Human Rights Volunteer Internship in Palestine program by Volunteer in Palestine, based in Hebron, is designed by Volunteer in Palestine to introduce participants to the subject of human rights in Palestine within an environment that fosters both personal and professional growth. This program offers the rewarding opportunity to study and practice Palestinian Arabic (Ammiya), enhancing your cultural immersion and understanding of the region. As a volunteer in the West Bank, you will receive three hours of Arabic lessons each week, taught by knowledgeable and experienced Palestinian teachers, ensuring you gain practical language skills alongside your human rights education.

As part of this short-term Volunteer Internship Program, you will visit human rights organizations, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned in a real-world context. These visits are complemented by meetings with human rights activists, workers, law teachers, students, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), which will further enrich your understanding and provide a blend of classroom learning and conversational practice in Arabic. By offering these unique interactions, the program aims to deepen your understanding of the current state of human rights in Palestine in a culturally sensitive, informative, and safe manner. This experience is an excellent way to gain life experience, broaden your knowledge of human rights in Palestine, and develop a strong foundation in the legal aspects of these issues.

Human Rights Engagement and Knowledge Exchange in Palestine

During your time in Palestine cultivating an understanding of human rights in Palestine and refugee camps in the West Bank, volunteers are encouraged to share particular knowledge and personal experience involving human rights with Palestinian people; using personal research, projects, and workshops on the subject. Sharing and exchanging knowledge with local organizations underpins the program. 

Working collaboratively on workshops with organizations in Hebron will assist volunteers in getting the most out of their time in Palestine, with a plethora of opportunities to meet Palestinian students, teachers, human rights workers, Palestinian lawyers, and managers at local human rights organizations. Meeting a wide variety of people and professions will enable you to organize informative workshops for students on the subject of human rights in Palestine alongside learning Arabic and experiencing the rich cultural heritage of Palestine.

The Human Rights Internship is offered throughout the year and you are welcome to join from between one and twelve weeks. The Program is open to students of all levels, native and non-native English speakers, graduates, professionals, researchers, and retirees who would like to help and contribute meaningfully to the Palestinian community in the West Bank. 

Volunteer and Internship Programs in Gaza

Gaza Strip offers a variety of volunteer and internship programs. They cover important topics like human rights, teaching English, women’s rights in Palestine, supporting Palestinian refugees and children, journalism, Palestinian culture, and politics.

The volunteer and internship opportunities in Gaza, Palestine are for a wide range of people, including students who study the Middle East and Arabic, people interested in politics, professionals, employees of human rights organizations, researchers studying Palestine and Israel, humanitarian workers, social workers, teachers, native English speakers, non-native English speakers, and anyone who wants to learn about Palestinian culture and daily life. If you are interested in learning more, please click here.

Internship opportunities in Gaza are primarily centered in cities like Gaza City, Khan Younis, Rafah, Deir al-Balah, and Jabalia. Gaza City, the region’s economic and cultural hub, offers internships with NGOs, media outlets, and universities in fields such as humanitarian aid, human rights, and education. Khan Younis and Rafah, known for their refugee populations, provide internships focused on community development, refugee support, and agricultural projects. Deir al-Balah and Jabalia offer opportunities in areas like environmental conservation, health clinics, and social services, particularly within refugee camps. These internships allow you to engage directly with communities while gaining valuable experience in a complex environment.

Volunteer in the West Bank

Volunteering in the West Bank offers a unique opportunity to engage with Palestinian communities in cities like Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Hebron, each with its distinct cultural and historical significance. In Ramallah, the administrative hub, you can work with NGOs focused on human rights, youth development, and education. Bethlehem, known for its religious heritage, offers opportunities in community centers, schools, and refugee support, while Hebron, with its rich history and complex political landscape, is ideal for those interested in peace-building and human rights monitoring. Other cities like Nablus and Jenin provide volunteer experiences in cultural preservation, youth empowerment, and support for local artisans and refugees.

Cities like Jericho, Tulkarem, and Qalqilya present opportunities to volunteer in environmental conservation, rural development, and educational programs, often within communities facing unique challenges due to the political situation. Whether you’re interested in teaching, cultural initiatives, or social services, the West Bank offers a diverse range of volunteer experiences that allow you to contribute meaningfully while immersing yourself in Palestinian culture and daily life.

Who Can Enroll in the Human Rights Program in Palestine?

Volunteer in Palestine invites internationals throughout the year to visit, to volunteer, and to make a difference to local Palestinian communities all the while enhancing your understanding of the human rights situation in Palestine. This program is suitable for people who are looking for opportunities to grow personally and professionally.

