Volunteering in local schools in Palestine is a fantastic opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of Palestinian children and youth. Our Volunteer in Local Palestinian Schools program in Hebron, West Bank is a unique scheme that welcomes both native and non-native English speakers, as well as students, graduates, professionals, and retirees who are interested in enhancing the English and life skills of the local students.

As a volunteer, you will have the chance to visit local Palestinian schools, refugee camps, and villages around Hebron, where you can make important contributions to the Palestinian community in the West Bank, Palestine. By participating in this program, you can help the students gain valuable skills and knowledge, while also learning about their culture and way of life. This is an ideal opportunity for anyone who is passionate about education, community development, and making a difference in the West Bank, Palestine.

Immerse Yourself In Palestinian Culture While Volunteering In Local Schools 

Our volunteering with Palestinian children and youth program is designed to fully immerse you in Palestinian culture and forge strong relationships whilst challenging you as a person. You will be working alongside the Palestinian men, women and children of the local area – allowing you to meet plenty of new people, study a new language and learn more about the local Palestinians and refugees living in and around Hebron.

Once you arrive at the Excellence Center and complete your personalized orientation, you will have the opportunity to design and create your own workshops aimed at benefiting Palestinian children and youth. These workshops will make up the majority of your workload during your time in the West Bank, Palestine. Previous workshops created by volunteers have included:

• Fun days for Palestinian children in the refugee camps
• Conversational English language courses
• Arts and music courses for disabled children
• Media training for students
• Environmental camps for students
• Mathematics lessons
• Drama lessons
• Journalism workshops for high school students
• Medical workshops, such as first aid courses

As long as you have the willingness to participate, this volunteer program in the West Bank is open to everyone aged 18 – 70 years old from all countries, all majors and all walks of life.

Volunteer With Palestinian Children And Youth In Summer

The Volunteer in Local Palestinian Schools in Summer Program is ideal for you if you are someone who is seeking to engage and volunteer with Palestinian children and youth in the summer. This volunteer program is especially suitable for university students who are looking for internships to gain practical in-person experiences in the area of West Bank, Palestine and Israel as well as the Middle East.

While we operate our Volunteer in Local Schools in Palestine Program year-round, we also have dedicated summer volunteer programs specifically designed for students looking for opportunities to volunteer abroad in the fields of teaching and volunteering with children and youth while gaining credit towards their studies. The Excellence Center is able to grant academic credit to our already enrolled university students thanks to collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Education.

Please note that as students in Palestine have school holidays in summer, our summer program will be a little different to when it runs throughout the rest of the year. However, there will still be many exciting and different opportunities to participate in, no matter whether you join us in summer or any other time.

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

Experience The Palestinian School System

In this volunteering program in the West Bank, Palestine, we would like to bridge the gap between the students in Hebron and the international volunteers who come to the Center. This is for two reasons: 

1) In order to allow the students to become familiar with foreign nationals

2) To enable you to directly experience and understand the Palestinian school system yourself

Many Palestinians in Hebron have never met or talked to a foreign national due to the Israeli Occupation limiting the prospects for Palestinians to travel abroad as well as greatly limiting the tourism industry in Hebron. Palestinian students may experience a range of emotions when meeting with internationals, some might be a bit scared and shy and some will be very excited and eager to communicate with you and learn more about you. 

While Palestinians learn English in school, they have limited opportunities to practice speaking English with fluent English speakers (whether native or non-native). This programs helps to bridge that gap, by connecting international English speakers with Palestinian children and youth. This will not only help them improve their English through practice, but also help them improve their confidence, which will benefit not only their English but their overall self esteem. 

This program also gives you, as a participant, a unique insight into the Palestinian school system by experiencing it for yourself. This gives you the opportunity to both learn and teach at the same time. You will have the opportunity to learn from other teachers and the students, while also getting practical experience through participating and teaching.

General Information About The Program:

A Flexible Volunteering Program

As a participant in the Volunteer in Local Schools in Palestine Program, you are welcome to choose what kind of activities you would like to organize during your program and if you would like to work with certain target groups (for example, children of a certain age).

We understand that our international participants have different skills, interests and circumstances, so we are very flexible with the kinds of activities and experiences you wish to have. We also make the program length very flexible, anywhere from 1-13 weeks, so you are able to choose the option that best suits you. 

A Wide Range Of Impact 

Our Volunteer in Local Palestinian Schools Program in Hebron, West Bank is well researched, targeted, and suitable for anyone who wants to gain insights into daily Palestinian life, education, teaching English, and human rights.

