Volunteer in a Sports Project in Palestine: Since its establishment in 2011, the Excellence Center has maintained high standards in English language teaching with the help of numerous international volunteers. However, to meet the increasing demand for diverse programs, we are excited to introduce a new series of volunteer programs, including the Volunteer in a Sports Project in Palestine.

This volunteer program in the West Bank, Palestine offers a unique opportunity for current students, postgraduates, gap year students, professionals, teachers, retirees, and anyone else interested in sports-related fields to volunteer with the local Palestinian community. As a volunteer, you can share your passion and expertise by organizing workshops, lectures, sporting tournaments, training sessions, summer camps, and more for Palestinian youth.

The Volunteer in a Sports Project in Hebron, Palestine program is ideal for individuals with a strong interest and background in sports or related fields. Through this program, you can develop your own activities and make a valuable contribution to the local Palestinian community, while also gaining personal and professional development opportunities and having fun.

Boost Your Resume Whilst Being Immersed In Palestinian Culture 

The Volunteer in a Sports Project in Palestine Program offers a valuable opportunity to gain practical work experience and boost your resume. As a volunteer, you will work with Palestinian youth and develop your own projects and activities related to sports-related topics such as nutrition, training techniques, and the benefits of exercise. This hands-on experience will not only allow you to make a meaningful contribution to the local community but also enhance your skills and knowledge.

While volunteering with us in Hebron, Palestine, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Palestinian culture and interact with people from all over the world. You will receive 3 hours of Arabic classes each week to help you integrate into the community, and two days off to explore the local area or travel to nearby cities. Most importantly, you will have the chance to make a positive impact on the lives of others while also gaining personal growth and development through this program.

The Volunteer In A Sports Project In Summer Program

Our Volunteer In A Sports Project In Summer Program is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who seeks to engage with the Palestinian community, especially children, youth, students in sports and sports-related fields such as nutrition. This program is especially suitable for current university or college students seeking volunteer or internship opportunities abroad to gain practical hands-on experiences in these fields. 

While we operate our Volunteer In A Sports Project In Palestine Program in Hebron year-round, we have also a dedicated summer program, specifically designed for students seeking volunteer and internship opportunities during their summer break. Additionally, The Excellence Center is able to grant academic credit to currently enrolled university and college students thanks to our collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Education. So students are able to gain practical hands-on experience while working towards their degree. However, if you are not a current university or college student, or you are not seeking academic credit, you are still very welcome to join us for this program in summer.

Please note that as Palestinian school students have school holidays during summer, this program will be a little different because students will have more free time and that allows for a different range of activities that you can organize and participate in. However, there is a need for volunteers in this program year-round, so no matter what time of year you participate, there will be many exciting and fun activities for you.

We invite you to join us in this program to make the most of this excellent chance travel throughout the summer, obtain practical experience in your chosen field or profession, and work towards your degree all at the same time.

A Flexible Volunteer Program

When you join the Volunteer In A Sports Project In Palestine Program in Hebron, you are welcome to choose what kind of activities you would like to organize during your program, as well as if you would like to work with certain target groups (for example, children or students of a certain age or a certain section of the community).

We understand that our international participants have different skills, expertise and interests, so we are very flexible with the kinds of activities and projects that you wish to develop and there are almost no limits to what you can do. Additionally, we also make the length or all our programs flexible, you can participate anywhere from 1-13 weeks, enabling you to choose the option that best suits you.

Your Impact

Our Volunteer In A Sports Project Program in Hebron, West Bank is well researched, targeted, and suitable for anyone who wants to gain insights into daily Palestinian life, education, human rights and sports-related fields.

With all our programs, we aim to make a long term difference for the Palestinian local community through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. Our programs foster shared and mutual learning, for both our community and our volunteers and interns. When you take on the role of a teacher or facilitator, you will learn so much from your students and they are sure to learn from you. 

During your program, you will get the chance to share your valuable knowledge, skills and passion with members of the community in sports, exercise, nutrition and other related fields. This can empower community members to develop themselves personally and professionally, as well as have fun and become healthier.

Your students might even discover a new hobby, area of interest or passion. By volunteering or interning, you have a unique opportunity to make a genuine impact on the local Palestinian community, including children, refugees, youth and students and it is sure to have a great impact on your life too.

Quick Facts About The Volunteer In A Sports Project In Palestine Program

When You Arrive At The Center In Hebron, Palestine

Before being assigned a schedule, volunteers will be welcomed at the Center and will be given an orientation about Hebron and Palestinian culture, including  Arabic classes. In order for you to be as involved as possible in the Palestinian community and culture, we will provide you with accommodation with a Palestinian host family who will take care of you and will help you with any issue that might come up. Male volunteers may instead stay at the Excellence Center male dorm.

After your introduction, you will get to decide what kind of activities you will develop during your volunteering period with us in Palestine. These activities will be based on your individual interests, field of expertise and competence, and your level of experience and skills. We are very flexible, and you will be completely free to choose what activities to implement in your own schedule.

What Kind Of Activities Can You Organize During Your Volunteering Period?

• Lectures or workshops on the following topics:
  • Different sports teams in the world
  • Nutrition
  • Habits to stay fit and healthy
  • Wrong habits in exercising
  • Stretching
  • How to warm up and warm down
  • Sports injuries, first aid course
  • Drugs and doping
  • Referee skills
  • Coaching skills
  • How to workout or exercise at home
• Organize a tournament (a mini Olympics?)
• Organize sport activities for children
• Organize sport activities in local Palestinian Schools
• Read sports articles from the newspaper
• Meet some local sports teams
  • Meet the local football team
• Have a discussion about how sports differ from country to country
• Women in sports
• Referee training
• Others activities (we strongly welcome your suggestions)

Who Comes To Volunteer With Us?

At The Excellence Center in Palestine, we do not discriminate on any basis, this includes a person’s nationality, ethnicity, religious standing, gender, sexual orientation or by any other discernible means. 

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. 

Although the majority of our volunteers are aged 18 and above here in Palestine, if you are younger than 18 please feel free to contact us and discuss volunteering possibilities. We have welcomed volunteers up to the age of 75 in the past and we have programs suitable for everyone with any specialization and interest.

What Do You Need To Join This Program

The Volunteer In A Sports Project In Palestine Program is open to individuals aged 18 and above from all over the world. No prior travel experience, native English proficiency or Arabic language skills are required to participate. Additionally, you do not need a university degree to be a part of this program.

While no special skills or experience are necessary to participate, volunteers with expertise in sports, fitness, nutrition, coaching, referee training, sports injuries and first aid and other relevant areas are encouraged to apply. Your knowledge and expertise will be put to good use in assisting the Palestinian community in Hebron, Palestine.

To be successful in this program, you should have patience, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and the ability to work with an international team. The program duration is flexible and can be customized to fit your schedule, ranging from 1 to 13 weeks.

Other Volunteering Opportunities 

Besides our Community Development Volunteer Program, the Excellence Center provides a wide array of other volunteer opportunities and programs.  Areas of volunteering in the West Bank, Palestine include but are not limited to:

Furthermore, if you can’t decide between two programs or would like to do both to get a broader experience, you are welcome to combine programs. For example, you can volunteer in the Sport Project for two weeks and then join the Human Rights Program the following week.

Arabic Lessons For Volunteers And Interns

As a volunteer or intern at the Excellence Center, you will receive 3 hours of Conversational Arabic classes each week (12 hours per month). 

Your Arabic lessons will be taught by an experienced and knowledgable Palestinian teacher, either one-on-one or in small groups. Whether you have studied Arabic before or this is your first time, we make our Arabic lessons suitable for you and your level. 

Additionally, you will have plenty of chances to meet many people in Palestine, allowing you to learn the language in context as well as providing many opportunities to practice your Arabic skills with native speakers. 

Volunteers can freely choose what form of Arabic they would like to learn during their time in Palestine at the Excellence Center.

Choice Of Arabic Dialects To Learn

Everyone who volunteers or interns with us in our programs in Hebron receives a choice of Arabic dialects to study during their time in the West Bank. 

As part of your volunteer or internship placement, we offer the following options to choose from:

• Shami or Levantine Arabic (Amiyya dialect)
• Colloquial Palestinian Arabic
• Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)
• a mixed Program: (Modern Standard Arabic & Shami Arabic)

We are always here to offer advice to help you choose the right dialect for you.

Homestay During Your Time In Hebron

The Excellence Center aims to achieve social discourse through cultural immersion. The center provides the Volunteer In A Sport Project participants with homestays in Hebron, West Bank as follows:

• Female participants have the opportunity to live with a designated Palestinian host family in the local Hebron area

• Male participants are able to stay in male dorms provided at the Excellence Center, Hebron, West Bank, Palestine 

Private rooms can also be arranged, although these naturally come with an additional fee.

The Schedule Of Our Volunteers In Palestine 

The schedule of our volunteers here at the Excellence Center is very flexible, though it is subject to change from week to week. You commitment hours are around 25-30 hours per week. Your day will start at 10am and finish around 5pm and you will have two days off per week – Friday and one other day of your choosing.