Participants in the human rights program in Hebron, West Bank must meet the following criteria:

What is required:

  • You must be between 18 and 75 years of age
  • Able to communicate in English
  • Willing to meet and interact with a diverse range of Palestinian people
  • Eager to learn

What is not required:

  • Ability to speak Arabic
  • Travel experience
  • Teaching experience or equivalent educational degree
  • To be a native speaker

During Your Time in Palestine, What Do You Receive?

Volunteers in the Human Rights Program are entitled to many benefits which include the following:

  • Three hours of Arabic lessons a week
  • Visits to human rights organizations in Palestine
  • Meetings with human rights activists, workers, law teachers, students, and NGOs
  • Exposure to daily life in Hebron, Palestinian culture and society
  • Visits to cultural and historical sites in Hebron and other nearby cities including Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus, and Bethlehem
  • Accommodation with either a Palestinian host family or in our male apartment
  • The opportunity to eat and enjoy local Palestinian foods and desserts
  • Attend Palestinian cultural nights featuring entertainment and activities

The Human Rights Situation in Palestine

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report on 5 March 2015 relating to the period of 26 May 2013 to 31 October 2014 the report refers to saw “widespread violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law”. 

The general pervasiveness of military occupation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and East Jerusalem has meant that adherence to international law is limited, with the independent international NGO, Human Rights Watch noting “severe and discriminatory restrictions on Palestinians’ human rights.” As part of the Human Rights Volunteer Internship in Palestine program and your meetings with local organizations, you will gain a better understanding of the state of human rights in Palestine.

Brief Information About Human Rights 

As a Human Rights Volunteer based at the Excellence Centre in Hebron, Palestine, you will participate in many human rights activities while visiting numerous human rights organizations. Visits to human rights organizations such as the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, Human Rights Defenders, Youth Against the Settlements, and Christian Peacemaker Teams Palestine will form an integral part of the program, offering you the ability to practice what you have learned in practice. Alongside these visits, meetings with human rights activists, workers, lawyers law teachers, students, and NGOs will further widen your understanding of the state of human rights in Palestine and assist in your conversational Arabic.

While on the program, you will work cooperatively with organizations in Hebron and the surrounding areas to provide workshops to students on the subject of human rights. This will also provide you with great experience and involvement in the various human rights organizations in Palestine, strengthening both your resume and your professional network. As part of these workshops, you will be encouraged to share a combination of what you have learned, your particular knowledge, and personal experience on all subjects relating to human rights with a range of Palestinian people, elaborating on your research, projects, and workshops on the subject.

Brief Overview

Place of Internship ProgramHebron, West Bank, Palestine
Program LanguageEnglish
Duration of program 1 Week-3 months
Arabic Hours per Month3 hours a week
Number of Volunteers/interns Up to 4 international volunteers
Starting/ Ending DatesVolunteers can freely choose their starting and ending dates. We offer Human rights programs in Palestine year-round (Summer, Winter, Autumn, and Spring)
Area of Volunteering– Legal situation in the West Bank
– Human Rights
– Refugees in Palestine 
Volunteers AgePeople between 18-75 years old
Days of the WeekSunday-Thursday
Monthly CostsCheck the prices here
Homestay in Hebron– Palestinian host family
– Male dorm
– Private (Additional fees apply)
Educational DegreeNot Required
University CreditAvailable
Application DeadlineNo Deadline
Rating and Reviews – Reviews On Gooverseas.com
– Reviews On Goabroad.com
– Participants’ video testimonials

When You Arrive in Palestine

Upon arriving at Volunteer in Palestine, before deciding on a schedule, volunteers will be welcomed to the Center and will receive an orientation about Hebron, the West Bank, and Palestinian culture. This will include:

  • Arabic classes in spoken Palestinian Arabic
  • An introduction to Palestinian culture
  • Visits to human rights organizations in Palestine

Visits to Local Palestinian Organizations 

After this introductory stage, Volunteer in Palestine will organize visits to different local organizations working in the field of human rights. These visits will help you to decide what kind of activities to develop and present as part of your workshops.

The workshops will be based on your own individual knowledge, interests, fields of specialty, and level of experience on the subject of Human Rights. Volunteer in Palestine is very flexible and you will be free to decide which activities to introduce and implement in your syllabus and schedule, offering you the opportunity to independently develop your content within the subject of human rights.

What Activities Can Be Organized During the Volunteering Section?

