Volunteer Programs in Europe (1-12 Weeks)

By The Excellence Center In Europe / In Volunteer in Germany

Volunteer Programs in Europe (1-12 Weeks): The Excellence Center in Europe offers both short- and long-term volunteer and internship programs in the city of Halle, Germany. Participants will have the opportunity to work with children, young adults, students, and families, helping them practice conversational English, organising workshops, and teaching within the community centers. The Excellence Center is designed to be immersive, authentic, and comprehensive. The volunteering program is designed to allow you to engage fully with a new culture, forge strong relationships, and challenge yourself. As a volunteer or intern at The Excellence Center, you will be making important contributions to the German community. While embracing a new lifestyle, you will also be meeting plenty of new people, learning a new language, and working alongside the locals, immigrants, and refugees.

Halle boasts a great mix of cultures and languages and is a place rich in history. Working with The Excellence Center in Europe will give you great exposure to lifestyles that you may be unfamiliar with and will be full of learning opportunities. In recent years, Germany has taken in a lot of refugees from the Middle East, many coming from areas in poverty and with poor education. Germany serves as a great hub for interacting with and helping these refugees.

The Excellence Center offers accessible and affordable volunteering and internship programs for English speakers interested in helping the refugee community and learning Arabic or German. We provide a wide range of environments for volunteers to make a difference in a safe and sustainable way, from teaching English as a foreign language to studying and sharing information about the resettlement issues in Germany. The diverse range of volunteer programs on offer are available year-round.

Volunteer Programs in Europe (1-12 Weeks)

When can I start?

If you are looking to volunteer over summer, during a semester’ break, or as part of your gap year, then The Excellence Center is the place for you. You can choose to volunteer for as little as one week or as long as twelve weeks. However long you choose to stay, you will be making a valuable contribution to the communities in Halle.

The Excellence Center’s programs are very flexible; you can volunteer at any time of the year. We recommend a stay of at least one month for the best and most well-rounded experience.

Who will I meet?

Most of the volunteers that come to The Excellence Center in Europe are from the United Kingdom and the United States, but we’ve had volunteers comes from as far away as South Korea, Turkey, and Australia!

A lot of the refugees and immigrants you will be working with come from the Middle East, particularly Palestine and Syria, and are as eager to study English as they are to share their culture with you.

How long can I stay?

The minimum stay for volunteer programs in Europe is one week, but participants are welcome and encouraged to stay for up to three months. The internships on offer range from one to three months long. All in all, there is no pressure to stay any longer than you are able to!

Where is it?

The Excellence Center was initially set up in Hebron, Palestine, but has since grown and we now have a hub in Halle (Saale), Germany. Halle is just two hours from Berlin, right in the heart of Germany. The city is home to a multi-cultural community that welcomes language and cultural exchanges.

What will I be doing?

As a volunteer, you will be:

Organising social and community events for locals and refugees.
Learning Arabic or German with plenty of chances to immerse yourself in conversation with native speakers.
Hosted by a local family, learning about their culture and lifestyle.
Given tours of the area and taught about its history.
Able to attend social gatherings with refugees where you can exchange and discuss thoughts about the current challenges refugees face in Germany.

As an intern, you will do the same things as a volunteer, but will also be:

Taking a longer and more intensive Arabic or German course that teaches topics relevant to the refugee situation.
Studying Refugee Affairs and learning about how refugees adapt to a new society and culture.
Performing case studies and interviews to be able to give a presentation on the resettling, immigration, education, and integration of refugees.

You can follow these links to find out more about the specific programs available:

The Excellence Center also offers language courses:

The Study Arabic in Germany (1 week to 3 months)
The Study German in Germany (1 week to 12 weeks)
Study Arabic Online
Study German Online

Who should consider applying?

English or Education majors who are looking for experience working abroad.
Arabic or German students.
Students studying issues involving refugees, cultural integration, and immigration.
Holders of ESL or CELTA certificates.
Students or professionals taking a gap year.

Requirements for volunteering and internships:

You must be over the age of 20 to be an intern and over 18 to volunteer.
You should have some experience of working with an international team.
You must speak English fluently (but it does not have to be your first language).
You do not need to be able to speak Arabic of German.
You do not have to currently be a student.
You do not need any experience teaching English. The program is designed to teach you how to teach!

The Essentials
Location	Halle (Saale), Germany, Europe
Fees	Starting from €250*
Age Requirement	18+ for Volunteers 20+ for Internships
Duration	1 – 12 Weeks
Start/End Dates	Flexible – Start at anytime
Program Language	English
Taught Languages	Arabic (written and dialectic) German (written and dialectic)
Schedule	Monday – Thursday; 3 hours of studying a week.
University Credit	Available
Accommodation	Host family Shared apartments Private accommodation (additional fees)

*Included in the fees:

In-country and pre-departure support.
Accommodation.
Arabic or German classes.
A certificate of completion.
Breakfast.
A tour of Halle.

How can I apply?

Applying is easy! Send an email to info@eceurope.org, and we’ll send you the application form. Fill out the form and we will review your application and get back to you with more details. You may be invited to interview over Skype and, if you’re selected for the program, we will send you a letter of confirmation and a contract. Once you’ve signed the contract and paid the fees, you will be ready to come and join us in Germany!

The Excellence Center cannot wait to have you. Whether you want to improve you Arabic and German, make great connections in the humanitarian world, or learn more about other’s cultures, The Excellence Center in Europe is the place to be!