Daragh From The UK, Experience Volunteering In Palestine”Hello, My name is Daragh and I am from Dorset in England. I am currently studying for a Masters in Politics at the University of Edinburgh, UK.
Whilst at The Excellence Center I have spent each day both teaching English alongside Palestinian teachers and learning Arabic in one-to-one lessons. My Arabic teacher, Marwa, has been fantastic; fluent in English, she has taken a relaxed and interactive approach to teach. Starting from no knowledge whatsoever in Arabic, I now feel as though I have a good grasp of the basics and can now hold simple conversations with Palestinians in Hebron.
The teaching side has been equally valuable and enjoyable. The classes of 15-30 students have been extremely eager to develop their English and learn more about English culture by questioning me. It has been extremely rewarding to help the students learn, whilst also constantly improving my Arabic through speaking to them. The general atmosphere in The Excellence Center is warm and welcoming. Familiar faces come and go, bringing food, making coffee and helping enrich the international students’ experience here.
Whilst here I have had the great pleasure of visiting Soussia, a Bedouin village, twenty miles outside Hebron. The villagers had lived there for thirty years since being evicted from their homes and have, over the years, expanded their village from one small tent consisting of two families to around 30 tents for 30 families, with sheep, chickens, goats, and donkeys.
We were treated to delicious goats cheese and honey made in their village and also purchased embroidered goods that the villagers had made. I have also visited the ‘Temporary International Presence in Hebron’ HQ, an observer mission composed of staff from Norway, Sweden, Turkey, Italy, and Switzerland. We were given a tour of the HQ and one of the staff explained the TIPH’s mission in Hebron.
Hebron has been an extremely warm and welcoming place to live. I am often told by people in the street ‘my home is your home’ and it feels genuine and sincere. Hebron is also known as the ‘city in which you never go hungry’ and everywhere I go I have been offered to join in supper and lunch with the locals, free of charge.
Be sure to try Maqlobe, my personal favorite dish. Walking around at night is an exciting experience, with a cacophony of new sounds and smells, all within a safe atmosphere. I leave Palestine with extremely fond memories of a place which now feels like a home from home. Inshallah, I shall be returning soon.”