In the Human Rights Volunteering Program, there are many activities suitable for all levels that may be carried out during your stay in Hebron. These include workshops about:

  • Writing articles on human rights, with a specific focus on Palestine and Gaza
  • Study of International Human Rights Law
  • Education of Palestinian school and university students about basic rights
  • Visits to UN buildings and relevant NGO headquarters
  • Creating a catalog of NGOs, summarizing and assessing their activities and impact on  human rights violations throughout the world

And could involve:

  • Collaborating with the journalism project students to release a short documentary
  • A correlation to attentiveness to Human Rights
  • Other activities (We strongly welcome your suggestions)

Human Rights in Palestine Program Schedule

You will have to work for approximately 30 hours a week, from around 9 am until 5 pm, 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 Volunteer in Palestine. Breakfast is shared with Palestinian teachers, volunteers from other programs, and directors of the center, offering you exposure to traditional Palestinian foods and the opportunity to further practice your Arabic. From here, you will have the opportunity to go on sightseeing trips in Hebron that are coordinated by Volunteer in Palestine alongside your program’s commitments. Evenings are typically free, although the Center will organize occasional optional activities as part of the Center’s commitment to showcasing Palestine’s culture.

In addition to your work on the Human Rights Program, you will have your Arabic class schedule. This will include preparing lesson plans for the workshops that you oversee, with visits to organizations and sightseeing excursions in and around Hebron in your free time.

Contributing to the Palestinian Community

Our Human Rights Volunteer program in Palestine is a unique opportunity to gain valuable experience in your field of interest while simultaneously making a significant contribution to the Palestinian community.

Traveling to Palestine On Your Own?

No worries, you’ve come to the right place!

You will meet many university and school students as well as community members with a variety of interests. In Hebron in particular, Palestinian people love to meet new people from different cultures and exchange both ideas and experiences.

Moreover, Volunteer in Palestine hosts many international visitors from all over the world who will be studying, volunteering, visiting, or interning at the Center. You will have the opportunity to participate in some educational and community activities with other volunteers, offering plenty of opportunities to network and make new friends.

Everyone at Volunteer in Palestine: Palestinian students, international visitors, and staff are like one family and there are always activities to do together. Hebron is a great place for international visitors to stay and offers a fantastic social atmosphere.

Eligibility for Human Rights Volunteer Internship in Palestine Program

People aged between 18 – 75 years old are eligible to participate in Human Rights Volunteer Internship in Palestine program.

All nationalities and degree subjects are welcome! You do not need to have a particular degree to participate in this program.

When Does Human Rights Volunteer Internship in Palestine Program Take Place?

Volunteer in Palestine is looking for international volunteers year-round. Volunteers decide when they would like to start, and Volunteer in Palestine organizes their schedule and arrangements.

We are very flexible when it comes to starting dates and duration. Participants freely choose their volunteer period. Volunteers can stay for between one and twelve weeks.

Volunteer or Intern in the Summer

Join us this summer for a unique and vibrant experience! Summer is when our organization is at its busiest, offering a variety of opportunities that go beyond traditionally similar programs. Whether you have an interest in volunteering or gaining professional experience through an internship, our summer programs aim to make the most of your time abroad.

We offer volunteer placements and internships that allow you to engage directly with local communities and gain hands-on experience in your field of interest. Thanks to our partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, these opportunities can also provide academic credit towards your studies, making them ideal for university or college students looking to enrich their summer break. However, if you’re not currently a student or aren’t seeking academic credit, you’re still welcome to participate.

If you want to make a meaningful impact this summer, explore more about our volunteer and internship programs on our website.

Winter Volunteer Programs

Our Winter Volunteer and Internship Programs run from October to late March, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture and community of Palestine during the cooler months. Whether you’re interested in volunteering, gaining practical experience through an internship, or exploring a new language and culture, our winter programs are tailored to provide a fulfilling and impactful experience.

Participants can choose to stay for anywhere from 1 to 13 weeks, allowing for flexibility in how they engage with local communities and contribute to meaningful projects. Winter in Palestine offers a different pace and atmosphere, making it an ideal time to connect with the people, explore the region, and make a lasting impact.

Our Volunteer and Internship Programs

Volunteer in Palestine offers short-term volunteer and internship programs for people interested in going to Palestine, focusing on human rights, Palestinian children, women’s rights, journalism, teaching English, sports, medicine, Palestinian refugees, Palestinian culture and politics, Palestinian laws and legal system, and the political history and current situation of Palestine and Israel.

