Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees: This volunteer program with refugees is for both undergraduate and graduate students, professionals, employees of human rights organizations, retirees, and anyone interested in volunteering with Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Palestine – and there are a plethora of ways to do this. Volunteering with refugees is an excellent opportunity for university students and recent graduates who are looking to build experience in the human rights field. Through this program, volunteers will have the opportunity to work with Palestinian kids, women, and youths in order to enhance each other’s skills, create mutual understanding, engage in language exchange and make a difference in each other’s lives.
The Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees in the West Bank is open to anyone between the ages of 18 – 70 years old. People from all countries and majors are welcome to join this program. There are no specific degree requirements. All that is required is a willingness to participate and help.
First and foremost, you will be working directly with children in Palestinian refugee camps. Volunteers will also 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. With your time and volunteering, you can help make a genuine impact in the lives of the students.
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.
Stay from 1-12 weeks in Hebron
Volunteers with Palestinian refugees can stay from 1-12 weeks in Hebron, West Bank and they are able to choose their preferred starting and ending dates. The center hosts volunteers year-round for anyone who is interested in working with Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, takes an interest in political science, human rights or the political situation of the Middle East, would like to pursue a career in teaching, or is simply looking for ways to give back.
Volunteer with Palestinian Refugee Children
This volunteer program is specifically geared towards helping and supporting children both in an educational and vocational capacity, giving the children both practical life skills as well as helping in their school progress.
Volunteers in this program will have opportunities to work with refugee children in local schools as well as in Palestinian community centers within refugee camps. Workshops run by previous volunteers have included:
- Drama for Palestinian refugees
- Fun days for Palestinian kids in the refugee camps
- Conversational English language 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)
In addition to all of this, volunteers will have opportunities to work with children of the local refugee camps where they often suffer from lack of schooling and educational support, and also crave fun and exciting projects which they can immerse themselves in and can build their self-esteem.
Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees in the Summer
Of particular interest to you may be our Volunteer with Refugees in Summer Program. This is an ideal experience for people who are seeking to engage and volunteer with Palestinian refugees during a summer break. The volunteer program is suitable for university students who are looking for internships to gain practical experiences in the area of Palestine and Israel as well as the Middle East.
Volunteer Program Opportunities:
At the Excellence Center, Hebron, Palestine there are a wide variety of volunteering opportunities available for volunteers of all countries and backgrounds. Our range of programs are designed so that each volunteer can focus on a personal passion of theirs or area of expertise. All programs are 1-12 weeks long and are accompanied with Arabic language classes provided by the Center. Volunteers also have the chance to combine together different programs as part of their stay if they wish.
For volunteers interested in coming to Palestine, particularly with a focus on working with refugees, we strongly recommend the following volunteering opportunities:
| Internship in Palestine Program (1-3 months) | Palestinian Laws & Legal Practices Internship |
| The Palestine and Israel in Context Program | Human Rights Program in West Bank |
| Women’s Rights in Palestine internship Program | Medicine & Healthcare in the West Bank |
| Teach English in the West Bank internship | Volunteer & Study Arabic in Palestine |
| Volunteering with Palestinian Children in the West Bank | Volunteer in Local Schools in Palestine |
| Teach for Palestine Program (2-3 Months) | Volunteer in a Journalism Program in Palestine |
How do Palestinian Refugees Benefit from our Programs?
However, if education is not your forte, there are a plethora of ways to volunteer with Palestinian refugees. For example, volunteers can also organize various workshops and activities – such as CV/resume writing workshops, arts and crafts workshops, as well as sporting events and cultural exchanges. Further, volunteers are encouraged to introduce their own expertise.
For example, doctors or nurses can provide medical aid, as well as assist other local medical NGOs in their efforts to assist refugees. Further, if volunteers have a special skill or a history of working in the performance industry, they are encouraged to organize concerts and other live performances. Historically, the Excellence Center has worked with volunteers to host live music venues and even circus events – the sky’s the limit!
