Volunteer in Media & Journalism Program in Germany

The Volunteer in Media & Journalism Program in Germany: is an opportunity to build and develop media and journalism skills. Program participants conduct video interviews, write articles describing Center activities, write articles describing stories of refugees’ lives, as well as daily life in Halle, Germany. Participants’ photography skills are utilized photographing the Center’s activities.

The Media & Journalism volunteer program is the perfect opportunity to meet and interact with people from different countries in the world who work to help the refugees, immigrants, and local Germans in the city of Halle in any number of challenges. The volunteer program in Germany also offers the participant the opportunity to reside with a host family during the program, as well as visits to a variety of city sites. The program participant has plenty of opportunities to visit neighboring German cities.

Why is media important for the Excellence Center?

The Excellence Center in Europe seeks to inform people worldwide regarding its efforts to benefit refugees, immigrants, as well as local German residents. The Center organizes and presents activities in order to bridge cultures and understanding among people. These activities include language exchange meetings, international food days, international evenings, movie nights, socializing in cafes, and barbecues, to name a few.

The Center’s activities emphasize the challenges facing refugees and immigrants in assimilating and integrating into German society. Such challenges include learning German as a second language, and adapting and assimilating into German society and culture. The Center’s activities and programs address these educational and social challenges.

Volunteers and interns come to the Excellence Center from many different countries around the world, such as the United States, Britain, Singapore, Japan, and China to name just a few.

Utilizing their talents and skills, Center interns and volunteers assist refugees facing daily challenges, such as teaching English. Volunteers and interns organize interactive activities that will further progress in assimilation and integration into Western and German society.

Reviews From Former Participants

The Excellence Center in Europe has welcomed individuals from all over the world since 2018. While we continuously develop our programs to provide the best possible learning experience, our fundamental mission remains the same: to connect, teach, and develop individuals within the local and international community.

In 2019, we received our first “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards”, recognizing the Excellence Center’s meaningful and unforgettable impact on the community of international travellers. Since then the Excellence Center was recognized as the 3rd best Volunteer Abroad Providers in the World in 2021, and was rated 2nd Most Fun opportunity in 2021 according to Gooverseas.com.

The Excellence Center’s Volunteer to Teach English and Study German program has a wide range of positive reviews; these include:

+550 Reviews (95%) on Gooverseas.com
+100 Reviews (93%) on Goabroad.com
Participants’ video testimonials.

What I will be doing in the program?

The Media & Journalism volunteer program in Germany requires the following:

Take pictures and videos documenting the activities, classes, social and educational events sponsored by the Center.

Manage the social media accounts of the Center (mainly Facebook and Instagram), as well as posting pictures and videos on these accounts.

Write three articles per week that focus on the following topics: Social and educational activities at the Center; daily life in the city of Halle; the life of refugees in Halle and the challenges they face; Arabic or German culture. Additional topics may be considered by the Center’s Director who may provide a list of appropriate topics, as well as guidance in the writing of articles.

Conduct video interviews with locals, refugees, and international volunteers and interns regarding their experiences working at the Center, their daily lives in Halle, and their experiences living with a host family.

Creative and new video ideas are welcomed by the Center. Coordination with the Center’s director is required.

Benefits of the Program for the Participant:

Learn or improve your media and journalism skills;

Study Arabic or German (3 hours per week) with one of our teachers, and practice it with native German and Arabic speakers;

Participate in educational, social, and community activities organized by the Center. The aim of these gatherings is to provide a space where locals, refugees, immigrants, and program participants can meet and learn about one another and respective cultures;

Meet people from different countries and backgrounds, such as local Germans and people from Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Egypt, and many other countries;

Experience the hospitality of Arab and the German cultures;

Explore the beautiful city of Halle;

Travel Germany each week during your three-day weekend (Friday-Sunday).

Live with a host family.

Enjoy daily breakfast at the Center with the EC community.

The Excellence Center (EC) Daily Schedule:

The volunteer begins his/her day with a breakfast at the Center at 9:30 a.m.

Following breakfast the volunteer spends the morning working on various media tasks, such as writing an article, producing videos, or taking photos of class or Center events;

Lunchtime finds the volunteers and interns either cooking or preparing lunch at the Center. Volunteers and interns may go out to eat instead of eating at the Center;

After lunch, the intern or volunteer takes a German or Arabic class. Afternoons are devoted also to completing a variety of tasks that may be requested by the Director until the Center closes at 6:00 p.m. (closing times occasionally differ from day to day).

After the Center’s closing, the student has the chance to visit sites in Halle, spend time with the host family, socialize with other participants, or join in evening activities organized by the Center, to name a few opportunities.

Why Choose Halle (Saale)?

Halle (Saale) is a city that has received a large number of refugees. Because of this influx of refugees, Halle has become a very diverse city to visit. International students, interns and volunteers add to this diverse mix. Martin Luther University in Halle is an educational destination that attracts many international students.

Halle is very close to some German cities such as Leipzig (25 minutes by train), Berlin (two hours by bus, one hour by train), Dresden (two and a half hours by bus). It is also close to Prague in the Czech Republic (four and a half hours by bus).

Am I eligible for this program and is it suitable for me?

People between 18 and 75 years old are eligible to apply. Anyone who is younger than 18 years old may also apply, but a written parental consent form one parent is required (U.S.A. requires both parents to allow a minor child outside the country).

No academic degree is required; however, university and college students who study media, journalism, film production, communication and any other related majors may be especially interested.

Gap year students.

University students who wish to study a semester abroad for university credit.

Those who wish to learn Arabic or German in an immersion environment of Arab and German culture and daily life.

Brief Information of the Program

Place of Program	Halle, Germany
Program Fees	300€ a week – Euro
Age	18-75 Years Old
Minimum Duration	One Week
Maximum Duration	12 Weeks
Starting/Ending Dates	Flexible – Anytime
Application Deadline	No Deadline
Program Language	English
Days off	Three days a week (Fri – Sun)
Arabic Lessons	3 Hours a Week – Standard Arabic Or Ammiya
Educational Degree	Not Required
University Credit	Available

Do I need the experience to join the Media and Journalism in Germany program?

Minimal experience in tacking pictures and videos is preferable.

What you do NOT need to join the Media & Journalism in Germany?

An applicant does not need to know Arabic or German to participate;

An applicant does not need lengthy professional experience

No academic degree or student status is required.

What airport should I fly into?

The easiest way to get to Halle (Saale) and the Excellence Center in Germany is to fly to:

Leipzig/Halle Airport: To travel from Leipzig/Halle Airport to the City of Halle (Saale) via train takes approximately 25 minutes. The train station is connected to the airport, and one should take good care to board the train heading for Halle (West) and not Leipzig (East).
Berlin Brandenburg Airport: To travel from one of Berlin’s Airports to Halle, volunteers will either need to come by bus or by train once they have unboarded from their flight.
- To come via bus, volunteers will need to find routes available that are operated by either FlixBus or Eurolines. The commute from Berlin to Halle (Saale) should be approximately 2 hours by bus.

For volunteers wishing to travel from Berlin to Halle (Saale) via train, they will need to depart from Berlin Central Station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof); the commute will take approximately an hour and a half. Train rockets can be bought ahead of time through Deutsche Bahn or conveniently at the train station and airport.
Frankfurt Airport: Both trains and buses are available to travel from the airport to the city of Halle (Saale) with both commutes taking approximately 3 – 4 hours. Please see above for further information regarding travel from outside airports.

Where do Media Program Interns and Volunteers Originate from?

The Excellence Center in Europe has hosted many people who have come from a myriad of countries around the world, such as the USA, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, China, Canada Singapore, Poland, Turkey and many more.

When Do I Apply to the Program? How long can I participate?

The program is open year-round.
You can apply at any time throughout the year.
You choose your start and end dates.
You can join the program for one week up to three months.

While you are participating in the Media and Journalism program, you may also want to join another volunteer or internship program. Check out the list below:

Internship in Germany (1-3 months)	Volunteer to Teach English and Study Arabic
Volunteer to Teach English and Study German	Study Arabic in Germany

What is the application process?

The participant emails the Excellence Center and requests an application.
The participant fills out the application and returns it to us.
We review the application with our team.
We might invite you to interview via a Skype call.
If we select you for the program, we will send you an acceptance letter and a contract.
You sign the contract and send it back to us.
You pay the fees.
You are ready to come to Germany and join the program. Welcome!

Program’s fees?

The Excellence Center in Europe charges a fee of 300€ a week, the cost includes

A tour in Halle
3 hours of German or Arabic
A breakfast
The accommodation
In-country and Pre-departure support
Arabic or German classes
A certificate of completion

How to apply:

Please send an email to Mr. Rafat Shantir at info@eceurope.org .Please type “Volunteer in Media & Journalism Program in Germany” in the subject line. We will send you the application form.