He joined the Internship in Germany Program from December 2018 to January 2019. This article describes Hisham’s experiences during his two
Hisham says that he was so eager and happy to come to Germany to volunteer with us at The Excellence Center. Interning with the Center was an experience in cooperation and enthusiasm for him, he says. His daily routine at the Center began with a morning breakfast in the company of staff, volunteers, and interns, all members of the team from a wide variety of locales in the world. After breakfast, the day was devoted to students and teaching.
Later, outside of his intern teaching schedule, he was introduced to various areas and sites within the city of Halle by local residents who were a font of historical and relevant information regarding the places they visited with Hisham. Hisham also met many refugee families and individuals who come from various countries, particularly Syria, which has witnessed a war that has killed millions. These refugees shared with Hisham their stories of fleeing to Germany, and the dangers and difficulties they faced during their cross-border migration from Syria to Europe, and finally into Germany.
Hisham describes Halle as a city for young people, including many foreign students who study at Martin Luther University. The city, he says, has many bars and cafés offering coffee and snacks. It also has a number of theaters that host dramatic works. Hisham learned that Halle is one of the cities in Germany that was not destroyed during the Second World War. As a fortunate result, many of Halle’s buildings date back through the centuries, and they are to be found in the list of World Heritage Sites established by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
Hisham explained his training at The Excellence Center. The program is divided into four parts: in the first part, he learned the German language during the first two weeks in the program at the Center. The second phase included training him on how to teach and interact with students in the classroom. The third phase encompassed educating him as to the plight of refugees in Germany, and the ways in which German authorities strive to meet the challenges facing Germany in dealing with large numbers of refugees, as well as the strategies employed to integrate them into German society. Finally, Hisham says he was put in charge of organizing social and cultural activities for refugees of different ages.
Hisham encourages all to volunteer or intern at the Excellence Center. He says that a participant will be welcomed with open arms.
