Human Rights Program in Palestine: The human rights volunteer opportunities at the Excellence Centre in Hebron, Palestine, are designed to introduce you to the subject of Palestinian human rights in a setting that will help you grow both personally and professionally.

It is a fantastic opportunity for students who seek to gain experience in fields like international law, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid while also developing their intercultural and Arabic language skills. Participants in this program will aim to increase awareness about the situation in the West Bank while also providing local communities support through education.

The Excellence Center offers human rights internships and volunteer programs year-round, for periods of between 1 and 13 weeks, with the choice of start and end dates entirely up to the participant. The program also allows you to study and practice Ammiya (Palestinian Arabic). For each week that you stay at the Center, you are eligible to three hours of Arabic instruction from qualified, experienced Palestinian teachers as a volunteer in the West Bank program.

You will interact with NGOs, staff members, professors of law, students, and human rights activists as well as go on excursions to refugee camps and human rights organizations to advance your academic work and develop your conversational and classroom Arabic skills.

The human rights internship program in Palestine is open to students of all levels, native and non-native English speakers, graduate and undergraduate students of Middle Eastern studies, Arabic studies, political sciences, scholars conducting case studies on Palestine and Israel, human aid workers, professionals, researchers, retirees and anyone who would like to help and contribute meaningfully to the Palestinian community in the West Bank.

If you’re looking to volunteer opportunities in the Middle East and have an interest in Israeli-Palestinian relations, you will find this internship an ideal opportunity to gain the relevant experience while learning or improving your Arabic language skills at the same time. 

The Current Situation in the West Bank, Palestine

Since 1967, Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and East Jerusalem have faced “severe and discriminatory limitations on their human rights,” according to Human Rights Watch. Because of the region’s continuous military occupation, respect of international law has been restricted.

There have been widespread violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law by Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to a report released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR). The report was published on 5 March 2015 and relates to the period from 26 May 2013 to 31 October 2014. You will obtain a better grasp of the condition of human rights in the West Bank from your participation in the Excellence Center’s human rights program in the West Bank.

Volunteering for Peace & Human Rights

The human rights internship in Palestine program is excellent for anybody who is passionate about human rights and wants to guarantee that Palestinians have access to their fundamental rights. Volunteering in this program will provide the intern with vital experience if they are interested in working for non-profit organizations in a humanitarian or legal framework.

This program benefits university students since the Excellence Center, via its relationship with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, may award academic credit to program participants. This program is an excellent chance for people who have recently graduated to draw on their skills and engage at a grass-roots level.

Who Can Participate?

We are committed to equal opportunities. Engage in Palestine does not discriminate on any grounds, based on nationality, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other. We have a long tradition of accepting individuals from all over the world, and volunteers have come from many walks of life, backgrounds, and identities. Everyone is invited to engage!

Great Reviews and Community Awards

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”. 

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.

If you wish to visit and volunteer in the West Bank, read our program reviews and testimonies to determine whether the Excellence Center is the ideal organization for you:

 Check out our many great reviews here:

• +730 Reviews and ratings (95%) on Gooverseas.com
• +150 Reviews and ratings (94%) on Goabroad.com
• As well as a wealth of video testimonials

Program Details

The Human Rights Internship in Palestine program is mostly knowledge-based, with an emphasis on increasing participants’ understanding of human rights and legal breaches within Palestine while also raising awareness.

During the internship, you will collaborate with international organizations, local activists, and international law specialists. The Human Rights Program is organized into four areas to assist in this endeavor:

1. Increase your understanding of human rights and the political context. 
2. Create a unique program in collaboration with local activists.
3. Study Arabic and become acquainted with Palestinian culture and daily life. 
4. Organize workshops for Palestinian youth, teach English to Palestinian children and refugees, and write articles.

Participants in the Human Rights Program Must Meet the Following Criteria:

Required:

• Be between 18 and 75 years (although exceptions can be made in special circumstances)
• Ability to converse fluently in English or Arabic
• Willing to meet and interact with a diverse spectrum of Palestinian people
• A desire to learn and a positive attitude

Not Required:

• Arabic fluency
• Travel experience
• Teaching experience or an equivalent educational degree
• Being an English native speaker

What you will receive during your time in Palestine

Volunteers in the Human Rights Program are eligible for a variety of perks, including:

• Arabic lessons of three hours weekly.

• Visits to Palestinian refugee camps and arranging activities for Palestinian children.

• Work with non-profit organizations, humanitarian/human rights law firms, NGOs, and other charitable organizations to gain expertise.

• Visits to human rights organizations in Palestine.

• Meetings with human rights activists, laborers, law professors, students, and NGOs

• Exposure to everyday life in Hebron, as well as Palestinian culture and society.

• Accommodation arranged through a Palestinian host family or through our all-male dorm.

• The chance to experience traditional Palestinian dishes and desserts.

• Palestinian cultural nights with entertainment and activities.

• Opportunities to visit unique tourist attractions introduced through a native point of view, including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah, Jenin and the Dead Sea in Jericho.

