Why Volunteer in Palestine in 2025/2026: Why volunteer in Palestine in 2025/2026 with the Excellence Center in Palestine? In 2025, the Israeli occupation continues to shape many aspects of Palestinian life, perpetuating displacement, economic hardship, and a deep sense of instability. In the West Bank, military checkpoints, land confiscations, and the expansion of Israeli settlements disrupt daily life and limit access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods. The ongoing blockade and recent bombardment of Gaza have created dire humanitarian conditions, with over 80% of residents relying on aid. Unemployment remains among the highest in the world, particularly for youth and women.

The displacement of Palestinians, beginning with the 1948 Nakba, continues even today. Forced evictions and home demolitions uproot families, especially in East Jerusalem and Area C, the Israel-controlled area of the West Bank. Despite these significant challenges, Palestinian communities show deep resilience, with grassroots efforts to preserve cultural identity, advocate for justice, and continue hope for a better future. 

Since 2011, the Excellence Center in Palestine has run programs to help support the local community, engaging in areas of high need like refugee camps, Bedouin communities, orphanages, and schools. Our programs, supported by international volunteers and interns, can directly address critical resource and service gaps, helping Palestinians in Hebron live their lives in as much peace and prosperity as possible until the occupation is over. 

A Unique Cultural Exchange Experience

Most of what is told about Palestine in the media is not reflective of the kind, friendly, and welcoming nature of her people or the deep and rich history of the land itself. Volunteering with the Excellence Center in Palestine is a unique opportunity to experience Palestinian culture, traditions, and daily life beyond what tourists typically see. 

During your time at the Excellence Center in Palestine, you will have the chance to experience Palestinian culture and traditions and engage in activities like attending local events, learning and using Arabic on a daily basis, and cooking traditional dishes (Maqlooba, a dish made with rice, vegetables, chicken, and spices, is a firm favorite of the volunteers!).

Volunteering is a meaningful way to build bridges and create lasting connections with Palestinians and other volunteers worldwide. Guests at the Excellence Center in Palestine often leave Palestine with enduring friendships; many even return for a second or third time. 

Learning more about the stories of everyday Palestinians gives you an intimate look into life under occupation and the resilience of the people who carry on despite the restrictions and the violence they face. Spending time at the Excellence Center in Palestine and getting to know people in the community is a meaningful way to promote mutual understanding and solidarity with the Palestinian cause. 

Witnessing Resilience and Strength

There are countless stories of resilience in Palestine at an individual and community level. In Hebron, where the Excellence Center in Palestine is based, people resist the occupation in their own way; through activism, providing education and employment opportunities, or simply refusing to move from their ancestral homes, even with the threat of demolition. 

For the people of Masafer Yatta, a cluster of villages on the outskirts of Hebron, day-to-day life can be incredibly challenging. On a recent visit to Umm Al Khayr, a small town living in the shadow of a growing Israeli settlement, our volunteers met with a representative from the community who spoke with them about the growing challenges of life there. He spoke about how the village of 200 people feared random attacks from the 700-odd settlers on their doorstep.

A large yellow gate separates the two areas, and the difference couldn’t be more stark. At the settlement, large modern houses dwarf the ramshackle structures of the neighboring village. These small living spaces, which house around 5 people across two rooms, are sometimes demolished without warning or consent. Permits to rebuild are often denied, giving people the choice to leave or to set up tents instead. They choose the tents.

Despite decades of suffering the impact of the occupation, the Palestinian spirit is unbreakable. You will meet people who have suffered such deep loss and incredible hardship and still enjoy their days with kindness and smiles. This is a form of resistance in itself. Our volunteers offer so much value to the community through their activities, and they, in turn,  learn so much from the strength and determination of the Palestinian people during their time in Hebron. 

Why Volunteer in Palestine in 2025/2026? How About to Make an Impact?

Volunteering is an incredibly rewarding experience, with the opportunity to learn and grow both personally and professionally. However, the impact on the host community can not be understated. 

The Excellence Center in Palestine offers a lot of different programs because there are a lot of social problems that need attention. Volunteering at the Excellence Center in Palestine can help to improve educational, youth empowerment, and community development outcomes for Palestinians in Hebron. Most importantly, it allows people to share their stories and feel heard and seen by the world. 

Your impact doesn’t end with your time in Hebron, either. When they return home, many volunteers who feel inspired by their time with the Excellence Center in Palestine often share their experiences to help raise awareness and advocate for Palestinian rights. This is really helpful towards the cause as external pressure is essential to helping build the long-term future of Palestine. 

1. Education and Skill Development

Volunteering is a great opportunity to build skills and gain real-world experience. People who spend time at the Excellence Center in Palestine have the opportunity to develop new and transferable competencies like teaching, cross-cultural communication, and project management skills. Because volunteers are able to customize their programs and focus on their interests or expertise, there are plenty of opportunities for professional growth alongside personal growth. 

“The Excellence Center in Palestine itself is an inspiring place, offering a mix of educational programs and community engagement. My main role was teaching English to students at the center as well as at the nearby Al-Fawwar refugee camp. The students were motivated, eager to learn, and the experience of teaching them was both rewarding and humbling. There was also a great community of local teachers at the center, many of whom taught both English and Arabic. They were warm, supportive, and made me feel part of the team right away.” – Thomas, Switzerland, 2024 Volunteer. 

Learning another language can be difficult. One of the best ways to learn new words and build sentences is through immersion into a community that speaks that language. This is particularly true for Ammiya Arabic, which is spoken in Palestine. While we teach many different dialects, there are significantly fewer resources to encourage learning this dialect. At the Excellence Center in Palestine, you will be exposed daily to spoken Arabic and quickly build your skills to be able to communicate locally.  

2. A Safe and Structured Volunteering Experience

For many of the people who come to Palestine to volunteer, safety and security is one of their biggest concerns. The West Bank is often portrayed by the media in a way that does not reflect the reality of life here. While the region’s security is always unpredictable, over 1000 volunteers have safely come to spend time with us at the Excellence Center in Palestine since 2011. 

Day-to-day life in Hebron is quiet and friendly, and the Center provides safe accommodation and advice on security while in-country. Many of our volunteers say they feel safer here than in their home neighborhoods. We ensure each volunteer is given a proper orientation to settle into life in Hebron and is connected directly with a support network of coordinators and fellow volunteers at the Center. For any other questions about safety and security in Hebron, please contact Info@ecpalestine.org. 

To address the community’s wide range of needs and make volunteering as accessible as possible for everyone, there are many different programs available through the Excellence Center in Palestine. Some of our most popular programs include the Human Rights program, where volunteers learn in-depth about the human rights situation in Palestine, visit local human rights organizations in the West Bank, and speak with local people about their experiences living under occupation. We also offer programs in the areas of journalism, volunteering with refugees, teaching English in rural villages, and many more. 

To help our volunteers settle into the community, we offer 3 hours per week of Arabic language instruction for the duration of your program. We also have the option of Arabic intensive courses for people who would like to learn Modern Standard Arabic or a spoken dialect while also being immersed in an Arabic-speaking community. 

Whatever your work background, skill level, or area of interest, we have a volunteer program that is available to suit your needs.

3. Advocating for Justice and Solidarity

If you’ve been following the news for the last couple of years or knew about the conflict in Palestine before that time, it might feel like the situation is too big or complicated to make a difference. In our experience, individuals can really help just by showing up and standing in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. These days, the Israeli Government tries to stop anyone at the border who even indicates they may try to come to the West Bank. Coming to Palestine and spending time with the people and in the community is in itself a form of peaceful activism. 

“Volunteering with the Excellence Center in Palestine in the human rights program was very fulfilling and gave me a lot more insight into the human rights situation in Palestine that cannot be directly observed from a foreigner’s lens. The administration is highly knowledgeable about Palestine’s political and social landscape, and was more than willing to share their knowledge with the volunteers.” – Adam, USA, 2025 Volunteer. 

The media is often unbalanced when it comes to reporting on Palestine. That’s why we believe it’s so important that as many people as possible are able to come to the West Bank and witness the realities of life under occupation. When people come to spend time in Palestine, they learn details about the occupation that the media often doesn’t cover. Then, when volunteers go home, they often tell stories about what they’ve seen to their friends and families, write to their local media, or use their own social platforms to spread the word. Every single story helps contribute to the broader movement toward justice and human rights. 

Volunteer Testimonials and Real-Life Stories

With a rating of 4.85 from 852 reviews on GoOverseas, the Excellence Center in Palestine has supported many people worldwide to have a positive, often life-changing, experience in Palestine. Genevieve, who volunteered at the Excellence Center in Palestine in January of 2025, shares her story:

“I’m a Physics PhD student from the United States. I came to the Excellence Center in Palestine for one month to teach English and learn Arabic, but my experience encompasses so much more than that. I got to see the Old City of Hebron, witness discrimination against Palestinians by Israeli guards, and speak with people who endured physical violence perpetrated by the settlers and soldiers. The Excellence Center in Palestine helped arrange for me to visit Ibrahimi Mosque, the glass factory, and the kuffiyeh factory. I also got to visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Masafer Yatta.”

Even though she was taking part in the English teaching program, Genevieve had the opportunity to partake in many trips around Hebron and the rest of Palestine and learn about life here first-hand.

“One of the most valuable parts of my experience here was getting to see the settler areas in Hebron and Masafer Yatta. Seeing the stark differences in infrastructure and quality of life between the Palestinian and settler areas was eye-opening. Even though I’m sad to leave, I’m excited to be able to use my experience to educate others about what is actually happening in the West Bank.”

After only one month in Hebron, Genevieve reflects on how the experience has helped to change her perspective and her life, including a plan to return to spend more time in Palestine and with the Center.

“I will always remember the kind people I met here and their experiences with the occupation. The Excellence Center in Palestine truly provides a unique life-changing experience. I’m so thankful to everyone I met here who welcomed me with open arms and helped me understand the local situation. I can’t wait to come back, and in the meantime, I hope to use my experience to support the Palestinian cause.”

Why 2025, 2026 is the Right Time to Volunteer in Palestine?

Why volunteer in Palestine in 2025? While the plight of Palestinians has been a global story since 1948, the last couple of years have catapulted it into the headlines again. Since October 7th, 2023, security measures against Palestinians in the West Bank have increased significantly, along with settler violence. At the same time, the education and employment needs of Palestinians continue to grow. 

The presence of international volunteers in Palestine shows support and solidarity for Palestinians, especially as life gets more difficult for the people here. This meaningful gesture helps ensure people know they are not forgotten, that their stories will continue to be told and that there is witness to their hope for a future outside of the occupation. 

List of 6 Impactful Volunteer Programs in Palestine 2025/2026

Our 6 Impactful Volunteer Programs in Palestine 2025/2026 are ideal for students and people looking for summer volunteer and internship programs in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Palestine, Israel, or the Middle East.

Here you may find the list of 6 Impactful Volunteer Programs in Palestine 2025/2026:  

1. Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees

2. Internship with Palestinian Children

3. Volunteer With Palestinian Communities

4. Human Rights Volunteer Program in Palestine

5. Teach English And Study Arabic

6. Community Development Volunteer Program

Reviews, Ratings, and Community Awards

The Excellence Center in Palestine has been honored with several prestigious Community Awards and recognized as the Best Language School and Top Volunteer and Internship Program Provider for 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. For more details, please visit our profiles on GoOverseas.com and GoAbroad.com.

• +850 reviews (96%) on gooverseas.com
• +170 reviews (96%) on goabroad.com
• Internship in Palestine participants’ video testimonials

How To Apply

If you want to apply for our Volunteer programs in Palestine, please email us at Rafat@excellencenter.org. We will respond with an application form for you to complete and return to us to begin the process.

Find Us Online

WhatsApp:+972 599 479 880

EC Website: https://excellencenter.org/

Website: https://ecpalestine.org/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter

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

Tags: how to volunteer in Palestine, Volunteer opportunities in Palestine, Volunteer programs West Bank 2025/2026, Volunteer with Palestinian refugees