamic and nuanced understanding of the occupation and its political, cumy students and my observations of the H2 territories, I've learned so much more than I could have through my studies. I arrived here with no idea what to expect, but I've learned that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view. I'm sad to leave Palestine, but I feel now like the circle is complete and I know I'll return to the U.S. with a much deeper understanding of Palestinian life and I'm so gratefulltural and daily consequences. Through my conversations with my host family, my discussions with for the experiences and the friends that I've made

My name is Emily and I'm from Germany. I studied Arabic at the Excellence Center in the city of Hebron. I chose to study in Palestine because I had visited the country a few years ago, while I was living in Jordan, and found it very friendly and welcoming. Aside from my lessons, I visited some of the historical sites in Hebron and the area, and had a chance to experience the local culture and meet people. This experience was a very beneficial to my Arabic skills and also enriching for me personally, since I was able to meet many different people and discover Palestinian culture.

My name is Ray. I am from Canada. I came to Excellence Centre for 1 month to learn Arabic. My primary reason for visiting Palestine was to visit Harm-al-Sharif. In Islam, Al-Aqsa mosque holds a very special significance. For a very long time, I had a desire to come to Palestine, see the city of Jerusalem and visit other important landmarks. During my stay here I decided to also learn Arabic. I looked for schools online and found Excellence Centre in Hebron offer Arabic classes. I decided to enroll immediately for one month. It has been almost three week since I came to Hebron and my experience so far has been outstanding. The Excellence Centre has a well-structured curriculum and is flexible to meet my particular needs and level. But more than that the staff at the Excellence Centre is really professional, caring, and made me feel at home right away. The genuine warmth and hospitality of the people of Hebron is truly effusing.

My name is Juana and I am from Mexico City. For the last 7 years I have been involved in volunteering. This time I chose Palestine not only because I have some friends whose families are Palestinian but also because I strongly believe in helping people in any way that might be possible. For years I have heard about the Palestinian situation, as so I have heard and read from other conflicts in the world, but for me it was important coming here because I wanted to see and experience how things are going over here. More important, try to do something in order to let know that there are people around the world who care for what is going on here, and who will be glad to help in any possible way. So, with everything that is going on not only here but in the world, I thought it would be nice to work with children as they are not only the future but they are also the ones who will be able to change their world and improve it. And if we want that to happen, we need to support their education, their happiness and their lives. We must help them to believe in themselves and empower them so they can reach their full potential. And as an important part of education, I think imagination comes as an important tool, because it will help them dream of better opportunities and a better world. For me, it has been really important to express not only my feelings but my thoughts by drawing, that is why I chose to work with children in a creative way. That is what I want to be my contribution, make them confident so they can dare to dream and express what they are feeling and what they really want in life regardless of what other people say they can or cannot do. They must know they are capable not only to dream but to achieve. That is the important aspect for me, making sure the kids know they are entitled to a better future, to a good life and to achieve every single dream they have for themselves, their families and friends. I want them to go out and let the world know they are here and that they will not be defeated by those who are trying to oppress them. Just by being in Palestine I feel have already obtained a benefit, because some are always telling why you should not get here, why it is not worthy, why it is dangerous, but they speak out of ignorance and I was not going to live like that. Even if I am not staying here for as long as I wanted, this has already helped me to discover new places, people and experiences. And I am sure I will be back. That is why I am so glad places like this exist and I am really happy that so many people from different places around the world get here to be with the kids and families. I am proud of every single person that has ever come here, because even if not everyone in the world knows this is happening, volunteering at the Excellence Center is actually happening and I am sure it has been making the difference as so the people coming here. Maybe we do not get to see nice actions in the media just as we see wars, killings and problems, but I am sure these actions done by volunteers are way stronger than that, so I just want people to keep coming, helping, learning and making the difference so kids can have a better world.