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

• Arabic teachers that are well-qualified and attentive, each with a great educational background, ready and willing to assist you.

• A certificate upon completion.

Program details

Based at the Excellence Centre in Hebron, West Bank, you will participate in a variety of activities while visiting various human rights organizations such as Human Rights Defenders, Youth Against the Settlements, and Christian Peacemaker Teams Palestine, giving you the opportunity to put what you have learned into practice.

You will work cooperatively with organizations based in Hebron and Ramallah to provide workshops to Palestinian students on the subject of human rights. As part of these workshops, you will be encouraged to share what you have learned, your particular knowledge, and your personal experience.

Law and Human Rights Internship

The Palestinian Law curriculum seeks to give a thorough overview of the legislation governing the West Bank and Gaza. Internships are available year-round for periods ranging from one to thirteen weeks. This curriculum is suitable for law, social sciences, and human rights students, as well as anybody interested in the Palestinian legal system.

During the internship interns will visit local Palestinian lawyers, law faculties, courts, human rights organizations, legal religious institutions and clinics. They will see laws being passed, decisions being made, court decisions being taken, legal discussions being conducted, and mediations taking place in a range of different social contexts.

Summer Volunteer and Internship Programs

While our human rights internship and Volunteer programs in Hebron are open all year, we also offer summer human rights internships, an ideal opportunity for students or anyone searching for short term internship programs in the fields of human rights, law, and politics in Palestine, Israel, or the Middle East. Participants will gain experience while making a difference in the lives of others.

We also offer summer programs designed specifically for students looking to travel abroad while gaining university credits. These programs give students the opportunity to travel during summertime, gain hands-on experience in their relevant field while working towards their degree at the same time. Students will be able to experience a range of academic and practical activities in a field relevant to their interests.

Arabic Culture and Language Immersion

Every international volunteer and intern will receive three hours of Arabic instruction every week from a professional, skilled, and attentive teacher. These classes are created so that participants may connect with the individuals they are working with on an essential level. Making an attempt to learn the local language is also considered a sign of respect for their culture, and is always appreciated by all parties involved.

You will have plenty of opportunities to practice the Arabic you have been studying in class because you will meet new people on a daily basis throughout your time in Palestine. Our instructors teach both Modern Standard Arabic and Colloquial Arabic.

Participants in the Human Rights Internship in Palestine program will also go on trips to important historical and political locations in Hebron guided by the center’s staff. While these trips will normally include visits to the Old City of Hebron as well as the nearby villages, tours of the local refugee camps in Hebron will also provide participants with a better knowledge of Palestine’s current political situation.

Live With a Palestinian Host Family

In addition to learning first-hand about one of the most politically divisive regions in the world, volunteers and interns will be supported in their endeavors throughout their stay. They can be provided a host family in addition to their specific program objectives.

Via a stay with a host family during their time in Hebron, interns will be given many opportunities to fully immerse themselves in a Palestinian context through many conversations among the local friendly community of Hebron, as well as learn Arabic. Interns will be given a rare look into Palestinian home life and culture and will take part in family activities, attend Palestinian cultural events, become familiar with daily life in Hebron and much more!

Educational Workshops

Once you have gained a sufficient theoretical understanding of human rights (with special attention paid to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Convention) you will begin the second stage of the program: putting your knowledge into practice. You will utilize your creativity, knowledge, and abilities to develop innovative and meaningful initiatives for the benefit of the local community by designing and conducting educational programs in collaboration with local organizations.

Previous workshop presentations have included the creation of documentaries and other visual media, the teaching of English to Palestinian children, Q&A sessions with local Palestinians, the publication of articles and booklets, and the design of digital material.

Visits to Local Organizations Working in the Field of Human Rights

The Excellence Centre will organize visits to various local organizations working in the field of human rights in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine, enabling you to decide what activities to develop and present as part of your workshops. As a result of your meetings with local organizations, you will gain a better understanding of the state of human rights in the West Bank.

The program begins with an overview of the Geneva Convention and international law surrounding human rights. You will then learn how these international accords are being violated.

You will get the chance to visit the United Nations Headquarters in Hebron, as well as other significant institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). You will go to Hebron and the surrounding regions to interviews with municipal authorities, community leaders, legislators, business owners, employees, teachers, and university students to learn more about how violations occur.

Volunteers will be able to participate in a variety of training and mentorship programs in the subject of human rights. The courses will be tailored to your specific knowledge, interests, fields of expertise, and degree of experience. Because we are adaptable, we will be able to design your syllabus and schedule together with you according to your needs and skills.

What Activities can be Organized When Volunteering?

