9 Things to Know About Being a Volunteer with the Excellence Center in Germany: Because Germany has accepted thousands of refugees from war-torn countries, particularly Syria and Iraq, people are eager, not only to assist in providing aid to a crisis in Germany but also to volunteer in Germany in order to help these refugees adapt and assimilate into their new environment.  

• Volunteering with the Excellence Center presents the participant with a unique opportunity to assist in a crisis. A volunteer or intern shares his or her talents, knowledge, education, and experience with refugees who have fled war-torn countries in order to assist them in assimilating and integrating into German and Western society. 

• In the course of providing help and assistance, the volunteer or intern learns first-hand the histories behind the refugees’ fleeing for safety.
• For the duration of a volunteering or internship program, a volunteer will live with a host family.  This aspect of the program will provide a window into the local culture, traditions, customs, and daily life in Halle by direct immersion.
• During a volunteer or internship program, the volunteer will receive German language instruction every week. Your language lessons will be taught by a qualified Excellence Center teacher fluent in German.  You may also choose to receive Arabic language instruction by a fluent Arabic speaker at our Center.
• Since many refugees are Syrian and Iraqi, an intern or volunteer will have ideal opportunities to practice the classroom language lessons with native speakers.
• The crime rate in Germany is low. German is rated as one of the top ten safe countries in the world.
• The cost of living in Germany is quite reasonable and much less in comparison to other European countries.
• Germany is within the area covered by the Schengen agreement: If you are coming from a European country that has signed the Schengen agreement, then you don’t need a visa to Germany. For those who come from countries which are part of a visa-free program, then you are allowed to stay in Germany for up to three months.

If you need a visa to Germany, then you must apply for a Schengen visa. This visa will allow you  

to enter and stay in Germany for a maximum of three months (90 days). Having this visa does not mean that you are allowed to get a job (not even as a freelancer). Please check German embassy websites to determine your particular visa requirements and any work regulations.

How do I apply for an internship or volunteer program at the Excellence Center?

All you need to do is to send an email to info@eceurope.org   Please type “Volunteer in Germany”  in the subject line.  The Center’s staff will contact you shortly.  They will send you the application form.

Assist others in need, while giving yourself a unique life experience by applying to be a volunteer or intern with the Excellence Center in Germany!