I stayed in a Palestinian host family. The family has a mother, father and three sons. The father is a doctor and the mother has a part time job on top of being a housewife. The children were 4, 7 and 12 years old. Almost everyone in the family spoke very good English, which is why I very much enjoyed our conversations. You can learn a lot about Palestinians and their culture and traditions from your host family. Of course, it was fascinating to discuss and learn how the occupation affects the life of Palestinians and how my host family felt about it. During the whole time I was in Palestine I felt very safe. This is somewhat strange, because I expected that I would have to be alert all the time for potential danger. From the first moment that I arrived to Palestine I learned that the locals are very welcoming and helpful. In a strange country, you must learn to trust the people. So, even as a woman I felt I could walk around the city without concern. However, one should make sure to respect the local culture and dress appropriately, because then foreign women attract less attention and can walk in peace. Further, there are certain places in Hebron where it is not wise to go during certain times, especially at night, because there are clashes between the IDF soldiers and Palestinians. So, common sense and knowing where to go and not go keeps internationals very safe in Hebron. My typical day in Hebron can be divided into two parts; in the mornings I would go to the center and teach English or have my Arabic lessons. During the breaks from these activities I would hang out with the other volunteers in the kitchen reserved for us, or on the roof enjoying the sun. After the class activities I would normally go to my host family, my home, and spend the evening with them eating dinner or discussing about cultural differences of Finland and Palestine. The Center and the Hebron traditions expect girls and women to return home at a certain time as it is not common for girls to walk alone at night, so that is why on most evenings the female volunteers go home to spend time with their host families. However, this is negotiable with the host family and very much depends on how conservative they are. I feel I gained a lot from my experience in Palestine. I now better understand the Palestinian culture and traditions, especially those of Hebron. I have learned cultural sensitivity, however sometimes getting disappointed that some people expect it only from foreigners and were not willing to meet in the middle. Hebron is a very conservative city and especially women need to give away certain rights we have gotten used to in the west. My objective to come to Palestine was to see what is happening in the occupied territories and how Palestinians lead their lives under occupation. I feel I have now a better understanding of the struggles Palestinians need to go through on daily basis, and I feel I have the responsibility to share their stories now with the people in my home country. I wish one day Palestine will be free.

I am Sandy and am currently studying International human rights in Germany. I took part in the volunteering program which included 20 hours of Arabic lessons and I taught English to all levels within the center. I never felt threatened in Palestine, I do think that as a woman though you are put at risk a bit more. I think that the Excellence Center’s guide on how women should dress or are viewed in Palestinian society should be addressed more for volunteers. Although I am educated and understand what can be acceptable or unacceptable, even teaching some classes was difficult because many students do not respect a woman being in a leadership role. In terms of safety concerns related to the occupation – I have never felt in danger. I would recommend to participants to learn Arabic before they come, as sometimes you are stuck in situations where you need an Arabic and English speaker to translate. It can be difficult to integrate into society if you don’t speak Arabic. However I didn’t speak Arabic before I came and I found plenty of people could help me and it forced me to try and learn Arabic even more. My best memories in Palestine tend to be related to food. I also enjoyed teaching my English classes in the center, the Palestinian students are keen and are passionate about learning. I also have the best memories with my host family, they made my stay in Al-Khalil truly fantastic. I learnt many new Arabic songs, and I think I have tried every Palestinian dish now. I learnt how to dance at weddings and parties.

I am involved with the’ Volunteer in Palestine’ program and stayed in Palestine for one month. I chose Palestine, because I have been interested in the region and wanted to come here and see it with my own eyes and experience it with Palestinians. One can learn by reading and following the news only so far, so I wanted to learn and understand more so I thought coming here would allow me to do that. Also, I wanted to learn more Arabic and thought Palestine is a good place to learn that. I have wanted to come here for a long time now and finally my life situation allowed me to take the break and come here. During my stay at the excellence center I contributed in facilitating interactive and engaging English classes for the students. I also provided different workshops, for example, for writing CVs and cover letters or job applications. I work as a Management Consultant, which means I have a good knowledge and background in giving these types of instructions. Also, on my days off, travelled around Palestine. I contributed to the Excellence Centers work by being a motivating teacher and giving fun and memorable lessons for the students. This experience helps my future aspirations in trying to work for a non-governmental organization in the future. I am now a business consultant, but I would like to leave business life and have a job where I can make real difference and help people. Having the experience and learnings from Palestine makes me a better candidate to such organizations, for example for the Red Cross. Also, I work for the Red Cross in Sweden as a volunteer where I really need Arabic skills often, so learning Arabic skills here helps me in doing that volunteer work in Sweden with refugees. I hope my work made a difference. I hoped that my presence and my motivating teaching attitude would spark the students’ self confidence in learning and actively using English language. I really also enjoyed my time in Palestine and I learnt a lot, I would recommend volunteer in Palestine to anyone who would like to make a difference in his life and well as others Greetings from Sweden

