The Excellence Center in Palestine offers a Volunteer in Medicine and Healthcare Program in the West Bank, Palestine that may interest you. Our program is designed for healthcare professionals and students, including doctors, nurses, medical and pre-medical students, public health workers, and physiotherapists.
We welcome volunteers from across the globe with different areas of expertise, such as nursing, nutrition, general medicine, pediatrics, dentistry, occupational therapy, and more. Whether you’re looking for a medical internship or a summer healthcare program, we have a role for you.
Our volunteer program in Palestine provides a unique opportunity to work alongside local professionals, including doctors and nursing students, in a shared learning environment. You will gain valuable knowledge about the Palestinian healthcare system, how locals work in hospitals, and what students study in medical and healthcare specializations at local universities and colleges.
Volunteering in public health in the West Bank through our program will not only improve your practical skills and awareness but also provide you with an excellent opportunity to contribute to a society that is underprivileged and in need of assistance.
Healthcare professionals of all educational levels are welcome to participate in our program. If you’re interested in joining our Volunteer in Medicine and Healthcare Program in Palestine, please contact us for more information.
This article provides information on the following:
| Who the program is for | What you need and don’t need to be a volunteer |
| Description of the volunteer program | Flexibility and scheduling |
| What to expect when you arrive | The ways to volunteer in the Palestinian healthcare system |
| Benefits of volunteering in Palestine | Eligibility for the program |
| When the program takes place | Volunteering in summer |
Supporting the Palestinian Healthcare System
There is no denying that Palestine’s healthcare system has to improve significantly, especially in the hospitals and clinics close to the refugee camps. Despite the fact that many of the camps began as sizable tent cities, they have evolved over time into enclosed concrete places that are congested and lacking in many public facilities, making them frequently unpleasant, claustrophobic, and overcrowded. As a result, Palestinians living in refugee camps face many health issues such as poor sanitation. Additionally, due to the Israeli occupation, some Palestinians face barriers in accessing adequate healthcare in the West Bank.
One of the primary issues we face is a scarcity of healthcare personnel, which impedes Palestinian’s access to proper healthcare. With the help of medical and healthcare internships in Palestine, we are able to bring together people with backgrounds in medicine who will contribute to the improvement and growth of underprivileged societies.
Brief Description
You will have the opportunity to help local Palestinian children, teens, women and refugees through our Volunteer in Medicine and Healthcare Program. You can make a substantial impact on the Palestinian community, and enhance your resume by expanding your clinical, procedural, and cultural skills. Although the scope of medical volunteer work depends on your specific experience and qualification levels, you will have the opportunity to exchange knowledge and engage in cross-cultural learning with locals as well as other international volunteers at the Center.
Who is it for?
This program caters to a broad spectrum of volunteers including:
- Healthcare students
- Nursing students
- Public health workers
- Medical students
- Qualified health professionals
- Doctors
- Nutritionists and more
Requirements:
In this program, it is necessary to have the following:
- Aged 18 – 75
- Adequate experience or education in medicine or healthcare
- The ability to communicate in English
- Patience and enthusiasm
- An eagerness to learn
But you don’t need:
- The ability to speak Arabic
- Travel or work experience
- To be a native English speaker
- To be a doctor or nurse or have a degree
Furthermore, we welcome all nationalities and backgrounds.
Your Impact
By applying your knowledge and abilities as a medical professional, you can make a big difference volunteering in public health in the West Bank. You can significantly contribute to the wellness of the community when you volunteer with Palestinian refugees and children. Palestine’s refugee camps have a bad reputation for being congested and uncomfortable and hospitals as well as other basic facilities, infrastructure, and services are lacking.
You may assist regional NGOs with a medical focus in their efforts to aid refugees in the camps by providing medical assistance or by supporting them as a medical expert.
Volunteer in the Summer Internship
If you’re a student seeking volunteer opportunities in healthcare or for medical internships abroad to get real-world, hands-on experience in the healthcare industry, The Summer Medical & Healthcare Program is an excellent choice for you. Through the program you will interact and volunteer with Palestinian clinics and hospitals over the summer.
Depending on your preference, your time spent in the program can range from 1 week to 3 months. You will have the opportunity to learn about the most important challenges facing the Palestinian medical sector under the Israeli occupation, learn about the Palestinian refugees, the human rights situation, and the Palestinian healthcare system.
The Excellence Center is able to grant academic credit to our already enrolled university students thanks to collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Education.
