The Volunteer in Community Development Program in Palestine is a unique opportunity for students, undergraduates, gap year students, professionals, teachers, retired people and anyone who seeks to volunteer or intern in Palestinian community development organizations in the area of Palestine and Israel.
This program is for you if you wish to help Palestinian children, youth, Palestinian refugees in refugees camps and other community members in and around Hebron, West Bank. As a volunteer, you will be immersed in Palestinian culture while meeting new people (from Palestine and abroad), studying Arabic, and making a difference in the lives of people.
The Community Development Volunteer and Internship Program in Palestine has an important impact on the Palestinian community. Volunteers make a real difference in many ways for Palestinian people: children, people with disabilities, orphans, Palestinian refugees, school and university students as well as other community members.
Through this program, you can assist in empowering community member to develop themselves personally, professionally and economically. At the same time, volunteers gain additional valuable experience both in their own personal development: running seminars, giving lectures, offering employment advice and building interpersonal relationships and in the local Palestinian community.
Community Development Program in Palestine for 2025/2026
The Excellence Center is now accepting applications for its Volunteer in Community Development Program in Palestine for 2025/2026. This program focuses on supporting Palestinian youth, children, refugees, and women . It is a great volunteer opportunity for individuals seeking to volunteer in either Gaza or the West Bank, offering the chance to make a meaningful impact in local Palestinian communities while experiencing the levant culture.
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Unique Cultural Exchange Opportunity
As part of this unique cultural exchange opportunity, you will also have the opportunity to learn or improve your Arabic. During the program, each participant receives 3 hours of Arabic classes per week from our educational hub at the Excellence Centre in Hebron. There will also be ample opportunities to learn and practice Arabic with locals in the wider community, both in your project and in your free time. This is of course in addition to being immersed in Palestinian culture and daily life in Hebron.
Additionally, you will have plenty of free time to travel to different cities such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Bethlehem and Jericho. Traveling between Palestine and Israel is really easy and inexpensive for internationals, the program gives you a lot of free time to discover the area.
We welcome anyone to our Community Development Program who has either a strong interest or a competence in economic development, self-development, leadership, communications or similar. This volunteer and internship program in Palestine is open to current college or university students as well as postgraduates with degrees in economics, international relations or political science. We also welcome anyone with relevant work experience who would like to share their knowledge in the field by carrying out their own customized activities.
The Community Development In Summer Program
Our Community Development In Summer Program is ideal for anyone who seeks to engage and volunteer with the Palestinian community, especially with members such as children, youth, students and refugees in the field of community development. This program is especially suitable for university students who are looking for volunteer opportunities or internships abroad to gain practical hands-on experiences in the West Bank, Palestine and Israel or the Middle East more broadly.
While we operate our Community Development Program in Hebron year-round, we have also a dedicated summer program, specifically designed for students seeking volunteer opportunities during their summer break. Additionally, The Excellence Center is able to grant academic credit to currently enrolled university and college students thanks to 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.
We invite you to join 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.
Brief information on Community Development Volunteer Program
| Location of Volunteer program | Hebron, West Bank |
| Program Fees | Here you may find the price list |
| Age | 18+ years old |
| Minimum Duration | One week |
| Maximum Duration | 13 Weeks |
| Starting/Ending Dates | Flexible – year-round |
| Application Deadline | No Deadline/flexible |
| Program Language | English |
| Days off | Two days a week (Fri – Sun) |
| Volunteering Areas of Interest | Palestinian community development Palestinian youth Palestinian children and refugees |
| Number of Volunteers/interns | 2-5 participants at the same time |
| University Credit | Available |
| Nearest Airports | Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv Airport in Israel Eilat Ramon Airport in Israel Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan |
| Program’s Reviews | Reviews & ratings (96%) on Gooverseas.com Reviews & ratings (94%) on Goabroad.com Participants’ video testimonials |
A Flexible Volunteering Program
When you join the Community Development 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 Community Development 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 community development.
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. Even when you are teaching or facilitating an activity such as a workshop, you are sure to learn from your students while also educating them.
During this program, you will have the opportunity to share valuable knowledge and skills with members of the community to help them develop themselves personally, professionally and economically. Volunteering and interning is a unique opportunity to genuinely make an impact on your life as well as others including Palestinian children, refugees, youth and community members in the West Bank, Palestine.
Community Development Project Role Explanation
Your Community Development program is based at the Excellence Center’s facilities in Hebron in the West Bank, Palestine. Your volunteering will include planning and executing lesson plans, workshops, programs and activities which are aimed at teaching our Palestinian youth about community and economic development in and around the city of Hebron.
This short term, affordable internship requires participants to engage particularly with the local youth, to improve their self confidence and discuss career and job opportunities with them. During this short term placement, you will be encouraged to work with the local Palestinian youth to enhance their own prospects for employability, or guidance on how to start a business.
Volunteers in the Community Development Project, will gain valuable cultural experience around the local employment opportunities in Palestine for the youth and young adults in the West Bank. In addition, volunteers will have a valuable opportunity to develop themselves personally and professionally. This program gives you the opportunity to harness your knowledge, skills, experience and passion to create tangible activities for the benefit of the Palestinian community.
What Kinds Of Activities And Projects Can You Develop During Your Volunteering Period?
Below are some ideas of projects you can run and activities that you can take part in during your time in the Community Development Program with the Excellence Center:
- Classes on personal and professional development
- Working or studying in an international environment
- Employability skills (How to write a resume, how to conduct yourself in a job interview, how to write business, formal emails, and so forth)
- How to start up a successful small business
- Important communication skills
- How to be successful in your community
- Leadership and problem solving
- The job market in Palestine
- The benefits of studying abroad for job prospect
- Meet with and learn from other programs in Hebron and gauge their effectiveness (such as the UN, USAID, other NGOs)
- Other activities (we strongly welcome your suggestions)
- Attend cultural nights featuring entertainment and activities
What Do You Need To Volunteer In The Community Development Program?
No special skills or experience are required for this Community Development Volunteer Program, but many kinds of skills can be put to use. Volunteers in Palestine with expertise in computing, leadership, life skills, soft skills, employability skills, business, and many other areas can often put this knowledge to work assisting the Palestinian community in Hebron, Palestine.
All internationals aged 18 and above who are able to communicate in English are eligible to participate in the Community Development Volunteer in Palestine Program. If you have patience, enthusiasm, are eager to learn and have the ability to work with an international team, you are welcome to join this program.
You do not need prior travel experience, to be a native English speaker nor to have any ability to speak Arabic. A university degree is not required to participate in this program.
The duration time for this Community Development Program is flexible, from 1 to 13 weeks.
Other Volunteering Opportunities Available
Besides our Community Development Volunteer Program, the Excellence Center provides a wide array of other volunteer opportunities and programs. Areas of volunteering in Hebron, 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 Community Development Program for two weeks and then join the Human Rights Program the following week.
Arabic Classes For Volunteers At The Excellence Center
Volunteers in our Community Development Program are provided with 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.
Homestay During Your Time In Hebron
The Excellence Center aims to achieve social discourse through cultural immersion. The center provides the Volunteer in Community Development Program’s participants 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 can stay in our modern shared apartment, just five minutes from the Excellence Center in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine.
Private rooms can also be arranged, although these naturally come with an additional fee.
Your Benefits During Your Program With Us In Hebron, Palestine
- 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
- 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 a shared, nice apartment/
- Attendance at Palestinian cultural nights, such as weddings, or those featuring entertainment
- A participant’s certificate upon completion.
Eligibility For The “Community Development Program” in Palestine
People who are between the ages of 18 and 75 are eligible to participate in this program. All nationalities and majors are welcome! You do not have to have an academic degree to participate in this program.
When The “Community Development Program” Takes Place
This program takes place year-round. Volunteers are free to decide when they would like to begin and end their program. We are very flexible when it comes to starting dates and duration. You may stay from one week, up to 13 weeks in our program in Hebron.
Reviews, Awards, and Recognition
The Excellence Center/Engage in Palestine has proudly earned several Community Awards, was recognized as the Best Language School overseas, and the Top Provider of Volunteer and Internship Opportunities abroad for the years 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023
Check out our many great reviews here:
- 835+ Reviews (96%) on Gooverseas.com
- 170+ Reviews (94%) on Goabroad.com
- Participants’ video testimonials
Final Remarks
In conclusion, we are in real need for committed and competent volunteers who can empower our Palestinian youth, children, refugees, school students and community members in community development by means of the above-mentioned activities. By sharing your knowledge and passion in the field of community development, you can make a real contribution to the local Palestinian community, particularly the youth. In addition, our volunteers in Palestine will also benefit a great deal from our community volunteering program in terms of personal development as well as gaining valuable work experience.
This program is very flexible and there are many activities that you can carry out, depending on your interests and expertise. For example, you may wish to create and conduct workshops on resume writing, job interview skills, formal email writing in English, how to create a small business, important communication skills, leadership, the benefits of studying abroad and how to arrange it, and more. The ways that you can participate in this program and contribute are nearly endless.
You are welcome to join this program as long as you are able to communicate in English, it doesn’t matter whether you are a native or non-native English speaker and you do not need any ability to speak Arabic. During your time volunteering with us you will be immersed in Palestinian culture and daily life. You will have two days off per week to use however you would like. Our volunteers and interns generally arrange to travel to different cities together during this time. Additionally, you will receive 3 hours of Arabic lessons for each week that you participate. In addition to getting to engage with Palestinians in Hebron, you will get to meet and make friends with other international volunteer, interns and Arabic students.
Whether you are a university or college student, a graduate, taking a sabbatical or gap year or someone who is looking to make a difference in the lives of Palestinians, particularly youth in Hebron, this is a wonderful opportunity for you. If you are a current university or college student, you can even obtain credit towards your studies while volunteering with us in Palestine. Whether you are a current student or not, you can participate in this program year-round for as long as you like between 1-13 weeks.
Apply today and begin your volunteer journey!
How To Apply To The Community Development Program
- Email the Center’s co-founder Rafat Shantir at Rafat@excellencenter.org requesting an application, listing “Community Development Program” as your desired program in the subject section.
- We will send you the application. Please fill it out and send it 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.
After we receive your application
- We review the application with our team (this usually takes a week)
- You may be invited for a short talk on a Skype call, Zoom or Whatsapp to give you more information and answer all of your questions.
Selection process
- We will send you an acceptance letter and a program contract.
- Sign the contract and send it back to us.
- Pay the fees online in advance.
- You are ready to come to Hebron, Palestine and join our Excellence Center family.
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