In addition to aiding Palestinian refugees in Hebron, volunteers will also enroll in 3 hours of Arabic courses per-week. The intention behind these mandatory Arabic courses is to enable volunteers to interact with the people of Palestine. It is generally a mark of good diplomacy when things are exchanged and connecting with local Palestinians will be made easier by participants’ willingness to learn the Arabic language.
Arabic Lessons for all our Volunteers
All our international volunteers in Palestine receive 3 hours of Arabic classes a week, or 12 hours a month, with one of our experienced Palestinian teachers at the Center.
On top of this, all volunteers will also have plenty of chances to meet many people in Palestine to learn and practice their Arabic skills. Volunteers can freely choose what kind of Arabic they would like to learn during their time in Palestine at the Excellence Center.
Arabic dialects to Study
All volunteers at our base in Hebron will receive a choice of Arabic dialects to learn 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 can help you choose which Arabic dialect to study if you are unsure.
Participate in many extracurricular activities
Our volunteers from all over the world participate in educational, cultural, and community activities during their program. In addition, the Excellence Center arranges many extracurricular activities including trips to the old city, Palestinian family home visits, and tours of local industries to name a few. This enables you to see many different aspects of life in Palestine and expand your knowledge of the area.
Who Can Participate?
The Palestinian Excellence Center does not discriminate on any basis, this includes a person’s nationality, ethnicity, religious standing, gender, sexual orientation, or by any other discernable means. Further, the Palestinian Excellence Center has a long history of welcoming people from around the globe.
Participants have visited the Palestinian Excellence Center from the following countries: 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, Ireland, China, and New Zealand! All people with a passion for helping refugees are welcomed!
The Excellence Center has over 10 years of experience in welcoming international volunteers to the center. Since opening in 2011, we have welcomed a broad range of applicants to participate in our volunteer with Palestinian refugee program. These include:
- University students who wish to have experience in the Palestine and Israel area
- Gap Year Students
- Older or retired people seeking adventure
- People who are interested to study and practice their Arabic
- Participants who would like to know more about Israel/Palestine and the political and humanitarian situation there
- College Students who wish to write articles or conduct research in Palestine
- People who are interested to spend a short time in a community and family setting
- Everyone who is willing to help Palestinians and make a difference in the area
One thing all our volunteers share in particular is an open mind and a willingness to learn and engage with the Palestinian culture and customs. They arrive with a smile on their face, and we do our best to ensure that they are still smiling when they leave, returning home with fond memories.
Requirements for volunteer work with Refugees?
There are only 3 criteria for participants wishing to volunteer with refugees in the West Bank, Palestine. The first being that participants are either conversationally fluent in English or Arabic, as the program runs in these languages; second, that they be between the ages of 18 and 70 (exceptions are possible in special cases); and third, that participants all have a positive and can do attitude, as well as an eagerness and openness to learn.
Participant Requirements:
- Colloquial fluency in either Arabic or English
- Interest and skills to work Palestinian kids.
- Communication skills
- Between the ages of 18 and 70 (unless granted special permissions by the Center’s director)
- A positive, ‘can do’ attitude and an eagerness and openness to learn.
Stay with a Palestinian host family
When residing in Hebron, Palestine, volunteers will have the option to either live in a dorm or with a Palestinian host family – there are advantages to both cases. For those that reside in a dorm there will be extra time to become acquainted with the other participants and volunteers of the Excellence Center. Further, the dorms are located next to Hebron’s metropolitan center, providing ample opportunity to explore the City of Hebron with fellow dormmates which holds many new and exciting experiences!
The second option available to participants is to stay with a Palestinian host family. The benefit of this option is that participants will receive a firsthand view into Palestinian life, customs, and culture. In addition, residing with a Palestinian host family will provide ample opportunities to become acquainted with Palestinian home cuisine and family structures. Further, it is likely that participants residing with a Palestinian host family will be invited to family gatherings and cultural events, guaranteeing a cultural immersive experience!
Whichever mode of housing participants choose, their time in Hebron, Palestine will be immersive and enriching!
Interacting with Palestinian Culture
Volunteers in Hebron, West Bank, will find that the majority of Palestinian people are incredibly friendly and open to foreigners. Further, if participants utilize their Arabic skills, no matter how developed, they will find that most Palestinians are enthusiastic and patient communicators – eager that people have taken an interest in their language and culture.
In addition, Palestine is located at the heart of the Levant (the area associated with the eastern Mediterranean), providing ample opportunity to visit cultural sights, historical monuments, as well as other landmarks! Although Palestine faces difficult circumstances, participants will find that the Palestinian people are friendly and open – and that Hebron, Palestine itself is a safe place to learn, intern, and volunteer!
Daily/Weekly Schedule for Volunteers
Volunteering with Palestinian refugees through the Excellence Center requires commitment and flexibility. Volunteers on average are expected to work approximately 30 hours a week between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm (Saturday – Thursday). Volunteers will have two days off per week, one mandatory day off, Friday, and another of their choice.
In addition to their work, throughout the day volunteers will have their Arabic language courses which will require much study and preparation. Participants’ schedules fill up quickly and their time in Palestine will go by faster than they can believe; however, volunteers are here to complete a mission and all their work will be towards that stated goal.
Traveling to Hebron, Palestine
Traveling to Hebron, Palestine will be a long journey, however there are many feasible options available to international volunteers – and the Excellence Center is happy to provide assistance. Although there are some hoops when traveling to Hebron, the Palestinian Excellence Center has all the resources you need to travel in an efficient, safe, and practical manner. Please read our articles below on flying to Palestine, getting to Hebron, planning your trip, and Israeli/Palestinian taxi services.
- 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
Program Costs and Information:
The Excellence Center is priced competitively with other abroad programs, 750 Euros a month or 250 Euros a week, with the stated costs covering the following expenses: language courses, housing, breakfast Mon – Fri, the Center’s running costs, as well as group excursions.
Program Fees Cover:
- Housing in Hebron
- Arabic Language courses
- Center’s operating costs
- Breakfast (Mon – Fri)
- Group excursions
What Language is the Program Run In?
General Information Regarding Program Costs and Components:
| Place of Program | Hebron, West Bank, Palestine |
| Program Fees (Per Week) | 750 Euros per Month(or) 250 Euros per Week (for short term programs) |
| Area of volunteering | Volunteer with Palestinian children Volunteer with Palestinian refugees Work in Palestinian refugee camp |
| Suitable for | Students of Middle Eastern studies Arabic studies Political sciences Human aid workers Anyone who is interested in the human rights situation in the West Bank |
| Age | 18-70 Years Old |
| Minimum Duration | 1 Week |
| Maximum Duration | 12 Weeks |
| Weekly Arabic hours | 3 hours per week |
| One Teaching Hour | 45 Minutes |
| Number of Volunteers | Variable (3-5 Volunteers) |
| Class periods | Morning (9:30 – 12:30)Afternoon (12:30 – 17:00) |
| Starting/Ending Dates | Flexible – Anytime |
| Application Deadline | No Deadline |
| Program Reviews | Reviews and Ratings on Gooverseas Reviews and Ratings on Goabroad Video testimonials |
| University Credit | Available |
| Program Language | English |
Program Reviews
The Excellence Center is renowned and highly appraised for its work with refugees in Palestine. If you are still unsure about volunteering in Palestine or with the Palestinian Excellence Center, read our program reviews to see if we are right for you!
- 372 reviews (94%) on gooverseas.com
- 70 reviews (96%) on goabroad.com
- Video testimonials
To conclude
There is both a great need and a great variety of ways in which you can provide assistance to local Palestinian refugees through the Excellence Center. If you still need guidance, feel free to contact us through email or on our social media accounts.
How to apply:
If you are interested in any of our volunteer opportunities in Palestinian, please write to us at Rafat@excellencenter.org. We should respond to your initial inquiry within 1 – 3 business days.In the subject line of your email write “Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees.” Upon writing back to you we will attach an application form, which you will fill out and return to us to begin the on-boarding process.
Find us online
Whatsapp:+972599479880
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excellence.center
The Excellence Center’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter
Excellence Center’s Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/RafatECHebron
Watch us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQSLdFZWZcBm6Uj0XMYuKg
Visit and Explore Palestine: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorePalestine
