Most of our articles and posted information regards our volunteers, the work we do at the Excellence Center, our teachers, our students and what life is like in Palestine. However, today we thought it would be nice to sit down and speak with someone who tirelessly works behind the scenes to make sure the Excellent Center continues to function and grow, our director Osama Abu Hussien. Osama is originally from Hebron and at thirty years old has an impressive amount of accomplishments and experiences.
Osama went to Hebron University where he studied Media and graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in 2013. He tells us he chose to study media because he believes the field is very important to Palestine and for its ability to reach a large population of people. Osama began his long and rich history of volunteering during his first year at university and has continued to do so until this day. Osama remembers, “Sometimes after a class I did not like I would just leave and go to my volunteer position.”
After graduating from Hebron University Osama began his first job at a local Palestinian organization called Sawa. Sawa worked to support women in Palestine and provided services such as education and facilitating the acquisition of important life skills in order to uplift these women and prepare them for future accomplishments. During his time at Sawa Osama made and produced documentaries on women who had found success in their life, both professional and personal. He says, “these women were capable of helping other struggling so women so much.” Osama then began a job at a Palestinian radio station al-Huryyia, Osama worked on editing and writing the news.
Osama began his work at the Excellence Center as a volunteer two years ago. He knew of the center because he was close family friends with Rafat. Osama was in charge of everything media related for the center, photos, videos, website and media outreach. He also organized community events and handled public relations for the Excellence Center. Osama tells us he had the skill and the resources to successfully enhance the center’s presence and community relations “because I know people at all the universities, the Palestinian organizations and the villages.”
A year ago Osama because of the director of the center. However, he has not stepped down from his former roles at the Excellence Center he has just added the position of director. He likes his job because there is no monotonous routine, “I am always meeting new international volunteers, new Palestinian students and teachers.” Osama says there are two goals with regard to having international volunteers. First, he tells us, “because of the occupation it is important for more internationals to come here and see what life is really like, the more foreigners we have coming to visit Palestine the more people we will have to spread accurate experiences and awareness of our situation will grow internationally.” In speaking about the second aim Osama tells us that because of the occupation and how closed off they are from the wider world it is an invaluable experience for the students to meet people from other countries and learn about their culture. Interacting with so many international volunteers, “can motivate the students to work hard, gain skills and perhaps go to study or find a job in another country should they want.”
It is staff like Osama who help make the Excellent Center so special and we are grateful to have him. Osama is just one example of the dedicated and passionate people we have working for us at the Excellence Center. Both our staff and international volunteers believe in the work we do. Osama leaves us with one last note, “before I came to the Excellence Center, met internationals and engaged in cultural exchange, I knew nothing of European or American culture, no idea because everything is closed off in Palestine. I am grateful to have learned so much working here.”