I am involved in the Intensive Arabic Program here at the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine. I decided to take this program in Palestine because I am very interested in learning about the Israeli occupation of Palestine and how people in Palestine live under this occupation. I am currently a law student and I have focused my studies on the international law concerning Palestinian statehood and rights. I wanted to be able to experience the life of the Palestinian people first hand so I could better understand what life here was really like. I have been able to experience a great deal of Palestinian culture. Since it was Ramadan some of the instructors have invited me to dinner at their homes and I have been able to meet a great deal of very interesting people. I have also gone to Jerusalem and had the chance to visit Al Aksa mosque and the Dome of the Rock which has been a desire of mine for a while now. It is my hope and prayer that my experience here will help me to become a better advocate for Palestinian rights and help me become a better advocate against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. By learning Arabic I hope to be able to learn firsthand from Palestinian people what life here is really like and how they feel about the Israeli occupation.

Hello! My name is Alejandro., I am 22 years old and I live in Spain. I am studying Economics and International Relations (third year) at Rey Juan Carlos University. I have studied the conflict between Palestine and Israel at my university and I am very interested in it, as well as in the Middle East in general. That is why I wanted to come to Hebron, to see the conflict myself, face to face; and also because I am studying arabic in Madrid and I wanted to improve it. The program I am involved in is the volunteer program, so I gave English lessons to the local students and, at the same time, I spent some time learning Arabic. I taught English in classes with different levels. For example, I assisted to the Beginners class and we played some games so that they learned the vocabulary of working, the types of jobs This month allowed me to see the reality of the things in Palestine. I study at university and know the people behind it and the way they are living and, mostly, be able to help personally. I would like to work at the United Nations when I finish my studies, so this was a good opportunity to learn more about the Arabic world, which I find very interesting.

I arrived in Palestine as part of the TESA program with the Excellence Center in Hebron to teach English and learn Arabic. My goal was to contribute towards the education of Palestinian youth to help empower them so that they may become active contributors to their society. I strongly believe in education as the most powerful tool that one can wield, and with a strong education the sky is the limit. This is why I chose to participate in this program. Due to my previous experience in Arabic, the Excellence Center placed me in a neighboring town called Dura, where I worked with a partner non-profit called “Multaqa Sawaid” to teach three levels of English conversation skills to individuals of all ages. I became immersed in Palestinian society and it allowed me to gain a direct exposure to the life, culture, and political climate here. In addition, living in Palestine for two months gave me the opportunity to explore the country on my free time to enhance my own understanding of the complexities that govern this beautiful land. On my free time, I had the opportunity to visit the Old City of Hebron, where I was exposed to a combination of politics, history, religion, and culture that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. As someone who strongly believes in freedom and self-determination for the Palestinian people, seeing the climate firsthand was incredibly vital for me as an ally. I also visited the Old City of Jerusalem, where I was able to pray in the Aqsa mosque and traverse through centuries of history. Bethlehem was also another lovely city that I visited, filled with elaborate architecture and complimented by a calm, tranquil, environment. Teaching in Palestine means so much to me. The untapped potential that all of the students here possess is powerful, and if I can help contribute towards triggering that potential, then I will have been forever grateful. At first I was anxious and nervous coming here, thinking that I would not do so well, but the students proved to be excellent learners (and teachers!) which made it all an incredibly smooth experience. If I had the opportunity to do this project again I would do so in a heartbeat. I have fulfilled what I came here to do and I have optimistic hopes about the future of Palestine and its people. The youth are motivated, passionate, and determined to shape their own future. They refuse to allow any obstacles to come in their way, whether it is the occupation or lack of resources. They have shown, time and time again, that they will succeed. As a foreigner I was not only humbled but amazed at their diligence. There were many occasions where I thought I was the student and they were the teachers. My relationship with them developed into something more than just a student-teacher relationship, but a meaningful bond that allowed us both to gain from each other. The students I taught do not know this, but they have taught me much more than I have taught them. Palestine will be proud of them one day. Many people have the wrong conception about Palestine and the Palestinian people. Never in my life have I ever been immersed in a culture so generous, compassionate, and caring to foreigners. I recall several incidents where I would tell a man that I liked his shirt, and immediately he would take it off and offer it to me. I have never witnessed such unparalleled generosity anywhere else. The Palestinian people seek to live in a free, equal, and just society like everyone else. They have their own struggles and their own stories, many of which are similar to our own but many which are also very unique to them. I truly believe that if one is sincere about learning about Palestinian life, that they should visit this land with an open mind and see how it is for themselves. My experience in Palestine has been profound and I will miss it dearly. I have made family here, and it is always hard to say goodbye to family, though I believe that this is not goodbye. This is just the beginning. We will pick up as soon as I return one day. As they say in Palestine, “Next year in Jerusalem, inshallah!”

