Our new Music and Art Volunteer Program in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine is a wonderful opportunity for artists and individuals in the art and music fields. By engaging with the local Palestinian community, particularly students and youth, you will have the chance to develop projects and courses in these fields, while also contributing and making a difference in the local community. This program offers real-world experience that can help you develop both personally and professionally.

As a volunteer in the West Bank, Palestine, you will have the freedom to decide which activities you would like to develop, and you will be able to implement a wide variety of activities suitable for all levels of experience and education. This program provides the opportunity to gain practical hands-on experience in teaching, music, and arts, while also facilitating shared learning between you and the Palestinian community.

Whether you are a current student, graduate, artist, musician, or anyone else with an interest or expertise in these fields, this program is for you. This is an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture while gaining valuable experience and contributing to a meaningful cause.

A Powerful Way To Educate Youth In Palestine

Indeed, music and art from performances to painting are powerful ways to educate youth in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine while having a lot of fun. Teaching and passing it on to people in and around Hebron, Palestine offers you a way to empower Palestinian youth, kids, and yourself. You can truly help Palestinian people unleash their talents, realize dreams, and give them a hobby to enjoy. 

Our Arts and Music program in West Bank, Palestine is ideal for people who wish to put their music skills to use and to share their talents with our young men and women. This is a particularly great program for those who are interested in sharing their knowledge and experience in music and arts, through hands-on workshops and lectures, as well as for those who want to learn more about the music and arts industries, as well as culture in Palestine.

The Music And Art Volunteer In Summer Program

Our Music And Art Volunteer Program is ideal for you if you are someone who is seeking to engage and volunteer with Palestinian children and youth during summer in the fields of music and arts. This volunteer opportunity is especially suitable for university students who are looking for internships abroad to gain practical hands-on experiences in the West Bank, Palestine and Israel as well as the Middle East.

While we operate our Music And Art Volunteer Program in Hebron, West Bank year-round, we have also a dedicated summer program, specifically designed for students seeking this kind of volunteering opportunity abroad. 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. 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 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. This means that in summer, school students will have a lot more free time during the day. However, no matter which time of year you join us, there will still be many exciting and different opportunities to participate in.

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

Quick Facts About The Program

A Flexible Volunteering Program

When you join the Music And Art Volunteer 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, talents, interests and needs, so we are very flexible with the kinds of activities and experiences you wish to have. The program length is also very flexible, you may choose to participate anywhere from 1-13 weeks, allowing you to choose the best option for you. 

Your Impact

Our Music And Art Volunteer 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 teaching English, music or arts.

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 will also learn so much from your students. Palestinian youth and students can face difficulties in accessing music and arts programs, so we aim to begin bridging that gap with this program. 

The fields of music and arts can be particularly beneficial to all Palestinians, especially children, in finding an outlet for their feelings and trauma experienced as a result of the Israeli Occupation. 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 in Hebron, Palestine

Volunteers will be first welcomed to the Center and will be given an orientation regarding the city of Hebron and Palestinian culture, including Arabic classes before the setting of volunteer schedules.

In order for you to be as involved as possible in the Palestinian community and culture,  the Center provides you with accommodations 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 dorm.

After the orientation, you will decide what kind of activities to develop and present to your students. These will be based on your individual knowledge and topic interest, your field of specialty, and your level of experience and skills in the subject of Music and Arts. We are flexible, and you will be free to choose which activities to introduce and implement in your own syllabus and schedule.

What Kinds Of Activities Can You Organize During Your Volunteer Period?

You can freely choose among a vast range of activities to develop in your own syllabus, such as:

• Art class (sculpture, painting, drawing, etc.);

• Helping children improve their English language skills through painting, music, and acting activities;

• Lectures about topics in music or arts

• Inviting visiting speakers, such as artists within Hebron and within Palestine to present;

• Design classes (interior design, web design and so on);

• Music classes;

• Visiting local NGOs and organizing activities for children and orphans in Hebron;

• Visiting a radio station;

• Art workshops for Palestinian university and school students;

• Ending the course with a festival (music or art exhibitions);

• Other 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.