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 volunteer teacher, you not only help others learn, but you yourself will learn so much from your students, which will have an impact on your life even after you leave Palestine. 

 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.

When You Arrive To Hebron, Palestine

Before deciding on a schedule, volunteers will be welcomed to the Center and given an orientation about Hebron and Palestinian culture, including both Arabic classes and an introduction to Palestinian culture.

In order for you to be as involved as possible in the Palestinian community and culture, the Center will provide you with accommodation with a Palestinian host family who will help you in your acclimatization and with any issues that might arise.  Male volunteers may instead stay at the Excellence Center male dorm.

After the introductory week, as mentioned before, you will then get to decide what kind of activities to develop and present to your students, based on your individual knowledge, interests and level of experience. You will be given a lot of control over this process.

Which Kind Of Activities Can You Organize?

At the Excellence Center in Palestine, we strive to provide our volunteers with a flexible and customized experience that aligns with their interests and goals. We are happy to work with you to create a volunteering plan that suits your preferences and skills.

Currently, our program offers a variety of opportunities, including:

• Teaching conversational English to Palestinian children, youth, and refugee children in local schools in and around Hebron.

• Planning and organizing interactive activities such as painting, photography, and writing workshops.
• Organizing activities aimed at entertaining refugee children in Hebron.

• Assisting in organizing weekly workshops for Palestinian refugees on educational-related subjects such as writing resumes and formal emails, teaching employment skills, and educational writing skills.

• Helping the Excellence Center’s staff in administration-related activities, such as writing articles and reports and printing materials for the students.

By participating in our program, you can gain valuable experience and make a meaningful contribution to the local community. We look forward to working with you to create a volunteering plan that aligns with your interests and goals.

Other Volunteering Opportunities

In addition to our Volunteer in Local Palestinian Schools program, we offer a variety of other volunteer opportunities and programs in the West Bank. Some of these programs include:

Furthermore, there is also the opportunity for you to combine volunteer opportunities if you wish. For example, you can volunteer in the Local Schools in Palestine Program for three weeks and then the Human Rights Program for a week to gain as broad an experience as possible. 

Who Comes To Volunteer? 

The Excellence Center in Palestine does 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.

To volunteer in a local Palestinian school, you should be:

• Willing to work with diverse Palestinian children, youth and school students
• A student or graduate who seeks teaching experience
• Someone interested in the educational system in Palestine
• An interest or major in English or education
• 18+ and willing to make an impact on the local community 
• Someone who desires to help the future leaders of Palestine

What do you need to be a volunteer in a local school in Palestine?

• 18+
• The ability to communicate in English
• The ability to work with an international team
• Patience and enthusiasm
• To be eager to learn

What don’t you need?

• The ability to speak Arabic
• Travel or work experience
• To be a native speaker of English
• A degree in English or any specialization
• Experience in teaching English as a foreign language

Do I need a Teaching English as Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate?

No, having a TEFL certificate is not a requirement as you will be provided with a teaching manual and all the necessary resources and materials.

Arabic Lessons For Volunteers

All our international volunteers and interns receive 3 hours of Arabic classes a week or 12 hours a month with an experienced and knowledgable Palestinian teacher. With this foundation, all volunteers will have plenty of chances to interact with locals to learn and practice the language.

No matter what your Arabic level is, from total beginner to advanced, we make our Arabic lessons suitable for you. On top of that, as a volunteer or intern, you can freely choose what kind of Arabic you would like to learn.

Arabic Dialects To Learn

All of our participants receive a choice of Arabic dialects to study during their time in the West Bank. As part of your volunteer placement, we offer a choice of: 

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

If you are unsure about the difference or which dialect will best suit you, we are always here to help and offer advice. 

Accommodation

The Excellence Center aims to achieve social discourse through cultural immersion. The Center provides the Volunteer in Local Schools In Palestine Program’s participants accommodation 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.

A Typical Day At The Excellence Center

You will be expected to work approximately 25-30 hours a week, from around 10am until 5pm and from Saturday to Thursday with two days off. One of your days off will be Friday and another day of your choice.

Every morning, international volunteers start the day with breakfast at the Excellence Center. Breakfast is shared with Palestinian teachers, volunteers from other programs and the directors of the center, offering you exposure to traditional Palestinian foods such as labneh and hummus and the opportunity to further practice your Arabic. 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.

