Volunteer in the West Bank: Many international students come to volunteer in the West Bank to help Palestinians and engage themselves in some educational, cultural and community activities. They aim to provide as much speaking time for Palestinian students as possible as well as cultural exchange and interesting discussions. Volunteers also organize workshops such as academic writing, CV and cover letter, and other skills.
Volunteer in local schools in the city of Hebron
Volunteers participate in many different activities with the center on a weekly basis. Some of them include community outreach programs such as 60 minutes during which teachers give free classes to students in local schools in the city of Hebron. They also attend outings around town to places like Shuhada street in the Old City, Ibrahimi Mosque, as well as shops to watch local artisans in the act at glassblowing, textile, and ceramic shops.
Stay with a Palestinian host family in Hebron
During volunteering in the West Bank, female volunteers will stay with a Palestinian host family in Hebron and surrounding areas. Palestinian families are very hospitable and welcoming. It also provides the opportunity to learn more about the culture in a more intimate way, through family activities, meals, and celebrations such as birthdays, and holidays. It can also be a great way to learn and practice Arabic, especially the local dialect.
Visit Ramallah, Jerusalem, Bethlehem
On the weekends or days off from the center, volunteers often go out of town, sometimes together, to visit other cities such as Ramallah, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and visit popular attractions such as the Dead Sea and other historical sites.
Volunteer with Palestinian Children
This program is an excellent opportunity for graduate, undergraduate students, professionals, retirees, social workers, teachers, English native speakers, non-native speakers and anyone interested in working with children in a volunteer capacity, and/or internships with Palestinian children. In addition, those interested in childhood education will benefit from volunteering with children in Palestine. Volunteers will be provided with a full immersion in the Palestinian culture, daily life, politics, current human rights and the educational system.
Volunteers can join our program from 1-12 weeks anytime in the year, we are flexible when it comes to starting and ending dates. All majors, vocations and nationalities are welcome to apply. You have to be at least 18 years old to join our Volunteer with Palestinian Children program.
As a volunteer in Hebron, West Bank, you will have the chance to meet many Palestinian children who yearn to meet and interact with international visitors. The Palestinian children are the future and helping them grow will have a direct impact on their own wellbeing as well as that of their country. You will make a difference in their lives as well as yours.
Educational classes and workshops will take place either at Engage in Palestine – The Excellence Center, local Palestinian community centers, day care, schools, child organizations, special needs schools or local refugee camps in Hebron.
Upon arriving in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine volunteers will have the opportunity to design and create their own workshops customized for Palestinian children. These workshops and classes will make up the majority of volunteers’ workload here in Palestine. Previous workshops have included:
- Drama for Palestinian refugees
- Fun days for Palestinian kids in the refugee camps
- Conversational English language workshops for Palestinian kids
- Arts and music for disabled Palestinian children
- Media training for Palestinian school students
- Environmental camps for young school students
- Mathematics lessons
- Journalism workshops for high school students
- Medicine (First Aid Courses)
- As well as others.
Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees in the West Bank
This volunteer program is for undergraduate and graduate students, professionals, employees of human rights organizations, retirees and anyone interested in volunteering with Palestinian refugees in the West Bank – there are a plethora of ways to do this. First and foremost is working with children in Palestinian refugee camps. Volunteers will have the chance to stay with a Palestinian host family, study colloquial Arabic, live the Palestinian daily life and experience the Palestinian culture and politics
The Palestinian schools in these camps are underdeveloped and lack many of the basic resources to fulfil their students’ educational needs. Further, volunteers will have the opportunity to work with Palestinian human rights organizations, community centers, international NGOs, and charity organizations to advocate for the rights of refugees. Participants can also create educational workshops for Palestinian children, youth, women and the local community in general. These workshops are crucial because they teach new skills, as well as foster cultural exchange.
Volunteer in Hebron, West Bank
Our diverse range of volunteer projects in Hebron, West Bank are available year-round to our international volunteers on a flexible basis, offering brilliant, informative opportunities for people who are:
- Looking to travel in the Israel/ Palestine area.
- Interested in summer volunteering programs, particularly in the Middle East.
- College, university or gap year students looking for volunteering opportunities in Israel and Palestine.
- Interested to help Palestinain refugees and children
- Concerned about the political and humanitarian situation in the local region and the people and communities affected.
- Interested in Palestinian and Arabic culture, particularly those who want to learn and improve their Arabic.
In addition to volunteering, from our base in Hebron, you will have many opportunities to travel to different cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin and Bethlehem in your free time. Travelling between Palestine and Israel is easy and inexpensive for international visitors and our volunteer programs provide our participants with plenty of free time to discover the area, even ensuring you make some new Palestinian friends along the way!