The day begins with a breakfast at the Excellence Center at 10am and it is shared with teachers, directors, and volunteers from other programs. Breakfast gives you the chance to not only try traditional Palestinian food such as hummus and labneh, but to socialize and practice your Arabic if you wish. You can take a break for lunch whenever you have time in your schedule, and it is easy to find supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, falafel and shawarma nearby for your lunch. 

Your schedule is likely to be different each day, and can include your Arabic lessons, visit to local organizations, sightseeing trips in Hebron organized by the Excellence Center as well as your program commitments such as teaching lessons or facilitating workshops. Additionally, there will be time to prepare your lesson plans for these workshops and classes.

Evenings are usually free, although we will organize occasional optional activities as part of our commitment to showcasing 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 (for female volunteers), or go to a local gym.

Free Time And Weekend Exploration

We understand that traveling to the Palestine and Israel region is a large attraction for most of our volunteers. Our volunteer programs in Palestine are designed to give you plenty of free time to explore the exciting destinations within Palestine and Israel. All of our programs are located in the city of Hebron, Palestine, a beautiful and historic city with many shops, cafes, and other offerings.

On your days off, you are welcome to spend them how you choose. Many of our volunteers arrange to visit other cities together on their days off. This includes, but is not limited to cities such as Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jericho (and the Dead Sea) Nablus, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Haifa and many more. Traveling around Palestine is relatively easy and affordable.

Indeed, you may be surprised by how fast your schedule will fill up and how quickly your time will fly!

Your Benefits During Your Program With Us

• Immersion in Palestinian culture, daily life and society while living in Hebron 

• Undertaking trips to the old city, holy sites, other sites, local organizations, a refugee camp in Hebron and more during your time

• Gain practical work experience by teaching and facilitating classes and workshops around sports, health and nutrition

• Spoken Arabic language lessons (12 hours a month or 3 hours a week)

• Well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers, each with an excellent educational background, ready and happy to help you

• Opportunity to improve or practice your Arabic by communicating with native speakers in the local community

• Visits to NGOs in Hebron, West Bank

• Meetings with Palestinian university, school students and teachers

• Travel to historical locations and nearby cities including Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus and Bethlehem (on your own or with fellow volunteers)

• The ability to visit nearby cities as well as in those in Jordan including Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Nazareth, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, and Wadi Rum

• Accommodation either with a Palestinian family or in our male dorm

• Attendance at Palestinian cultural nights, such as weddings, or those featuring entertainment

• A participant’s certificate upon completion.

Associated Fees

Since the Excellence Center does not receive any funds from any governmental or non-governmental organizations, the Excellence Center charges a fee of 750€ Euro a month or 250€ a week.

The program fees include pre-departure support, accommodation, breakfast (Sat-Thur), full coordination while volunteering in Palestine, 3 hours per week of Arabic lessons for each week you volunteer, and some visits to different sites in the city of Hebron.

Eligibility For Volunteer In A Sports Project In Palestine Program

The Volunteer In A Sports Project in the West Bank, Palestine welcomes individuals between the ages of 18 and 75 from all nationalities and educational backgrounds. No prior degree is required to participate in this program.

When The Volunteer In A Sports Project In Palestine Program Takes Place

The Excellence Center is looking for international volunteers year-round. Volunteers decide when they would like to start and Excellence Center will organizes it. We are very flexible when it comes to starting and ending dates. Participants freely choose their volunteer period.

Traveling To Palestine On Your Own?

No worries, you’ve come to the right place!

You will easily meet many Palestinian university and school students, as well as community members, all of who hold a variety of interests. Palestinian people, particularly in Hebron, love to meet new people from different cultures and exchange ideas and experiences with them.

Moreover, the Excellence Center hosts many international visitors from all over the world who will be studying, volunteering, visiting or interning at the Center and many of them make lifelong friends with each other. Of course, you will engage with them in some educational and community activities that the Center organizes.

Additionally, our international participants often arrange to travel together on the weekends. In fact, a number of our international students, interns and volunteers have traveled to Palestine on their first ever trip abroad. While it can seem initially a bit intimidating, once you get here you will settle in and feel comfortable very quickly.

Everyone at the Excellence Center –  Palestinian students, international visitors, and staff – are like one family and there are always activities to do together. Hebron is a good place for international visitors to stay at and offers a great social atmosphere

Reviews, Awards And Recognition

The Excellence Center in Hebron has now over 11 years of experience, and prides itself on the positive feedback received from over 800 international interns and volunteers to the Center since our founding in 2011.

We continue to strive towards “excellence”: In 2022 we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities and one of the top three language schools worldwide by Go Overseas. We received a total of five Go Overseas Community Choice Awards in 2022. The Excellence Center was  also recognized as one of the top Teach Abroad Providers for the category of “benefits” and one of the Top Internship Abroad Providers for the categories of “growth” and “support”. 

