When volunteers in Palestine begin their time with the Excellence Center in Palestine, there are several things they’ll be introduced to and become acquainted with in their very first week.
Living in Hebron and working with EC quickly falls into a series of routines, with familiar tasks and familiar faces. But the first week itself can be a heightened sensory experience, as newcomers absorb life in Hebron – and the particular political reality – for the first time. Within this newness, however, several acclimations will be shared by all.
1) Settling In
After arriving at Excellence Center, new volunteers meet with Marwa Shantir the Center Coordinator and, if during normal business hours, several other volunteers as well. This gives a good introduction to the physical space, the students coming in and out of class, and the general work environment that the arriving volunteers will call their own for the next several weeks.
After this Center introduction, the new volunteers will head to their place of residence. For the male volunteers, this means joining others in the male dormitory, an apartment situated a mere ten minute walking distance from the Center. Here, volunteers will get to know the multigenerational expats that will be their flatmates for their duration.
For the female volunteers, the introduction to homestead means meeting their host families. Always a unique experience, such family introduction is made all the more compelling by the introduction of a new culture as well. This can mean a more involved process for the female volunteers at first, but one that is arguable more deepening and rewarding, as they become a part of the host family for their weeks in Hebron.
2) Volunteer Breakfast
If the next day is a workday, the new Excellence Center volunteers will attend their first communal breakfast with the entirety of the volunteer team, held in the kitchen of the New Center (one of two company buildings).
There, sitting over the meal of bayd (eggs), hummus, cream cheese, warm bread, jam & fruits and plenty of shay (tea) and qahwah (coffee), the newness remains, but the faces start to become familiar. At the table, new volunteers will get up to speed on the Center’s activities, their assignments and the personalities at play.
3) Beginning Volunteer Assignments
As the volunteers are there to do just that, they will next be scheduled according to their corresponding need and arrangement. Whether it be teaching local high school students, running a workshop at the university, tutoring an adult English learner or writing about all of the above for the EC website, the new volunteers will begin their work.
Most often, this will mean joining with another volunteer who has been in place for some time.
4) Language Lesson
On one of these early days, new volunteers will attend their first Arabic lesson. Often taught by students from Hebron University, These sessions will begin where needed, with instructors who are patient and guiding. Some volunteers, more experienced in Arabic, use their time with EC to sharpen their Levantine dialect. Others will be starting from scratch. No matter which level a new volunteer holds, the EC teachers will carry them further.
5) Old City of Hebron
The Excellence Center makes it a point to introduce new volunteers rather immediatly ot the historic Old City of Hebron and the revered holy site, the Tomb of the Patriarchs / Al-Ibrahimi Mosque, the fourth holiest site in Islam. Old street markets lead to this beautiful structure. And once inside one can absorb and reflect on why this place resonates with the three great Abrahamic faiths.
Just outside, however, one will immediately be met by a more modern truth, that of the checkpoints and monitored divisions that make up the logistics of H1 & H2 and the reality of the occupation. While the volunteers may be able to freely travel both areas, the same freedom of movement will not be afforded their Palestian guide.
6) Football and Leisure Time
All is not work, study and historic discovery for the EC volunteers, however. Often times, evening football matches are arranged near Hebron University that pit local residents against this new international competition. The skill levels vary. Some volunteers join on the sidelines merely to cheer on their EC mates. No matter what the involvement, great fun is had by all and some decent skills are shown by a few. The match may be followed by a cafe, some shawarma and many tales of goals gone by.
There are many sights, sounds and stories awaiting new volunteers as they arrive at the Excellence Center in Hebron for the first time. And no matter what their volunteer duties or length of stay, they will all be introduced to similar details and experiences in their first week.
While this newness will fade into routine soon enough, there is something to be said about appreciating this new and rewarding beginning as it unfolds.
Any Questions?
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact at Rafat@excellencenter.org
Whatsapp:+972599479880
For more information, please visit our website: https://excellencenter.org
Excellence Center’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter
Excellence Center’s Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/RafatECHebron
Watch us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQSLdFZWZcBm6Uj0XMYuKg
Visit and Explore Palestine: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorePalestine
