“My name is Irene and I am a university student from Spain. I am currently finishing my undergraduate program in International Relations. As part of my studies, I have had the opportunity to gain knowledge on the Middle Eastโs rich history and cultural background of its people. I have always been a keen reader of books to allowed me to be open-minded. However, I feel that traveling is an enriching and necessary experience as it translates into actual interaction with the people in the regional. Therefore, as I was willing to experience life in the Middle East, I thought about volunteering in Palestine.
With this decision of gaining first-hand knowledge on my mind, I discovered The Excellence Center in Hebron, and applied to the TESA Teaching Assistant program. Volunteering programs have to be ethical and committed. In my view, educational projects are essential for future generations and that is why I find the program fulfilling. I hope I will be able to offer my English knowledge and academic background as a positive asset. Hence, I would like to motivate students in their learning processes and contribute to the improvement of their communication skills.
At the same time, I expect to learn a lot from the local culture. In fact, as previously noted, during my time in Palestine I would like to get engaged with the local community. In my view, this is an essential part of volunteering experiences. I feel I am going to be part of a project of people working together to improve the education of students. Personally, getting first-hand knowledge on Palestinian culture and its peopleโs dreams and life-projects will be a pleasure. Moreover, I am happy that I will start learning conversational Arabic during my stay, as part of the process of intercultural communication.
In sum, I would like to commit to the project and enjoy the exchange learning process. It is in this sense that I believe the Excellence Center experience and living in Hebron will help me improve my knowledge on Palestinian culture by getting in direct contact with daily-life.”