Reviews and Community Awards
We continue to strive towards “excellence”: In 2021 we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities. We received the community choice awards by Go Overseas in the categories “best language school”, and voted best on “fun” and “instruction.”
In 2019, we received our first “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards” to acknowledge the Excellence Center’s impact on the community of travelers around the world.
The Excellence Center in Hebron has now over 12 years of experience, and prides itself on the positive feedback received from over 800 international interns and volunteers to the Center.
Reviews of our all our Volunteer and Internship Programs, including Volunteer in a Medicine & Healthcare Program in Palestine, can be found through the following links:
- +560 Reviews and ratings (96%) on gooverseas.com
- +120 Reviews and ratings (95%) on goabroad.com
- Participants’ video testimonials
Other Volunteer and Internship Programs
But if healthcare internship programs abroad are not what you are looking for, we operate a broad variety of volunteer programs at the Excellence Center. Alternatively, you might feel like participating in more than one or trying something different instead and you are welcome to do this.
You can choose a volunteer program where you can thrive and make a significant contribution, regardless of your hobbies or areas of expertise in the arts, sports, refugee care, laws and justice, education, environmental and humanitarian issues, or just fostering professional growth.
Our short-term volunteer programs in Palestine include:
| Internship in Palestine Program (1-3 months) | Palestinian Laws & Legal Practices Internship |
| The Palestine and Israel in Context internship Program | Human Rights Program in West Bank |
| Women’s Rights in Palestine internship Program | Medicine & Healthcare in the West Bank |
| Teach English in the West Bank internship | Volunteer & Study Arabic in Palestine |
| Volunteering with Palestinian Children in the West Bank | Volunteer in Local Schools in Palestine |
| Teach for Palestine Program (2-3 Months) | Volunteer in a Journalism Program in Palestine |
A Flexible Program
With your input, the Excellence Center in Hebron will tailor this volunteer position to best suit your background and abilities. You will be able to freely select the kinds of activities and courses you would like to execute during your stay with us because we are highly flexible.
We are always looking for volunteers; you determine when you would like to begin, and we will plan things accordingly. You have anywhere from one to thirteen weeks to volunteer.
What to Expect When You Arrive in Hebron
You will be greeted at the Center and given a thorough introduction during which you may learn about Hebron and the nearby places before choosing a schedule. This covers instruction in Arabic as well as an overview of Palestinian culture.
Our staff will brief you on health and safety procedures, as well as some advice on what to do and what to avoid while visiting, during this orientation. You will also get the chance to meet our team and your fellow volunteers, and we will answer any questions you may have.
We will arrange for you to stay with a Palestinian host family who will assist you in acclimating to society and with any other challenges that could occur, this will allow you to become as quickly as possible a part of the Palestinian society and culture. Male volunteers can, however, choose to stay at the nearby Excellence Center dorm if they so want. More details are provided below.
Ways to Volunteer in Palestinian Healthcare
By participating in a medical and healthcare internship in Palestine, you can contribute in a variety of ways, such as by assisting other local professionals in the healthcare system. Depending on your level of expertise, your duties may also involve administering some administrative tasks or providing direct patient care, depending on your knowledge, skills and experience.
Some examples of how you can help:
- Plan workshops on various medical subjects and themes for Palestinian university students, such as first aid.
- Raise community awareness of health issues, among school and university students and other members of Hebron’s general public.
- Visit local Hebron schools and colleges to teach students about fundamental and public health.
- Plan free activities at the center where you and other volunteers can give health advice.
- Connect with local Palestinian medical organizations to plan community health and wellness events.
- Visit the Departments of Health in Palestine and local clinics, hospitals, and universities to gather information
- Organize workshops for Palestinian university students studying medicine.
- Or other further activities, we welcome your suggestions.
Benefits of Volunteering in Palestine
Volunteers in our medical and healthcare program in Palestine enjoy a number of benefits during their stay in the West Bank city of Hebron, examples include:
- Living in Hebron and traveling to the old city, the religious sites, and other places throughout your stay
- Visits to medical facilities in Palestine, including hospitals, clinics, universities, and local institutions and organizations.
- Interactions and networking with Palestinian medical professionals, nurses, medical students, and academics
- Learn spoken Arabic from native speakers while taking full advantage of the chance to interact with locals
- 3 hours of Arabic lessons per week
- Exposure to daily life in Hebron, Palestinian culture and society
- Accommodation with either a Palestinian host family or stay in our male apartment
- Opportunities to eat and enjoy local Palestinian foods and desserts
- Enjoy the performances and activities offered during Palestinian cultural nights
- Opportunities to visit unique tourist attractions with an authentic native perspective, including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem, Qalqilyah, Jenin and the Dead Sea in Jericho
- Ability to visit nearby cities as well as in those in Jordan including Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Nazareth
- Access to well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers, each with an excellent educational background, ready and happy to help you
- A participant’s certificate upon completion.
When Can You Volunteer?
You decide when you would like to start, the Excellence Center accepts applications from international volunteers all year round; the start date is up to you. You may volunteer from anywhere between one to thirteen weeks. We welcome you!
Who Can Participate?
The Palestinian Excellence Center does not discriminate on the basis of a person’s nationality, race, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, or any other discernible factor.
Furthermore, we have a long history of welcoming people from around the globe including those from: the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Singapore, South Korea, China and New Zealand.
Schedule for Volunteers
Working from around 10am to 5pm, Saturday through Thursday with two days off, you will be expected to put in about 30 hours each week. You will get an option of two days off, one of which will be Friday.
At the Excellence Center, breakfast is served each morning to our international volunteers. In addition to exposing you to traditional Palestinian dishes like labneh and hummus, breakfast gives you the chance to socialize and improve your Arabic. Breakfast is shared with the administrators of the center, volunteers from other programs, and Palestinian teachers.
You may arrange to have your lunch whenever you have a break in your schedule, and it is easy to find supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, shawarma and falafel near to The Excellence Center.
Along with the responsibilities of your program, the Excellence Center will arrange for you to take part in tourist excursions in Hebron. You will have your own Arabic class schedule and time to prepare for any workshops you oversee in addition to your work on the Medicine and Healthcare program.
Evenings are usually free, but occasionally we’ll provide optional events as part of our dedication to exhibiting Palestine’s culture. During the evenings, our volunteers often arrange to go to a cafe to study or socialize, have dinner at a restaurant together, spend time with their host family (only for female volunteers), or go to a local gym. Along with that, you are able to go to other cities during your leisure time.
You might be shocked by how quickly your calendar will get booked up and how rapidly the time will pass.
Accommodation
For male participants, you may choose to live in our male dorm in Hebron or, if a Palestinian host family is available, you may do so if space permits. Both situations have benefits, but those who live in a dorm will have more time to get to know the other participants. Due to the dorms’ proximity to Hebron’s city center, you will also have plenty of chances to explore the city with your housemates and have fascinating adventures.
Living with a Palestinian host family is the second choice, largely open to female participants. Choosing this option gives you firsthand knowledge of Palestinian culture, customs, and way of life. Additionally, living with a host family gives you lots of chances to learn about Palestinian culture, including the food and family dynamics. Participants living with a host family are also more likely to be invited to family get-togethers and cultural activities, which will ensure you have a wonderful cultural immersion experience!
While we are pleased to assist you in finding housing that meets your needs, participants who opt to reside in private accommodations are responsible for their own costs.
What Language is the Program Run in?
Although the Volunteer in Medicine and Healthcare Program is conducted in English, learning some basic Arabic will be very helpful when you are interacting with Palestinians in the area.
Volunteer quick information:
| Location of Volunteer Program | Hebron, West Bank, Palestine |
| Program Language | English |
| Volunteering Duration | 1-13 weeks |
| Starting/ Ending Dates | Volunteers can freely choose their starting and ending dates. Year round. |
| Monthly Costs | €750 per month €250 per week |
| Homestay in Hebron | Palestinian host family Male dorm Private (additional fees apply) |
| Educational Degree | Not Required |
| Area of volunteering | Volunteer with Palestinian locals hospitals and clinics. Raise awareness about health Organize workshops for Palestinian medical students Health activities for the Palestinian community Other social activities and site visiting |
| University Credit | Available |
| Application Deadline | No Deadline |
| Reviews and Ratings | Reviews On Gooverseas.com Reviews On Goabroad.com Participants video testimonials |
| Suitable for | Healthcare workers Medical students Nurses Doctors Nutrition Others |
| Tel Aviv Airport Pickups | Available (additional fees apply) |
Arabic Classes for Program Participants
Every week, our interns and volunteers from across the world receive three hours of Arabic lessons taught by a skilled and knowledgeable Palestinian teacher. These lessons are suitable for all levels of Arabic, no matter if you are a total beginner or advanced.
Furthermore, Palestinian people are very hospitable and friendly, so visiting Palestine offers you numerous opportunities to interact with people, allowing you to deepen your knowledge of and practice with Arabic.
Additionally, as a token of our appreciation for your time with us, you are free to select any dialect of Arabic from the list below that you are interested in learning.
- Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)
- Colloquial Palestinian Arabic
- Colloquial Shami/Levantine Arabic (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine)
- A mixed program between MSA and colloquial dialects
If you are unsure which dialect to study, we can guide and help you choose the one most appropriate for your needs, however they are all beneficial and our teachers are all very knowledgeable.
Program Costs and Information
The Palestinian Excellence Center charges 750 euros a month or 250 euros a week, covering the following expenses:
- Accommodation
- Arabic lessons, including all course materials
- Operating costs
- Breakfast (Sat – Thur)
- Various group excursions
Traveling to Hebron, Palestine
We know that you are likely to have questions about traveling to Hebron and Palestine, so The Excellence Center has all the resources you need to travel in an efficient, safe and practical manner. Please read our articles below for guidance:
- How to travel to Palestine
- How to get to Hebron, Palestine
- Planning your trip to Palestine
- How to get from the Ben Gurion Airport (Israel) to Hebron
Tel Aviv Airport Pickups
The Excellence Center staff can organize a taxi to pick you up at Ben Gurion Airport and take you straight to Hebron and the Center. This is the easiest and fastest way (about an hour, 60 km/37 miles) to get to us.
Additional fees apply and the trip costs about 160 Euro. Please contact our staff if you are interested in this option.
How to Fly to Palestine?
The easiest way to get to the Excellence Center is to fly to:
- Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv Airport in Israel. It takes about two and a half hours from the airport to the Excellence Center via shared taxi.
Alternatively:
- Flying to Eilat airport in the south of Israel and then traveling by shuttle or by taking a bus to Jerusalem and then to Hebron. However, the duration of the trip can last between six and seven hours.
- Flying to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan and then crossing the border to Palestine. However, this takes more time and is more expensive.
How Do I Get a Visa to Visit Palestine?
Most of our international participants get a tourist visa for three months when they fly to Israeli airports or cross from Jordan to the West Bank.
Generally, no prior visa is needed for Americans, Canadians and most Europeans in order to enter Palestine but please refer to the visa exemption agreement for further information. Upon your arrival at the Israeli Airports in Tel Aviv or Eilat, you will be granted a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days. This is sufficient for participation in the Excellence Center’s programs and to enable you to travel around Palestine and Israel easily.
Safety of Our Volunteers and Interns
The region of Palestine is perpetually unstable. While there is always unrest and war, the situation sometimes becomes more volatile. Nonetheless, each year millions of tourists visit Palestine and the West Bank, including Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin, Tulkarem, Nablus and many other cities without any safety issues. Palestinians in general are a welcoming and hospitable people and they recognize the politics of a country may differ from its people.
Since its formation in 2011, the Excellence Center has welcomed over 1,000 international visitors. These visitors have lived and worked in Hebron for weeks or months at a time and overall they never faced any threats or safety issues while in Hebron or the West Bank in general.
Moreover, the Excellence Centre is situated in an area of Hebron which is under the Palestinian authority and in the heart of the city. Our Palestinian host families and the male dorms are located near the Excellence Center as well.
In Conclusion
Volunteering in the West Bank is a very beneficial opportunity if you are a healthcare professional or student looking for volunteer opportunities in healthcare and have a love for human rights. For international students seeking a medical internship, we can even provide you with university credit towards your studies. By volunteering, you may contribute to the growth of the Palestinian medical system and help give medical aid. You can meet medical professionals like doctors, medical specialists, paramedics, and surgeons in Hebron hospitals and care facilities by volunteering.
Due to the occupation, Palestinians confront several difficulties and barriers in their healthcare system. By taking part in the program, you help open the way for the medical treatment they require, whether it be by providing hands-on support, planning workshops, or providing training for Palestinian medical professionals.
The internship takes place in the city of Hebron, in the center of Palestine. You can choose to stay from anywhere between 1-13 weeks. But no matter how long you decide to stay, we’ll help you have a delightful and memorable experience both at our center and in this beautiful city.
How to apply
If you are interested in participating in our volunteer program in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine please, write to us at Rafat@excellencenter.org
In the subject line of your email write “Volunteer in a Medicine & Healthcare Program in Palestine.” Upon writing back to you we will attach an application form which you will fill out and return to us to begin the process.
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