Go Middle East was founded by dedicated local community servants to create a bridge between the Middle East and the world.
They offer educational, cultural, social, and community programs to a diverse range of international students, interns, and volunteers. With a wide variety of topics to choose from, Go Middle East has something for everyone interested in learning about and experiencing life in the Middle East.
Since they began in 2011, Go Middle East has provided a rich and immersive learning experience for over 1000 international visitors, with great benefits to the local community, including children, refugees, youth, and women.
The staff at Go Middle East is the beating heart of everything we do. They work tirelessly to create meaningful experiences for volunteers and students from abroad and from the local community. Let’s look a bit more into the role of the staff at Go Middle East and then meet some of them!
Table of Contents
The Role of the Staff
There are many different roles at Go Middle East and the Excellence Centers in Palestine, Syria, and Jordan, with each staff member contributing to our educational, volunteering, and community development programs. While responsibilities vary between locations, our staff share the same goal: supporting local communities while ensuring that international volunteers and students have a meaningful, safe, and well-organized experience.
Our educational staff teach Arabic to international volunteers and students and support English education for local children and young people. Arabic lessons can include Modern Standard Arabic (Fus’ha) as well as local varieties such as Levantine, Shami, and Ammiya, from beginner to advanced levels. In Palestine, English education has been central to our work since the founding of the Excellence Center in Hebron, while in Syria and Jordan staff also support English teaching and activities with children and young people. This creates a valuable exchange where volunteers can contribute their English skills while learning Arabic and about local culture.
Another major responsibility is coordinating international volunteers and students. Staff help with everything from pre-arrival information, accommodation, and arrival support to orientation, scheduling, and ongoing assistance throughout each participant’s stay. They also organize the activities that form the core of our programs, including English lessons, work with children and refugees, cultural activities, and visits to local communities and organizations.
Finally, staff provide the administrative and logistical support needed to keep each center running smoothly. They manage daily operations, coordinate schedules and practical arrangements, and remain available to assist participants throughout their programs. Across Palestine, Syria, and Jordan, our staff are much more than teachers and administrators—they are the people who connect international participants with local communities and help create meaningful experiences of education, volunteering, cultural exchange, and community engagement.
Meet the Team
Rafat Shantir – Founder
Rafat Shantir, the founder of Go Middle East, brings a wealth of experience in community development and cultural exchange to his leadership role. His journey began with active participation and volunteering in various community development projects across diverse locations such as Mongolia, Denmark, Egypt, and Jordan.
Drawing from several years of hands-on experience with community development organizations in Palestine, Rafat has emerged as a staunch advocate for the transformative power of community activities and cultural exchanges. He firmly believes in their profound impact on the lives of Palestinians and individuals worldwide.
Rafat’s dedication to continuous learning led him to pursue higher education in Germany, further enriching his understanding of global dynamics and community development strategies. His international exposure has equipped him with a broad perspective, driving his commitment to fostering connections and mutual understanding across borders.
Under Rafat’s leadership, Go Middle East has achieved remarkable recognition and success. The center has earned numerous accolades, including recognition as the top volunteer organization, best language school, leading teaching program, and premier internship provider for multiple consecutive years, surpassing thousands of organizations worldwide.
Marwa Shantir – Center Coordinator
Marwa Shantir is a leader at Go Middle East. Instead of sticking with her Islamic Studies degree from Hebron University, she chose to help her community in Palestine. Since 2012, she’s been working at Go Middle East in Hebron, starting as a Center Coordinator.
Marwa believes strongly in education and sharing cultures. Go Middle East offers various programs for Palestinian kids, women, refugees, and young people. They focus on education, community development, and cultural exchange. Marwa loves her job because she gets to meet international volunteers and students from all over the world and share her culture with them.
Under her leadership, Go Middle East has won community awards for being one of the top volunteer organizations, best language school, best teaching program, and best internship provider for the years 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, beating 13,000 organizations worldwide. She’s passionate about making a positive impact on Palestinian society and connecting with people globally.
Osama Abu Hussein
Osama Abu Hussein serves as the Center Manager at Go Middle East, bringing with him a Bachelor’s degree in Media from Hebron University.
With a wealth of experience in Palestinian community organizations in Hebron, Mr. Abu Hussein has dedicated himself to volunteering with youth and children while actively participating in numerous local and international workshops over the past five years. His journey with Go Middle East began in 2014 when he assumed the role of Community Activities Coordinator and became an integral part of the media unit.
Mr. Abu Hussein further honed his skills during his tenure at Hebron University, where he contributed to the Public Relations Department in 2014. Additionally, from 2012 to 2014, he lent his expertise to Alhuriya Radio Station in Hebron, where he was responsible for editing news content and crafting reports and articles for the station.
Khitam Shantir
Khitam Shantir assumed the role of Educational Activities Coordinator at Go Middle East in October 2016. Holding a diploma in Business Administration from Future School in Hebron, Palestine, Khitam brings a strong foundation in organizational management to her position.
Driven by her passion for empowering Palestinian students, Khitam is deeply committed to facilitating educational opportunities and fostering personal growth. Her enthusiasm for connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and immersing herself in various cultures fuels her dedication to her work.
Conclusion & Call to Action
The staff at Go Middle East put their hearts and souls into their work. Their dedication means that many international people are able to come and see and experience the Middle East, and learn about the complexities and beauty of the region’s culture and history. At the same time, they facilitate programs and education initiatives that have a positive impact on the local community.
If you are interested in learning more about coming to spend time with Go Middle East, please send an email to Info@gomiddleeast.org. We look forward to meeting you!
Find Us Online
Excellence Center in Syria Website: https://ecsyria.org/
Excellence Center in Jordan Website: https://ecjordan.org/
Excellence Center in Palestine Website: https://excellencenter.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excellence.center
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQSLdFZWZcBm6Uj0XMYuKg