Volunteer to Write About Life in Germany: The Excellence Center in Europe is looking for participants who are skilled in writing articles about the activities the Center organizes. The Center organizes and hosts activities daily and events for the international community, as well as for the students. These activities include educational, social, or community activities.

Program Goal 

We are well aware of the power of words, and we firmly believe that by writing articles, we can showcase the activities organized by the Center to people both within and outside Europe. This is particularly true for initiatives aimed at refugees or displaced people in Germany.

These articles are a great tool to engage more locals and internationals in our activities as well as to increase awareness of the refugee crisis and their living situation. Additionally, writing is undoubtedly an important way to ensure that the events documented at the Center are unforgettable.

What is the philosophy of writing at the Excellence Center?

When it comes to the writing process at the Excellence Center, you need to use language that can allow you to connect and relate to the Center’s audience, who are reading to learn more details or get a comprehensive idea about what the Center offers. We believe that with this simple concept, you can write well-targeted articles.

Your writing must be customized to the target audience, content-specific, and relate directly to the readers’ minds. The Excellence Center believes that writing is a voice written on a piece of paper which can inform internationals and those who are interested in life in Germany about the Center’s educational and social activities, about a refugee’s life in Germany and their daily stories and which can convey all relevant events that the Center organizes. Therefore, your role in writing articles is to make the readers more enthusiastic and engaged in the work the Center is doing. 

What does this program entail?

This program includes the following:

• The participant will collect information from the Center’s staff, our students, international volunteers or interns, and all who are relevant to the activity or the event.
• The participant has to submit two articles daily. Articles will be reviewed by the Center’s staff and might be revised to meet the writing standards on the website.
• The written articles must be at least 1000 words, but no more than 1,500 words.

Am I eligible for this program?

Writers must be:

• Experienced in writing and who are motivated to write about life in Germany and the Center’s activities.
• Participants must be fluent in English in the four language skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Additional languages are an advantage.
• To apply for this program, you must be between 22– 70 years old. All nationalities are welcome to join the program.
• You can participate in this program for one week up to three months.

What does this program offer you?

• Learning about and investing in the Center by writing about Germany and the Center’s activities, as well as being part of several types of educational activities organized by the Center.
• Experience the hospitality of Arabs and the Arabic culture by being part of the Excellence Center’s educational, social, and community activities.
• Have the opportunity to be in the European country that has hosted the highest number of Arab refugees,mostly from Syria, and get to know their culture as well as their stories on how they fled during the war and reached Europe.
• Have the chance to visit local sites in the city of Halle and get to know its rich history.
• Accommodation, including either staying with a local host family or at a dorm.
• Get 3 hours of Spoken German or Arabic (volunteer’s choice) lessons per week.
• Have the chance to attend cultural evenings and several entertainment activities.
• By the end of the program, you will get a participation certificate and a letter of recommendation.

Program Overview 

*Included: a tour of Halle, breakfast four days a week, accommodation with a host family or in a shared apartment, in-country and pre-departure support with logistics and travel, German or Arabic classes, and a certificate of completion. 

Reviews and Community Awards

The Excellence Center in Halle has been working with the Arabic-speaking community in Halle since 2018, building a positive relationship and developing our lessons to be as effective as possible.

We continue to strive towards “excellence”. In 2021 we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities. We received the community choice awards from Go Overseas in the categories “best language school” and voted best on “fun” and “instruction.” 

In 2019, we received our first “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards” to acknowledge the Excellence Center’s impact on the community of travelers around the world. The Excellence Center continues to be a highly rated travel organization across its selection of programs. Check out our many great reviews here:

• +740 Reviews (4.8/5) on Gooverseas.com
• +160 Reviews (9.3/10) on Goabroad.com
• Participants’ video testimonials

Is there a deadline to apply for the program?

This program is open all year round, simply apply any time you want. You can choose your own starting and ending dates.

Where is the Excellence Center in Germany located? 

The Excellence Center is in the city of  Halle (Saale). Halle is a city in the southern region of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Halle is an economic and educational Center in eastern Germany. The University of Halle-Wittenberg is the largest in Saxony-Anhalt and one of the oldest universities in Germany.

Halle (Saale) has an elegant city Center with many green areas and narrow streets to explore. The architecture has been well-preserved, making Halle a lovely place to visit in Germany. In addition, there are many beautiful places to see along the Saale River, which runs through the city. 

Getting to the Excellence Center

The easiest way to get to the Excellence Center in Germany is to fly to Leipzig/Halle Airport. It takes about 25 minutes to get from the airport to the Excellence Center via train; however, flights into the Leipzig/Halle Airport can be more expensive.

You can also fly into the airport in Berlin (BER), and then you have two ways to get to the Excellence Center. The first is to come by bus. You can take a bus operated by companies such as FlixBus or Eurolines. The bus ride takes about two hours. The second choice is to come by train through Berlin-Central Station or Berlin Südkreuz. The train ride takes around an hour and a half.

Visa to Germany

If you are coming from a European country that has signed the Schengen agreement, then you do not need a visa to enter Germany. For those who come from countries that are a part of this program, you are permitted to stay in Germany for up to three months.

All other travelers will need to apply for a Schengen visa to enter Germany. This visa will allow you to enter and stay in Germany for a maximum period of 3 months (90 days). Please note that this visa prohibits visa-holders from getting a job (even as a freelancer) during their stay.

How to apply for the program?

If you want to join this program, please send us an email to Info@eceurope.org, with ‘Volunteer to write about Germany’ as the subject line. We will then send you the application form. We hope to hear from you soon!