I am involved in the one month - 60 class hours - learning Arabic program with the Excellence Center in Hebron. So learning Arabic is my main goal. Also I was interested in seeing other parts of the region and from another perspective. I have family in Jordan, so I travel to there a lot. But I was curious to see places like Hebron, Jerusalem, Nablus and Ramallah, even Israel. Also looking forward to see the faces of my family, that do no know I am here, when I surprise them for Aid al Fiter. I am, according to my excellent teacher, making good progress, so I thing I will benefit a lot. You can start learning a language abroad, but then, sooner or later, you have to travel to the country for real progress. I think everyone coming to Palestine and then returning to his country, talking about his experiences, will make a difference. It will not be decisive, but it is also an act of solidarity, so everyone is winning. I am planning of coming back, maybe not for a whole month, since I love my wife a lot and would not like to loose her ..., but maybe as a volunteer, teaching German or Spanish to local people and kids at the center, thus contributing to its important work.

I stayed with two different host families during my time in Hebron. The first family was located about a 40 minute walk away from the center, and they were extremely kind. They were interested to learn about me and to introduce me to Palestinian daily life. At first, it was difficult to get used to the level of hospitality that Palestinian host families demonstrate. As an American, I'm accustomed to a "help yourself" hosting style. But here, my host family insisted on doing almost everything for me. They cooked large meals for me, mended my torn clothes, and rushed to bring me anything I needed. This kind of accommodation made me uncomfortable, but after some time, I was able to act like any other member of the family. My second host family was only a 15 minute walk from the center. They were very used to hosting internationals and were much more willing to let me take the time I needed alone. While I felt much more comfortable with this style of living, I'm very glad I was able to experience both families. I learned more about Palestinian culture living with my host families than I did from anything else. As part of the program, the Excellence Center organized many trips across the West Bank for the volunteers. One of my favorites was the first trip I participated in, which was to the town of Susiya. Due to the Israeli settlements in Susiya, which are illegal under both international and Israeli law, the city currently has international attention. While there, we stayed with a local family who provided us with dinner and a place to sleep for the night. We also met with the representative of Susiya and he explained to us the political situation there. These trips, whether organized by the center or thrown together by some of the volunteers, were the bonding experiences that made the Excellent Center feel like a big family. I'll leave here feeling like I have a second home, far far away. I think as a woman, my experience was inherently different from that of the male volunteers. Hebron is a conservative city, and while it's the largest city in Palestine, the presence of internationals is relatively sparse. This means that as a foreign woman in Palestine, my presence is noticed. While for the overwhelming majority of my time in Hebron I felt secure, there were instances where I worried for my safety. In the end, I just needed to learn the rules and adapt to the way of life in Hebron and I was able to keep myself from ever entering any dangerous situations. Of course, with increasing tensions between Palestinians and Israelis (especially Israeli settlers), dangerous situations may become a little less predictable. But it's important to remember that the circumstances will be much more dangerous for the Palestinians living here than the internationals visiting. Living in Hebron, I feel that I've gained a much more dynamic and nuanced understanding of the occupation and its political, cultural and daily consequences. Through my conversations with my host family, my discussions with my students and my observations of the H2 territories, I've learned so much more than I could have through my studies. I arrived here with no idea what to expect, but I've learned that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view. I'm sad to leave, but I feel now like the circle is complete and I know I'll return to the U.S. with a much deeper understanding of Palestinian life and I'm so grateful for the experiences and the friends that I've made.

