A Bachelor of Shariah and Law, majoring in Arabic & Geography, which she chose because “My late mum advised me when I wasn´t sure what to study. You see I was very shy growing up.” Nowadays, she is well known around Hebron when it comes to Arabic & English lessons. A young bright & witty girl, she oversees all the activities and schedules in the E.C as well as giving Arabic lessons. What job were you destined to go into after your studies? “Usually after Islamic Law studies, one would either become a teacher or go through 2 further years in university and get a job as a lawyer or Court Clerk but that wasn´t my case.
After she graduated, her brother Rafat decided to relocate to Germany to study there so he asked her to take over the Hebron Centre. She says “I said no at first, I was fairly scared and not sure this was something I could or wanted to do. You see my main issues were that I was very shy and also that I didn´t speak English!” Quite challenging it has to be said, considering this is a language center catering for a lot of English speakers. But her brother encouraged her to see this as an exciting challenge and opportunity.
5 years later, she and the team have managed to create a Center of Excellence indeed! Marwa as taught herself to speak English and she is totally fluent, a real example of “When there is a will, there is a way”. Also working alongside her is her sister Khitam, she also didn´t speak English and has learned by herself. The E.C has helped hundreds of local and foreign students to learn English and Arabic respectively. Its reputation precedes it! The E.C primarily teaches English to students of all ages, Arabic (Palestinian Ammiya) and also Hebrew to individuals or groups, at their center or at the premises of Schools or Universities. A real added-value is the participation of native speakers in most of the English classes.
Marwa says “The E.C has various volunteer programs in order to attract native English speakers to Palestine under ideal conditions to learn Arabic, if they wish to, whilst lending their skills to the local population (English lessons, Specific topics workshops etc..). Part of our strategy is very affordable pricing of the classes. ” She thinks carefully before adding, “We are very conscious that our beloved country Palestine has become an unusual tourist destination but we want to change that because here, people have the same aspirations as anywhere else in the world, parents want their kids to get a good education, to travel, get a good job, go to restaurants, share time with their family etc… Our work is on 2 levels, on the one hand, we attract foreign visitors to see for themselves that most of Palestine is absolutely safe and learn about the situation, on the other hand, we give the locals a chance to meet native English speakers and interact with them and broaden their mind & horizon. We recommend and organize lodging with host families as the best option to fully understand the culture. It is truly a win-win situation!”
Any tips for volunteers before they arrive in Palestine and whilst they are there? “Yes absolutely”, says a smiley Marwa, “I would recommend to try and learn some basic Arabic words beforehand so you can relate to the locals immediately and vice versa. Also, be prepared for some cultural changes: punctuality is not always seen as very important, relations are very informal especially at the E.C, you will hardly notice any hierarchy! Palestinians have a high sense of values and respect so don´t hesitate to be speak frankly and address any situation with a positive attitude.
Regarding tips for once you are in Palestine, remember that this is a Muslim country, although often quite relaxed, alcohol is very offensive to them so please don´t bring or consume any at your host family or in any Muslim environments. Try and interact with people around you! Palestinians are always curious about their visitors and you will get many many invitations to the locals’ homes, that is the Palestinian way!
When asked what she loves most about her job, she says “I just love the contact with so many different people, it really has made me more open-minded and less shy! One of our Key Performance Indicator is the high rate of return of the students, a great percentage, foreign and local, come back to Hebron and to our center each year! That makes us truly happy! I Also, I love the fact that I am helping my people!” About areas to improve she says “My English definitely!”. What are her plans for the future? “I would love to open another center in Bethlehem. I see that City as a great opportunity for another great adventure adapted to the need of a very different city! Next Year In´Shallah!
For now, I am just really grateful to my brother Rafat for the wonderful gift he gave me and my sister Khitam, without him, god knows where we would be or what I would be doing…I feel truly blessed.