In 2021, we were also rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities. We also received community choice awards by Go Overseas in the category “Best Language School”, 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 continues to be a highly rated travel organization across its selection of programs. 

Check out our many great reviews here:

• 560+ Reviews (96%) on Gooverseas.com
• 100+ Reviews (94%) on Goabroad.com
• Participants’ video testimonials

Safety Of Our Volunteers And Interns

The region of Palestine has not been stable for the last few decades, there is always unrest and war, sometimes it becomes more volatile and at other times it’s calmer. 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 welcoming and hospitable people. They recognize that the politics of a country and its people may differ.  

Since it was formed in 2011, the Excellence Center has welcomed over 1000 international visitors. These visitors lived and worked in Hebron for a few weeks or months. Overall they did not face any threat nor were they unsafe in Hebron or the West Bank.

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 too. 

How To Get A Visa For Palestine

Generally, upon your arrival at Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv Airport), Israel, you will be granted a tourist visa valid for 90 days. You can also get this visa upon arrival at Eilat Airport in Israel or at one of the land border crossings with Egypt or Jordan. This tourist visa is sufficient to participate in any of our programs. 

Usually, no prior visa is needed for Americans, Canadians, Britons, Australians and most Europeans in order to enter Palestine (and Israel), as these interns usually qualify for the visa exemption agreement. When you arrive at the Israeli Airports in Tel Aviv or Eilat or the land border, you will be granted a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days which allows you to travel in Palestine and Israel.

Traveling To And From Hebron, Palestine

We know, as a participant in our volunteer Program in Palestine, you would like to know how to get to Hebron, how you can make your way to the Excellence Center, which taxi you should take, and how you can cross the checkpoints in the West Bank.

You may find all the necessary information about how to get to Hebron and the Excellence Center with some contact information in these four articles:

• How to fly to Palestine
• How to get to Hebron, Palestine
• Planning your trip to Palestine
• How to get from 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 us if you are interested in this option and we can arrange it for you.

Which Airport Should I Fly Into To Get To Palestine?

The easiest way to get Hebron, Palestine is to fly to Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv in Tel Aviv Airport (Israel). It takes about two and a half hours from the airport to the Excellence Center via shared taxi.

• You can also fly to Eilat airport and then travel by booking a shuttle or taking a bus to Jerusalem and then To Hebron. The whole trip can last between 6-7 hours.

• It is also possible to fly into Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, and then cross into Palestine/West Bank, but it takes considerable more time and is more expensive.

In Conclusion

We are seeking passionate and skilled volunteers who are committed to sharing their expertise and skills with the children, youth and refugees of Hebron. By volunteering in the areas of sports, exercise, nutrition, and related fields, you can make a significant contribution to the local Palestinian community, particularly to the youth. This experience will also be incredibly beneficial for you, as it offers a fantastic opportunity for personal and professional development, valuable work experience for your resume, and the chance to have fun while doing it.

The volunteer program in Hebron, West Bank, is highly flexible, allowing you to choose which activities you would like to develop and execute. The possibilities for participation and contribution are virtually limitless, based on your interests, knowledge, skills, and passion. You may organize sporting tournaments or activities for Palestinian children or in local schools, create and conduct workshops on topics such as nutrition, sports first aid, healthy habits, referee or coaching skills, or effective exercise techniques at home.

Whether you are a college or university student, a graduate, taking a gap year, or someone looking to make a difference in the lives of Palestinians, particularly the youth in Hebron, this is an exceptional opportunity for you. If you are a current college or university student, you may even receive credit towards your studies while volunteering with us in Palestine.

As long as you can communicate in English, you are welcome to join this program. It does not matter whether you are a native or non-native English speaker, and you do not need any ability to speak Arabic. Each week, you will receive three hours of Arabic lessons in the dialect of your choice.

During your volunteer program, you will be fully immersed in Palestinian culture and daily life. You will have two days off each week, during which you may engage in any activities you wish. Generally, our volunteers and interns organize their own trips to nearby cities during their free time. In addition to engaging with Palestinians in Hebron, you will have the opportunity to meet and make friends with other international volunteers, interns, and Arabic language students.

Due to the flexibility of this volunteer program, you may participate at any time of the year and for as long as you wish, ranging from 1-13 weeks.

How To Get Further Information Or Apply To Join This Program 

Please send us an email to Rafat@excellencenter.org, listing “Volunteer in a Sports Project in Palestine” as the subject line. We will then send you the application form for you to fill out and send back to us.

In the meantime, you can contact us via email: Rafat@excellencenter.org , Whatsapp or phone: +972 599-479880. If you have any questions or would you like to know more information about us or our programs please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

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