My name is Matthew and I'm from the UK, where I study a bachelors degree in Arabic. I participated in the Teach English Learn Arabic program. I wanted to improve my Arabic, and also try teaching and this sounded like a great opportunity I have many good memories from Hebron. Sitting at the Center talking and laughing with Marwa. Walking my route to the center every morning, saying hello to my chicken butcher friend on the way, saying hello to my hairdresser friend, saying hello to my fruit seller friend. Again and again I was overwhelmed by the hospitality and kindness of the people. I once talked with a guy for 5-10 minutes on the street, a week later he calls me up and gives me 5 kilos of grapes. Who does that?! Only in Palestine... I heard about dabke a traditional dance which I also saw, but didn't learn. I learned some Palestinian songs, and learned more about the Palestinian mindset, how to be kind and generous. I learned about Palestinian food also. Overall I have been very happy being here. I think my Arabic has improved a lot, and I have learned a lot about culture, politics and religion. I have also met some amazing people and gotten some new friends for life. It has been a great experience.

My name is Jonathan, I am 49 years old. At home in London I work in human resources for a large hospital. I have visited Hebron, Palestine, and the Excellence Center for Education & Training Services on three occasions, most recently in November 2016. I have helped young people with their English language and also with employability skills. The Excellence Center is welcoming and supportive. I was given a schedule involving supporting qualified English language teachers by providing the conversational input of a native English speaker, as well as designing and delivering the package of employability skills classes. I also had some Arabic classes in my schedule, to learn some basic conversational Arabic. I stayed with a host family who were lovely. Sharing a room with another English volunteer, we were given a warm welcome, delicious local food and interesting conversation. We were taken to visit the old city and the Ibrahimi mosque and given a special lunch on Fridays. The Excellence Center also organised additional activities including a visit to a refugee camp and to a local factory. The city of Hebron itself is friendly and bustling. It's easy enough to navigate the shops, cafes and taxis, and to find help if you get lost. For me, the best thing about volunteering at the Excellence Center is the rewarding feeling of helping young people to improve their life chances through developing their English language and employability skills. The best thing about Palestine is the warmth and positive spirit of the people, despite the disadvantages of their situation, in particular the emphasis on education and development.

My experience in Palestine has been just awesome. The guys at the Excellence Center are ready to welcome you warmly and make you feel part of their own family. Food is awesome and Palestine is an Amazing country to visit and to live in. No particular issues about safety and security, the city of Hebron is completely safe and secure, just like any other city. I strongly encourage everyone to be part of this experience, it will make you new and better people.

I arrived in Palestine almost three months ago. I have had a wonderful time here and I have met a lot of wonderful people. The people and the feeling in Hebron is really good. Wherever you go people will welcome you and greet you. My host family was amazing. By now they feel like a real family. The staff at the center are very kind and helpful. They have helped me with transportation and general questions about the customs of Hebron. They also provided me with all the material I needed in order to teach my students. I have had so much fun teaching and the students are all very kind and eager to learn. They have taught me a lot about their society and their daily life. The country has a lot of amazing experiences to offer and you will have plenty of opportunities to visit factories, cities, the ocean and generally have a good time.

A lot of foreigners, of various stripes, eager and yearning for culture, come to volunteer in Hebron. I never understood the fascination internationals had with this city. Why do you come all the way from the U.S, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany etc.. to volunteer or learn in Hebron? Why don’t I, a Palestinian, have that same passion about volunteering in my home town? I have lived in Palestine for 19 years and it is only intermittently and very recently, I felt a genuine connection with this Land. It is when I became involved, when I travelled around Palestine, I understood why people cross the globe to come/volunteer here. In Hebron, but also in Palestine at large, people are often very hospitable and that is particularly true amongst the more traditional elements of society. Take a stroll in Ein Sara, a very busy street in Hebron, and you will be met with the most delightful smiles. People are not afraid to help you out, give you directions, free food, show you around and make you feel like you never want to leave. Volunteering for me, became more than a giving act. I receive the joys of exploring Hebron, the smiles on the students’ faces, the genuine respect they give you once they realise you are a Palestinian, seeking to help other Palestinians, and a better understanding and appreciation for my country. I get to make local and international friends, broaden my understanding of other cultures and traditions and generate friendships that extend further than Palestine. So come Palestinians, take the initiative to volunteer . Become the self-appointed cultural ambassadors, who introduce people to the Palestinian Arab culture with a personal touch and allow them to form their own experiences and viewpoints on the land we call home.