Our volunteer programs in Palestine are especially ideal for students and people looking for volunteer and internship programs in the summertime located in the West Bank, Palestine, Israel, or the Middle East.

Our volunteer programs were developed for graduate and undergraduate students of Middle Eastern studies, Arabic studies, or political sciences, as well as professionals, employees of human rights organizations, scholars conducting case studies on Palestine and Israel, human aid workers, social workers, teachers, English native speakers, non-native speakers and anyone interested in engaging in Palestinian culture and daily life.

Here you may find the list of our volunteers and internships program in Palestine: 

Volunteer with Palestinian ChildrenVolunteer with Palestinian Refugees in the West Bank
Palestinian Laws & Legal Practices InternshipHuman Rights Volunteer Program in the West Bank
The Palestine and Israel in Context Internship ProgramInternship in the West Bank Program
Volunteer in Media and Journalism in the West BankVolunteer to Teach English in the West Bank

Reviews and Awards

Volunteer in Palestine has been offering its services since 2011. Throughout the years, besides the Human Rights Volunteer Internship in Palestine program, we have been developing many programs and online courses. We use the most advanced methods which we develop and enhance year after year. Education and learning is an active process that is always advancing, and you will be part of the development.

Despite continuous program improvements for the best learning experience, our core goal remains: connecting, teaching, and developing individuals for the benefit of them and the community. Additionally, we aim to promote and encourage exchange in the local and international communities. 

We continue to strive towards excellence:

In 2022, we ranked as “one of the top three organizations worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities”. We also ranked as “one of the top three language schools worldwide” by Go Overseas. We also received a total of five Go Overseas Community Choice Awards. Among others, Volunteer in Palestine earned recognition as one of the top Teach Abroad Providers for the category of “benefits”. Besides that, we were also one of the Top Internship Abroad Providers for the categories of “growth” and “support”

In 2021, we were one of the top three volunteer programs in the world. Go Overseas awarded us the community choice awards in the categories of “best language school”, “fun”, and “teaching”.

In 2019, we received our inaugural “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards”. This award was a recognition of Volunteer in Palestine’s positive effect on the global travel community. You can check our ratings below.

Traveling To and From Hebron, West Bank

All of Volunteer in Palestine’s volunteers travel to and from Hebron using single or shared taxis that pass through checkpoints.

You may find all the necessary information about how to get to Hebron and Volunteer in Palestine with relevant contact information in these four articles:

How to Fly to Palestine?

The easiest way to get to Volunteer in Palestine in Hebron is to fly to:

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

Alternatively, the following options are available:

  • You can fly to Eilat airport in the south of Israel and then travel by booking a shuttle or taking a bus to Jerusalem and then to Hebron. However, the duration of the trip can last between six and seven hours.
  • You can also fly to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, and then cross to Palestine, but this takes more time and is largely more expensive.

How Do I Get a Visa to Visit Palestine?

Most of Volunteer in Palestine’s international participants get a tourist visa for three months when they fly to Israeli airports or cross from Jordan to the West Bank.

Generally, there are no visa requirements for Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans to enter Palestine. Please refer to the visa exemption agreement for further information. Upon your arrival at the Israeli Airports in Tel Aviv or Eilat, you will acquire a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days. This is sufficient for participation in Volunteer in Palestiner’s programs and to enable you to travel around Palestine and Israel easily.

Summary 

Human Rights Volunteer Internship in Palestine program offers a profound and multifaceted experience for those interested in human rights, language acquisition, and cultural immersion. Participants are given the chance to engage deeply with the Palestinian community, learning about the challenges and intricacies of human rights in the region while also gaining practical experience through workshops, meetings with activists, and visits to various organizations. The program’s structure, which includes Arabic lessons and cultural activities, ensures that volunteers not only contribute meaningfully but also leave with a richer understanding of both the language and the socio-political landscape of Palestine.

This unique opportunity is ideal for a diverse group of individuals, from students to professionals, who are eager to grow both personally and professionally. The program’s flexibility in duration and start dates, along with its comprehensive support system, makes it accessible to a wide range of participants. By contributing to human rights education and advocacy in Hebron, volunteers can expect to make a lasting impact while gaining invaluable insights into the complexities of life in the West Bank. This experience not only enhances resumes and professional networks but also fosters a deep connection with the people and culture of Palestine, making it a truly transformative endeavor.

Find Out More

Do you have any questions? Then please do not hesitate to contact us: Info@ecpalestine.org and on Whatsapp:+972 599 479 880. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

 

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