To Volunteer In Our Music And Art Program, You Should Be:

• A student or graduate who seeks teaching experience
• Willing to work with diverse Palestinian children, youth, school and university students as well as other community members
• Someone interested and knowledgable in the music or arts fields
• 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 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

Other Volunteering Opportunities

Besides our Volunteer in Music and Art Program, we also offer a wide range of other volunteer opportunities and programs in the West Bank, Palestine such as:

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 Music and Art Program for two weeks and then then participate in the Human Rights Program the following week.

Arabic Lessons For Program Participants

As a volunteer in the Music and Art Volunteer Program, or any of our other volunteer or internship programs, you will receive 3 hours of Arabic lessons per week or 12 hours per month. Your Arabic lessons will be taught be 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. With this foundation, all volunteers will have plenty of chances to interact with locals to learn and practice the language. 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 Choose From

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)

We are always here to offer advice if you are unsure or have questions about how to choose the right Arabic dialect for you.

Accommodation 

The Excellence Center aims to achieve social discourse through cultural immersion, so we provide accommodation all all of our volunteers and interns 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

Your typical day at the Excellence Center starts around 10 am and ends at approximately 5 pm, with an expected commitment of 25-30 hours per week. You will have two days off per week, Friday and another day of your choice. During your stay, you will have the opportunity to go on sightseeing trips in Hebron coordinated by the Excellence Center.

Each day begins with breakfast at the Excellence Center, which is shared with teachers, directors, and volunteers from other programs. This is a great chance to try traditional Palestinian food and socialize with others, as well as practice your Arabic if you wish. You can take a break for lunch whenever you have time in your schedule, and there are plenty of nearby supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, falafel and shawarma places to choose from.

Your schedule will likely be different each day, and can include Arabic lessons, visits, sightseeing trips, and your program commitments. You will also have time to prepare your lesson plans for the workshops you will oversee.

Evenings are usually free, although the Center occasionally organizes optional activities to showcase Palestinian culture. During your free time, you can study or socialize at a local cafe, have dinner at a restaurant with other volunteers, spend time with your host family (for female volunteers only), or go to a local gym.

On your days off, you are free to explore other cities in Palestine or Israel. Many of our volunteers arrange to visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Nablus, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and Haifa together on their days off.

Overall, your time at the Excellence Center will fly by quickly, with plenty of opportunities to learn, explore, and make new friends.

Your Benefits During Your Time With Us In Palestine:

During your time volunteering with us in Palestine, you will benefit from:

• Education on Hebron and Palestinian culture, society, and daily life in Palestine;

• Living in Hebron and undertaking trips to the old city, holy sites 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;

• Visits to various sites in Hebron, including a refugee camp in Hebron;

• 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.

Program Fees

The Excellence Center in Palestine charges a fee of €750 per month or €250 per week for participation in the volunteer program. This fee includes:

• Pre-departure support
• Accommodation

• Breakfast from Saturday to Thursday
• Full coordination while volunteering in Palestine
• 3 hours of Arabic lessons per week for each week of volunteering
• Some visits to different sites in the city of Hebron, such as the old city, glass and ceramics factory, refugee camps, local companies and organizations, etc.

Eligibility For The Volunteer In A Music And Art Program In Palestine

The Music and Arts Volunteer in Palestine Program welcomes participants between the ages of 18 and 75, regardless of nationality or academic background. No academic degree is required to participate in this program.

All individuals who have a passion for music and arts and are interested in immersing themselves in Palestinian culture are encouraged to apply. We believe that diversity and inclusivity are essential for creating a rich and rewarding volunteer experience.

