Community development projects in the Middle East: In the Middle East, there are lots of different projects you can do to help develop local communities. Projects can vary massively from helping build schools and hospitals to developing water sources to giving lessons on English to volunteering with aid organisations like the Red Cross.
These projects usually focus on developing communities as a whole rather than specific individuals although individuals benefit of course. These projects can be through non-governmental organisations, universities and even in some circumstances in partnership with the government or private sector organisations.
Why are these projects important?
These type of projects are so important because they can help whole communities improve their lives. They show individuals living in underprivileged areas that outsiders care about their plight and want to help them with their difficulties.
This is so important because in places like refugee camps, some people may be losing hope until they are given this aid, so it is a big boost for their mental health when community development projects happen in their area.
Where can I do them?
There are opportunities to do these sort of projects all over the Middle East such as Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and the various states and territories of Arabia proper (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the Trucial States, or Trucial Oman [now United Arab Emirates. However, there is, of course, more need for these projects in the places that need the most help. This has to be balanced with the feasibility of such projects though –
for example, Syria, Iraq and Gaza might be in the most need of community development projects, but it is not advisable to undertake programmes in these places due to political and security difficulties. It is therefore important to find somewhere in need of help, but with a stable environment to ensure it is not dangerous to operate there.
Community development projects in Palestine
The West Bank in Palestine is a great place to undertake community development projects as it is a stable area but with increasing need to improve the services available for local communities. There is a large scope to help the locals and create a real impact.
This is especially so as there are not many organizations running these projects in Palestine, so when you find a relevant one, you know you can make a real difference.
Take a community development project in the main heart of the Middle East
Hebron is a really interesting city – a focal point of the Occupation, where lots of people live in reduced circumstances, particularly in the ‘H2’ part of the city and in certain villages in the surrounding countryside where living conditions are difficult. The Excellence Center provides programmes which are community-driven to help locals in these areas.
The Excellence Center partners with other organisations in the community like the Red Crescent, with local universities and with the government in Ramallah to deliver meaningful help to the community in the form of volunteer programmes. The Excellence Center provides liaison officers to manage the contact and ensure any volunteer has a rich and fulfilling experience helping to develop the community.
Cultural exchange is to visit the refugee camps in the region
The Excellence Center also provides accommodation and the opportunity to learn Arabic through classes three hours a week. Overall, this gives volunteers the chance to really immerse themselves in the culture and get to know the people they are helping and why it is so important to help them. Another crucial part of this cultural exchange is to visit the refugee camps in the region, as well as the Bedouin tribes affected by Occupation, and hear the stories of people who have very difficult lives.
Community projects in Hebron
The best thing about these community projects is that you get to see the people you are helping and because Hebron is such a tight-knit community (despite having all the facilities and everything else of a big city), you will be able to hear how your efforts affect the locals even after you have left. There is a multiplier effect as the people you help have the chance to improve their lives and then they in turn can start helping the others around them when they are in a better situation.
Additionally, undertaking a programme with the Excellence Center in this field is really helpful for the volunteer’s CV, especially if they are interested in working in the fields of international development, aid work or international relations.
When you add the Arabic skills you will learn as well as general and technical skills developed through the projects, a couple of month internship with the Excellence Center can be really beneficial for a volunteer’s future career. We hope you enjoyed reading the Community development projects in the Middle East article.
Find us online
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact at Rafat@excellencenter.org
Whatsapp:+972599479880
For more information, please visit our website: https://excellencenter.org
Excellence Center’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter
Excellence Center’s Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/RafatECHebron
Watch us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQSLdFZWZcBm6Uj0XMYuKg
Visit and Explore Palestine: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorePalestine
