From Humble Beginnings to a Thriving Community: The Excellence Center’s Journey
When the Excellence Center first opened its doors in 2018 at Steinweg 56, in Halle, Germany the breakfast room comfortably accommodated the initial five volunteers. As founder Rafat Shantir recalls, […]
Weekly Soccer Matches Mean Weekly Fun in the Excellence Center
Article by: Phia Anderson Every week, the Excellence Center in Europe hosts a soccer match between participants at a local pitch, giving everyone a chance to let off some steam, […]
A Love for Language & Learning Arabic: Hugh Morrison on his Program with the Excellence Center
Article by: Phia Anderson Though Germany might not seem like the most obvious destination to learn Arabic, it’s where Hugh Morrison ended up, doing a 13-week intensive Arabic course with […]
A Summer of Diversity and Growth in the Excellence Center in Europe
Article by: Phia Anderson With all the different programs offered by the Excellence Center in Europe between their internship and language options, the center caters to a wide variety of […]
Daily Activities in the Excellence Center
Article by: Phia Anderson While the Excellence Center in Europe offers many language learning, volunteering, and internship opportunities at the center, they also make sure to offer community-based events for […]
Get to Know the Excellence Center 🇩🇪
Meet Our Staff
Rafat Shantir
Co-founder
Rafat Shantir: Rafat has participated and volunteered in many community development projects in diverse places...
Dr. Elisa Kohl-Garrity
Co-Founder
Dr. Elisa Kohl-Garrity: Originally from Germany, Elisa has successfully earned her Ph.D. in Social Anthropolog...
Muaz Alabaid
Arabic Teacher
Muaz Alabaid, an esteemed Arabic teacher at the Excellence Center in Europe, brings a wealth of experience to ...
Radwan Almudallaleh
Activities Coordinator
Radwan Almudallaleh plays a crucial role as the local Educational Activities Coordinator at the Excellence Cen...
Recent Posts, News and Updates
From Humble Beginnings to a Thriving Community: The Excellence Center’s Journey
October 1, 2024
When the Excellence Center first opened its doors in 2018 at Steinweg 56, in Halle, Germany the breakfast room comfortably accommodated the initial five volunteers. As founder Rafat Shantir recalls,Weekly Soccer Matches Mean Weekly Fun in the Excellence Center
July 18, 2024
Article by: Phia Anderson Every week, the Excellence Center in Europe hosts a soccer match between participants at a local pitch, giving everyone a chance to let off some steam,A Love for Language & Learning Arabic: Hugh Morrison on his Program with the Excellence Center
July 18, 2024
Article by: Phia Anderson Though Germany might not seem like the most obvious destination to learn Arabic, it’s where Hugh Morrison ended up, doing a 13-week intensive Arabic course with
Get to Know the Excellence Center In Europe
The Excellence Center in Europe opened its doors in Germany in 2018. Our sister organisation in Hebron, Palestine has operated as a community center since 2011. The Excellence Center is located in Steinweg 56, the heart of Halle (Saale), a city in the southern part of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, as well as its largest city. Further, Halle is situated along the Saale River. The city has around 236,000 inhabitants and is approximately 170 km from Berlin.
There are many historic sites in Halle, including Francke Stiftungen, Haendel Hause, museums, churches, the old market, and the lovely historic architecture of the city. There are also many beautiful landscapes and green areas including parks, lakes, and rivers across the city of Halle (Saale).
The Excellence Center in Europe is conveniently only a three-minute walk from the city center. This makes many sites and attractions, such as restaurants, Arabic shops, cafes, bars, playgrounds, library, and the Martin Luther University, easily accessible.
Volunteer And Internship Programs
The Excellence Center in Europe provides a variety of volunteer and internship programs to those who want to travel to Germany, immerse themselves in the culture, all while working with refugees in Halle, Germany and migrants to make a meaningful difference.
Here, you can explore the list of our short-term volunteer and internship programs in Halle, Germany:
Intensive Arabic Programs
The Excellence Center in Europe offers high-intensive, intensive, and non-intensive Arabic immersion language courses, summer Arabic programs with dialects such as Levantine (Ammiya) Arabic, Palestinian colloquial Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic and online Arabic courses taught by qualified Arabic teachers.
The Center offers the following Arabic Immersion Intensive programs:
Colloquial Levantine Arabic (Ammiyya dialect) | Palestinian Colloquial Arabic Courses |
Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) Lessons | A mixed program (MSA, Colloquial Levantine Arabic, and Palestinian Colloquial Arabic) |
Conversational German intensive course | Non-intensive German programs |
Summer Arabic Immersion Program | Online Arabic Courses |
Time & Duration
The Excellence Center in Europe welcomes students, English native and non-native speakers, and people from all countries who are 18 to 70 years old to join any of the Center’s volunteer, internship and Arabic programs.
The period of participation can span anywhere from 1 to 13 weeks. For volunteers, interns, and students, the EC’s program flexibility is designed to work around their schedules, with programs being available year-round (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter), as well as starting and ending dates up to the participant’s choice!
Meeting Point
The Excellence Center works as a meeting point between internationals, locals, refugees, and immigrants. Our participants will have the chance to interact and help refugees who have fled war-torn homelands for a future of peace, stability, and safety in Germany.
The EC has hosted many people including students, graduates, professionals and the retired who come from a myriad of countries around the world, such as the USA, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, China, Canada.
Our Programs Make Great Impact
Our Volunteer and Internship programs in Halle, Germany are well researched, targeted, and suitable for anyone who wants to gain insights into German and Arabic culture as well as refugees’ daily life. We aim to make a long term difference for our local community through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”.
Volunteering and interning in Halle, Germany is a unique opportunity to genuinely make an impact on your life as well as others including children, refugees, women, youth and community members.
Awards For 2022
We continue to strive towards “excellence”: In 2022 we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities and one of the top three language schools worldwide by Go Overseas. We received a total of five Go Overseas Community Choice Awards in 2022. The Excellence Center was also recognized as one of the top Teach Abroad Providers for the category of “benefits” and one of the Top Internship Abroad Providers for the categories of “growth” and “support”.
Flexible Booking
At the Excellence Center in Europe, we understand that things change. As such, our programmes are incredibly flexible in case you need to alter travel plans or just simply have a change of heart.
As programs begin at the center year-round (with flexible start and end dates), you decide your arrival. Furthermore, you’re able to change your start date entirely free of charge if requested at least two weeks beforehand.
One Big Family
The atmosphere in the Excellence Center in Europe will make you feel at home, where everyone has fun by participating in the social and cultural activities organized by the Center. Depending on the season, the EC organizes a number of activities, including barbeques, parties, movie nights, international dinners as well as social activities where participants from all countries meet with refugees and locals in the city of Halle to address various issues.
Your participation in the Excellence Center programs will leave a positive and meaningful impact on the refugee and immigrant community at the Center. You can teach them language skills including English and you will be able to participate or lead English language classes either inside or outside the Center.
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Join Our Family 2024/2025
Join our family in Germany and explore diverse volunteer and internship programs for 2024/2025 with the Excellence Center in Europe! Perfect for students and individuals seeking summer opportunities, our programs cover teaching English, supporting refugees in Germany, delving into Media and Journalism, and learning German or Arabic. It’s a fantastic way to have a unique and fulfilling experience in Europe!
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Volunteer & Internship Programs
The Excellence Center in Europe provides volunteer and internship programs in Teaching English, refugee support, media and journalism, and community development in Germany. These volunteer and internship opportunities are ideal for individuals keen on exploring Europe, immersing themselves in German culture, and making a meaningful contribution by working with refugees and migrants in Halle, Germany.
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Our Summer Internship
Our Summer internship in Germany programs are perfect for students seeking international experiences in Europe, even in between semesters. There is also university credit available for those looking for an internship to fill school requirements. The EC accepts international volunteers all year long, but the Summer is the most popular time to join our family- and for good reason! The EC provides one of the best rated Summer internships in Europe.