When “Volunteer In A Music And Art Program In Palestine” Takes Place

The Music and Arts Volunteer in Palestine Program is available year-round, and volunteers are free to choose their start and end dates, as well as the duration of their program. We understand the importance of flexibility, and we strive to accommodate the individual needs and preferences of our volunteers.

The minimum duration of the program is one week, and volunteers may choose to stay up to 13 weeks in our program in Hebron. We believe that this flexibility allows participants to fully immerse themselves in the culture and gain a meaningful and enriching experience.

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.

The Excellence Center hosts many international visitors who are studying, volunteering, visiting, or interning at the Center and many of them make lifelong friends with each other. 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 alike, are one family and they share activities together.

Awards, Recognition And Program Reviews

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. 

The Excellence Center in Palestine volunteer and Internship programs including Volunteer in a Music and Art Program in Palestine has more than;

Check out our many great reviews here:

• 560+ Reviews (96%) on Gooverseas.com
• 120+ 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.

How To Get A Visa For Palestine? 

Typically, participants in the Excellence Center’s programs are granted a tourist visa for three months (90 days) upon arrival at Israeli airports or when crossing the checkpoint from Jordan to the West Bank. This tourist visa is sufficient for participation in any of our programs.

Generally, citizens of the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and most European countries do not need a prior visa to enter Palestine (and Israel) as they qualify for the visa exemption agreement. Upon arrival at Israeli airports in Tel Aviv or Eilat or at land borders, you will be granted a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days, allowing you to travel in Palestine and Israel.

Traveling To And From Hebron, West Bank

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 the Ben Gurion Airport (Israel) to Hebron

Tel Aviv Airport Pickups

The Excellence Center staff can arrange for a taxi to pick you up from Ben Gurion Airport and take you directly to Hebron and the center. This is the easiest and fastest option to reach us, taking about an hour for a distance of 60 km/37 miles.

Please note that there are additional fees for this service, which costs approximately 160 Euro. If you are interested in this option, please contact us in advance so we can arrange it for you.

How To Fly To Palestine?

There are no airports in the West Bank, so the easiest way to get to the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine is to fly to:

• Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv Airport (Israel). It takes about two and a half hours from the airport to the Excellence Center in Hebron via shared Taxi.

Alternatively:

• You can 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.

• You can also fly to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan and then cross to Palestine, but it 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. 

In Conclusion

Our Music and Art Volunteer Program in West Bank, Palestine offers a unique opportunity for individuals interested in these fields to connect with Palestinian students and local citizens in Hebron. Access to art and music is often limited for Palestinians in this region, and we aim to help bridge that gap through this program. By sharing your knowledge and passion for these fields, you will make a valuable contribution to the lives of Hebronite youth, children and refugees, while also gaining invaluable experience and connections within the Palestinian art and music communities.

This volunteer program is very flexible and allows for a wide range of activities, depending on your interests and expertise. For example, you may wish to create and conduct lectures on various topics in music or the arts, or engage in more hands-on activities and workshops that allow your Palestinian students to create art or music. The possibilities are nearly endless.

Whether you are a native or non-native English speaker, and whether or not you speak any Arabic, you are welcome to join this program. You will be fully immersed in Palestinian culture, receive 3 hours of Arabic lessons each week, and have two days off to explore the region. You will also have the opportunity to meet other international volunteers, interns, and Arabic students.

This volunteer opportunity is ideal for university students, graduates, those on sabbatical or taking a gap year, or anyone looking to make a positive difference in the lives of Palestinians, particularly youth, refugees, and children in Hebron. University and college students can even obtain credit towards their studies while volunteering with us in Palestine. Volunteers can participate year-round for anywhere between 1-13 weeks.

How To Obtain Further Information And An Application Form:

To apply for the Music and Art Volunteer program in Palestine, please send an email to Rafat@excellencenter.org with the subject line “Volunteer in Music and Art program in Palestine”. The Excellence Center staff will then send you the application form to start your journey with us.

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