During the day, you will also have the opportunity to go on sightseeing trips in Hebron that are coordinated by the Excellence Center alongside your program’s commitments. Evenings are typically 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 (only for female volunteers), or go to a local gym.

In addition to your work on the local schools program, you will also have your own Arabic class schedule and time to prepare for any workshops that you oversee. This is alongside your free time, where you are welcome to undertake excursions to other cities.

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

Benefits Of Volunteering:

Our volunteer in local schools program in the West Bank, Palestine offers many benefits including:

• Living in Hebron, and undertaking trips to the old city, holy sites and more during your time

• Gain practical teaching experience and experience working with Palestinian children, students and youth

• Learning spoken Arabic from native speakers and embracing the opportunity to communicate with locals

• 3 hours of Arabic lessons per week 

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

• Exposure to daily life in Hebron, Palestinian culture and society

• Accommodation with either a Palestinian host family or in our male apartment

• The opportunity to eat and enjoy local Palestinian foods and desserts

• Palestinian cultural nights featuring entertainment and activities

• Opportunities to visit unique tourist attractions with a particular native perspective, including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem, Qalqilyah, Jenin and the Dead Sea in Jericho

• The 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

• A participant’s certificate upon completion.
  

Associated Fees

The Excellence Center in Palestine charges a fee of 750€ Euro a month or 250€ a week.

The program fees include pre-departure support, breakfast, full coordination while volunteering in Palestine, 3 hours of Arabic lessons per week and some visits to different sites in Hebron (for example, the old city, glass and ceramics factory, refugee camps, local companies, etc)

When Does The Volunteering In Local Schools In Palestine Program Accept Volunteers?

The Excellence Center welcomes international volunteers year-round and allows volunteers to decide when they would like to start their program. We are very flexible with starting and ending dates, and you can choose your volunteer period anywhere between 1 and 13 weeks.

We understand that everyone has different schedules and availability, so we work with each volunteer to create a program that fits their individual needs. Whether you want to volunteer for a few weeks during your summer break or for several months during your gap year, we can help you design a program that aligns with your goals and availability.

Awards And Recognitions 

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 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 continues to be a highly rated travel organization across its selection of programs. Check out our many great reviews here:

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

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.

Do I Need A Visa To Volunteer In The West Bank, Palestine?

Most of the Excellence Center’s participants in the Volunteer with Palestinian Children and Youth in Local School Program receive a tourist visa for three months (90 days) when they fly into Israeli airports or cross the checkpoint from Jordan to the West Bank. This tourist visa is sufficient to participate in any of our programs. 

In general, 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 Hebron, Palestine 

The Excellence Center has all the resources you need to answer your questions about how 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 us if you are interested in this option and we can arrange it for you.

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.

Pre-departure Support

The Excellence Center in Palestine will organize calls with you via Whatsapp, write invitation letters, send travel instructions and give you advice on different topics for your travels, ensuring you feel comfortable and confident in volunteering with us. 

Summary

The Volunteer in Local Schools In Palestine Program in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine is the perfect opportunity for university students, graduates, those taking a sabbatical or gap year and people who are looking to make a difference in the lives of Palestinian children in Hebron, Palestine. The ways in which you as a volunteer can apply your skills are nearly endless. You will not only get to volunteer and have an impact, but you will be immersed in Palestinian culture and get to learn a lot about Palestine.

During your program, you will get to engage with the local community, particularly Palestinian children and youth. You will get the opportunity to learn first-hand about the Palestinian school system and participate in it. There are many potential activities you can choose to do in this program, such as running conversational English classes, art, music, drama or dance workshops, or workshops in media, journalism, or healthcare and medicine. This program is very flexible, so you will be able to engage in the activities and areas of interests of your choosing. 

Volunteering with children and youth in Palestine is a unique experience that will shape your perspective for years to come. Whether you are a native or non-native English speaker, you are welcome to participate in our programs. No matter your level of Arabic, you are also welcome and will have the opportunity to learn Arabic for the first time or build upon your existing Arabic level. 

In addition, volunteering in the West Bank is the perfect opportunity for anyone who is interested in a career working with children, refugees, early childhood education, and children’s welfare. 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 student or not, you can participate in this program year-round for as long as you like between 1-13 weeks.

How To Apply

If you are interested in volunteering with us at the Excellence Center in Palestine, please send an email to Rafat@excellencenter.org with the subject line “Volunteer in Local Palestinian Schools“. We will send you the application form to get started on your journey with us.

Our team is happy to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the application process. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make a positive impact on the lives of Palestinian children and youth.

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