There are several activities appropriate for all levels in the program that you may participate in during your stay, including:

• Educating Palestinian school and university students about basic rights
• Engaging in community activities
• Visiting UN buildings and Human Rights NGO Headquarters
• Visiting Palestinian refugee camps in and around Hebron.
• Writing human rights essays, with an emphasis on Palestine and Israel
• Studying International Human Rights laws
• Creating a catalog of NGOs describing and analyzing their impact on human rights violations across the world

And might include:

• Collaboration with journalist project students to create a short documentary
• Other activities (We happily encourage suggestions)

Schedule for Volunteers

Volunteering with the Excellence Center requires commitment and flexibility. You will be expected to work approximately 30 hours a week, from around 9am until 5pm. One of your days off will be Friday and another day of your choice. The center is closed on Fridays.

Every morning, international volunteers start the day with breakfast at the Excellence Center in Hebron. Breakfast is shared with Palestinian teachers, volunteers from other programs and the directors of the center. It typically consists of bread, olive oil and za’atar, hummus, labneh, falafel, cucumber, tomato and bell pepper – basically all of the essentials you will find in a traditional Palestinian morning meal.

Along with your program responsibilities, you will be able to embark on sightseeing tours in Hebron managed by the Excellence Center. Throughout the week, the center organizes frequent trips into Hebron and adjacent cities.

In the evenings, we offer a wide range of activities for you to take part in as part of our commitment to showcasing Palestine’s culture. Evenings are typically free, although we will organize occasional optional activities such as food and drink tours or cultural events. We hope you will join us in exploring the city of Hebron and it’s many restaurants, shops and historical sites.

In addition to your work on the Human Rights Program, you will be taking Arabic lessons, which require some preparation and study. You will have your own Arabic class schedule as well as time to develop lesson ideas for the workshops that you will be in charge of. This is in addition to your spare time, during which you are invited to go to other cities.

Impact on the Palestinian Community

Through the premise of “walking in each other’s shoes,” this volunteer program strives to create a long-term effect in the local Palestinian community. Volunteering here will not only change your life, but it will also change the lives of Palestinian children, refugees, and other members of the community.

The Human Rights Internship in Palestine is suitable for anyone wishing to gain an insight into the daily lives of Palestinians under the current political and military boundaries. Ultimately, via the exchange of ideas between Palestinians and international volunteers, we aim to create a long-term effect in the lives of refugees, Palestinian children, youth, and the general population.

How to Get to Palestine?

The most convenient method to reach the Excellence Center is to fly to:

• Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv Airport in Israel. It takes roughly two and a half hours by shared cab from the airport to the Excellence Center.

Alternatively:

• Flying to Eilat airport in the south of Israel and then taking a shuttle or bus to Jerusalem and finally to Hebron. The travel, on the other hand, can last between six and seven hours.

• Flying to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan and then crossing the border into Palestine. This, however, takes more time and is more expensive.

Traveling to and from Hebron, West Bank

All of the Excellence Center’s volunteers travel to and from Hebron using single or shared taxis which pass through checkpoints.

You will find all the necessary information about how to get to Hebron and the Excellence Center with relevant 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 the Ben Gurion Airport, Israel to Hebron

How Do I Get a Visa to Visit Palestine?

The majority of our volunteers in Palestine receive a three-month tourist visa when they travel into Israeli airports or cross from Jordan to the West Bank.

Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans do not require a visa to enter Palestine, but do 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 as well as easy travel around Palestine and Israel.

Traveling to Palestine On Your Own?

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

You will meet many participants from overseas who are also involved in our volunteer abroad programs, along with university students and a community of people with a variety of interests. Palestinians in Hebron, in particular, love to meet new people from different cultures and exchange ideas and experiences.

Everyone at the center is like belonging to one family and there are always activities to do together in Hebron’s fantastic social scene. 

How to Apply?

To register your interest, please send an email to the Excellence Center at Rafat@excellencenter.org, with Volunteer in Human Rights Project in Palestine as the subject line to register your interest. From there, we will then email you an application form.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at Rafat@excellencenter.org or Whatsapp:+972-599-479880. We look forward to hearing from you!

Join Our Family in Palestine

The Excellence Center’s volunteer abroad programs and internships are wonderful opportunities to contribute to the advancement of universal human rights. Volunteers and interns will work closely with local Palestinian organizations in the West Bank such as human rights organizations, law firms, charities and activists. Participants will engage with local Palestinians in dialogue about their rights and liberties as declared in the Geneva Convention and the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Volunteering in Palestine is a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about one of the most politically divisive regions in the world, as well as to make a difference in the lives of others, especially Palestinian children, refugees, youth, and community members. As a result of the program, participants will become better informed about issues surrounding human rights. Additionally participants will be immersed in the Arabic language, and culture as they visit local Palestinian historical sites, ares of political significance, cultural festivals and more.

There are numerous reasons why you should consider visiting and volunteering in the West Bank, Palestine, whether you are planning to go to Palestine for fun, for learning the language or any other subjects or even religious reasons. You will benefit immensely from joining our programs. Our team at the Excellence Center will assist you every step of the way before and throughout your stay. We emphasize the importance of exchange of information and learning and are happy to address all of your questions about your stay, how to get to and from Hebron, the cost of living, and any other logistical questions. We hope to meet you soon.

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Website: https://ecpalestine.org/

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