Two days after graduating from College I was on my way to Palestine. For the first time I left the comfort of my home in the U.S. and traveled to the Middle East. Without a doubt, the Israeli military occupation of Palestine was of great concern for my parents and friends. In his attempt to dissuade me from coming, a friend warned me about shared taxis because they "are usually bombed." Although this was said with the best intentions, it just illustrated the ignorance some people have in the U.S. regarding Palestine. For this reason, I have been very active on certain social media sites where through pictures and videos I show the natural landscapes and everyday life in the West Bank. My host family was very accommodating and have welcomed me with open arms. My host uncles and aunts have tried to make feel at home as much as possible. In solidarity with my host family and friends, I also fasted during Ramadan. While at first I found it hard, the fact that everyone was fasting made it easier. In addition, iftar was worth waiting for because of maqluba or mansif along with the sweets and other delicious dessert. I am happy that I was able to find a hospitable organization like the Excellence Center for my experience in Palestine would not have been the same without them. My only suggestion for the Excellence Center is to improve their planning of volunteer's daily activities and inform them in advance about their daily tasks.

I wanted to get closer to people from the Middle East and mainly from Palestine, a country that I truly support. I felt the need to talk to its inhabitants using their own language without having to comeback to English. For this reason it was clear to me that I needed to learn Palestinian dialect. In addition, Palestinian dialect is very similar to the Arabic spoken in Lebanon and in Jordan so it would also open the door of these countries. When I discovered the intensive Arabic program offered by the Excellence Center in Hebron I decided to go for it. It was not my first time in Hebron and I already knew the city. I visited many places in Palestine and in my opinion, Hebron is the most traditional one. I could have chosen to study Arabic in any other Palestinian cities but I thought that doing it here would be an added value to my experience. Also, the description of the program on the official website of the Excellence Center was affirming that the participants would be taken to many filled visits in Hebron and the surrounding areas and that they would have the chance to live with a Palestinian family, which of course is a great opportunity to practice what they are taught during the intensive program. The program consists in 3 hours of Arabic everyday, and the lessons are private, which means I would have a teacher just for me. This last point fully convinced me to take part to the program. After one month, I can definitively say that there is a great difference on my Arabic skills. I started with nothing and I can now easily introduce myself, explain people what I like and do not like, make some jokes, I am able to order food at the restaurant, to tell the taxi where I want to go and even have a more casual discussion, I can talk about the occupation in Palestine and speak at the past, the present and the future. Even though I still struggle to follow conversations in details, I can at least know what people are talking about and capture their main positions if they are referring to one of the topics that I studied in class. My stay with a Palestinian family fruitfully complimented my learning experience. The family is very friendly and no surprise, food was delicious. I found myself naturally using what I learnt in class. The only negative point is the lack of privacy. I could not have my own space. I shared my room with someone else and since the room is normally occupied by the 2 kids of my host family, everyone was entering there at anytime. I think the families should be better prepared to receive someone, and that before starting the program, the participants should be asked if they want to share their room with someone else. With regard to the filled trips described in the official announcements, it was disappointing. I was not offered to participate to any visits. IN the month that I was in Hebron, the Excellence Center did not organize any filled trips. If they participants wanted to visit a place, they had to do it on their own, with their own expenses and without any logistical support from the Excellence Center. In my case I had the opportunity to visit the most important places in this area before starting the program because as I said, it was not my first time in Palestine, so it decreased my disappointment. However for someone who comes for the first time, I think that you may miss many important things to see. Of course everyone is free to organize his/her own visits, but without speaking Arabic and without being accompanied by someone who is very familiar to the place, you may miss the most important part of the information even if you are used to travel. The Excellence Center definitively needs to make the free time of the participants more interesting and insure it is enjoyably spent. This is specially relevant on Friday, because everything is closed in Hebron and there is almost no public transportation available on that day. More filled trips are definitively needed and should be regularly organized in order to comply with the official contract and with the purposes of the Excellence Center.

