Volunteer Programs in West Bank, Palestine

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.

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.