Yearly, Many internationals come to volunteers in the West Bank, Palestine
Yearly, around 100 internationals come to volunteers in the West Bank, Palestine. Hania is one of the current volunteer English Teacher at the Excellence Center in Hebron. She grew up in The Netherlands but has a Palestinian parent and thus speaks Arabic fluently. She is here to reconnect with her heritage and learn to read and write Arabic. Of her experience thus far, she says she was excited to come here and has found that it is a great environment and is really enjoying it. Hania says from this experience she has learned how oppression affects the people in their community. And above all, she likes connecting and building relationships with the students
Jan, from Belgium, is another volunteer in the Teach English Study Arabic program with positive remarks. He has a degree in education and possible plans to become a teacher. He describes the Palestinian students as” very enthusiastic and ambitious to learn. They are respectful towards foreigners, interested in the culture, and are keen to talk about Palestine.” He says that he likes that he can teach from young kids to adults and that being here teaches you things you can’t find in a book.
Summer volunteer programs in the West Bank
For people looking for volunteer programs over the summer in the West Bank, Palestine or Israel, the Excellence Center offers great volunteer opportunities that span from June to August. These volunteer programs are ideal for students, English native speakers, and anyone with a summer break or any individuals looking to volunteer on an extended visit.
These summer volunteer programs in the West Bank combine Arabic language focus with a full learning, immersion and engagement in Palestinian culture, politics and history. It includes visits to Bedouin areas (Susiya), Palestinian refugee camps, local villages and community centers.
Volunteer programs for a short time in the West Bank
Our short-term volunteer programs in the West Bank, Palestine include:
Benefits of volunteering in the West Bank
Volunteers in the West Bank receive many benefits during their time in the city of Hebron. By being totally immersed in the Palestinian culture, you will be able to participate in many educational, cultural, social and community development activities.
Benefits of volunteering in the West Bank:
- Living in Hebron and visiting sites in the local and wider area
- Better Understand Palestinian politics and experience the occupation in the West Bank.
- Learning spoken Arabic from native speakers and embracing the opportunity to communicate with locals
- Get to know the human rights situation and supporting Palestinian refugees.
- Travelling to historical locations and nearby cities including Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus and Bethlehem in your free time
- Visit nearby cities such as Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Nazareth.
- Spending time and living with a Palestinian host family, if desired
- Visiting Palestinian universities, local institutions and organizations specializing in culture and education
- Eating local Palestinian foods and delicacies
- Attending cultural nights featuring entertainment and activities in Hebron’s social hubs
Traveling to the West Bank 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 with a variety of interests. Especially in Hebron, Palestinian people love to meet new people from different cultures and exchange ideas and experiences.
Moreover, the Excellence Center hosts many international visitors from all over the world who will be studying, volunteering, visiting or interning at the center. Of course, you will engage with them in some educational and community activities that the Center organizes.
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 and offers a great social atmosphere.
Eligibility for the volunteer in the West Bank
People who are between 18 – 75 years old are eligible to participate in the Volunteer in the West Bank Programs. All nationalities and majors are welcome! You do not have to have any degree to participate in this program.
When “the Volunteer in the West Bank Programs” takes place
The Excellence Center is looking for volunteers year-round. Volunteers decide when they would like to start and Excellence Center organizes so. We are very flexible when it comes to starting and ending dates. Participants freely choose their volunteer period.
Which Airport Should I Start Checking for Flights to West Bank, Palestine?
The easiest way to get to the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine is to fly to Tel Aviv Airport (Israel). It takes about two and a half hours from the airport to the Excellence Center in Hebron via shared Taxi.
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.
Visa to enter the West Bank, Palestine
Upon your arrival at Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv Airport), Israel, you will be granted a tourist visa valid for 90 days. There is no need to obtain a visa ahead of time.
Traveling to and from Hebron, Palestine
You may find all the needed information about traveling to the city of Hebron, West Bank, Palestine
Volunteer in the West Bank Program’s duration
Volunteers can participate in the program for the duration of one week to three months.
Additional information
To know what other volunteers experienced, please click here. Please click here to find more information regarding accommodation, visa, application process, etc
How to get further information and the application form
Please send us an email to Rafat@excellencenter.org, Volunteer In the West Bank, Palestine as the subject line. We will then send you the application form.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact at Rafat@excellencenter.org
Related Volunteer Programs
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Thank you very much. We would be happy to have you in Palestine!
Tags: Summer volunteer in Palestine, Volunteer Programs in Palestine