My time at the Excellence Center in Hebron has been great. I can only speak English and learning languages is not my strong point. Yet, I received amazing support from the center in my language training and I was quickly able to speak and understand some Arabic. The teachers at the center are so friendly and welcoming. If you have a problem or need to some advice on traveling around the city, they will be happy to help. Breakfast is always a fun time. Lots of tea, coffee and great chats with fellow language learners and volunteers. I stayed with a wonderful host family during my time in Hebron. I became part of the family, attending weddings, birthday parties and experiencing everyday life here in Palestine. This allowed me to really understand the Palestinian culture and it really was a once in a lifetime experience. I will miss them a lot when I leave! With the Excellence Center I visited the Jericho and the Dead Sea, Fawwar Refugee Camp, Shuhada Street and Hebrons famous Glass and Ceramic Factory, as well as the Kafiya Factory. All of these trips were well organized and a lot of fun. I really feel like I have experienced every aspect of everyday life in Hebron. For a foreigner, Hebron is extremely safe in terms of the conflict. The Center is located in H1 of Hebron, which means that it is governed by the Palestinian Authority. H2 is where the old city is located and, although it is under Israeli jurisdiction with many Israeli soldiers, for a foreigner it is perfectly safe. It is not unusual to see tourists visiting the old city and the Ibrahimi Mosque. At night for women, it is best to walk with a friend but this is usually the case with most cities! Overall, my time at the Excellence Center has been fantastic.

Volunteering with the Excellence Center in Palestine was a transformational and unforgettable experience. My program had two components, 1) teaching English as a volunteer and 2) learning Arabic from a native teacher. From day one I was treated as a member of the family, not just by the Center, but by all the people I met in Hebron. I was given all the support and assistance I needed, I was always well prepared for my classes and my Arabic teacher tailored the classes to my individual needs. I also felt totally safe during my time in Palestine, it completely confounded my expectations. For anyone considering enrolling on this program I just have one word of advice-go!

When I arrived in Hebron two months ago I did not know what to expect. The city is an incredibly well-kept secret with very little information available on line or in books; beyond the often negative news stories which too often define the image of Hebron in peoples' minds. My time in Palestine has been incredible, due mainly to the warmth and generosity of the Palestinian people. Throughout my time in the West Bank, I have never felt worried about my safety as there have always been people who are more than willing to help. Any conversation in a taxi, bus, café, or shop more often than not results in an invitation for tea, coffee or even lunch. I wanted to come to Palestine to get a real insight into what it means to live in the Occupied Territories. Throughout my last year of university I have read a lot of material from both sides of the conflict but felt that I still was unable to fully understand what and why the conflict in Palestine continues to this day and how it affects the daily lives of the people who suffer from its impacts. It was only when I began to experience just a few of the daily inconveniences endured everyday by the majority of the residents of Hebron that I felt I was beginning to understand the type of life many people here lead. These experiences included being stopped and searched at random by the IDF; having the bus I was on stopped on the side of the road, in the mid-day heat with no air-conditioning while the IDF slowly checked everyone's ID cards. Moreover speaking to locals, young and old who have lived through an incredible amount of violence and instability has been one of the most eye-opening and grounding aspects of my time in Hebron and something I will never forget. My time spent at the Excellence Centre has allowed me to explore Hebron, the surrounding villages and the wider West Bank in an safe and comfortable way. I immediately felt at home in the Centre, and by living with a local family in Hebron it quickly became as familiar as London is to me. The trust placed in me by the Excellence Centre provided me with the freedom to explore and expand my own abilities and confidence in teaching English and developing professional and respectful relationships with the students here. My time here has taught me to look beyond the superficial images I create within my own mind; instead I have learnt to build an image of a country based on the people, their actions, words, dreams and experiences that I hear for myself and to not rely on the words or stories used by other people. I have discovered the difference of getting to know the soul of the country and not just its geography or architecture. This is what has made my experience here so enriching, enjoyable and a part of my life I will never forget.

I volunteered at the Excellence Center in Palestine for two weeks in 2015. it was a great experience. I met many Palestinians und I was able to participate in a lot of different activities I felt very safe in Hebron and Palestinian are very hospitable und always welcome internationals. All in all was a great experience that I made and I would recommend this to anyone who would like to visit Palestine und meet Palestinians.

My overall experience with the Excellence Center has been wonderful. I spent two months volunteering at the Center in Hebron. My students were of different age groups, socioeconomic backgrounds, and genders which made the classroom setting both a learning experience for me and the students. It was a cultural exchange in every sense of that phrase. The Center also provides for a “lived” experience of Palestinian reality in political, economic, and social sense. You’ll get the opportunity to meet with local business and community leaders. You’ll have an opportunity to meet with locals and hear their testimonies of life under a military occupation. It’s a perspective worth listening. I know safety is a concern for many contemplating about making this trip. In my experience, I did not encounter anything that I would deem dangerous or life threatening. Being a responsible adult is always advisable wherever one may travel and Palestine is no exception to that rule. I strongly recommend the Excellence Center!