Volunteer in Palestine‘s Human Rights Volunteer and Internship Programs in Palestine are designed to introduce you to the subject of Palestinian human rights in a setting that will help you grow both personally and professionally. It is a fantastic opportunity for students who seek to gain experience in fields like international law, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid while also developing their intercultural and Arabic language skills. Participants in this program will aim to increase awareness about the situation on the West Bank while also providing local communities a voice. Interns will be at the forefront of developing relationships between foreign tourists and locals.

Volunteer in Palestine offers human rights volunteer and internship programs in Palestine year-round, for periods of between 1 and 13 weeks, with the choice of start and end dates entirely up to the participant. The program also allows you to study and practice Ammiya (Palestinian Arabic). Additionally, for each week that you stay at the Center, you are eligible for three hours of Arabic instruction from qualified, experienced Palestinian teachers as a volunteer on the West Bank program. You will interact with NGOs, staff members, professors of law, students, and human rights activists as well as go on excursions to refugee camps and human rights organizations to advance your academic work and develop your conversational and classroom Arabic skills.

The Current Situation in the West Bank, Palestine

Since 1967, Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and East Jerusalem have faced “severe and discriminatory limitations on their human rights,” according to Human Rights Watch. Because of the region’s continuous military occupation, respect for international law has been restricted, with the UN ruling out the idea of a Palestinian state in 1967.

There have been widespread violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law by Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to a report released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The report was published on 5 March 2015 and relates to the period from 26 May 2013 to 31 October 2014. You will obtain a better grasp of the condition of human rights in the West Bank from your participation in Volunteer in Palestine’s human rights volunteer and internship programs 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 have an interest in learning more, please click here.

Internship opportunities in Gaza primarily center 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 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 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 have an interest 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.

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 have an interest 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.

Volunteering for Peace and Human Rights 

The Human Rights Volunteer and Internship programs in Palestine are excellent for anybody who is passionate about human rights and wants to guarantee that Palestinians have access to their fundamental rights. Volunteering in this program will provide the intern with vital experience if they have an interest in working for non-profit organizations in a humanitarian or legal role.

This program benefits university students since Volunteer in Palestine, via its relationship with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, may award academic credit to program participants. This program would be an excellent chance for people who have recently graduated to use their specialty in the real world.

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: 

Who Can Participate?

Volunteer in Palestine do not discriminate on any grounds, based on nationality, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other. We have a long tradition of accepting individuals from all over the world, and volunteers have come from many walks of life, backgrounds, and identities. Everyone is welcome to join us!

Is There Any Criteria?

There are only 3 criteria for participants wishing to volunteer: fluency in either English or Arabic, age 18-70 (although exceptions can be made in special circumstances), and positive attitude and an eagerness to learn.

Participants in the Human Rights Volunteer and Internship Programs Must Meet the Following Criteria:

Required:

• Be between 18 and 75 years
• Ability to converse fluently in English
• Willing to meet and interact with a diverse spectrum of Palestinian people
• A desire to learn

Not required:

• Arabic fluency
• Travel experience
• Teaching experience or an equivalent educational degree
• Being an English native speaker

Law and Human Rights Internship

The Palestinian Laws curriculum seeks to give a thorough overview of the legislation that governs the West Bank and Gaza. Internships are available year-round for periods ranging from one to thirteen weeks. This curriculum is suitable for law, social science, and human rights students, as well as anybody interested in the Palestinian legal system.

During the internship, interns will visit local Palestinian lawyers, law faculties, courts, human rights organizations, legal religious institutions, and clinics. They will see laws being passed, decisions being made, court decisions, legal discussions, and mediations taking place in a range of social contexts.

Visits to Local Organizations Working in the Field of Human Rights in Palestine

Volunteer in Palestine will organize visits to various local organizations working in the field of human rights, enabling you to decide what activities to develop and present as part of your workshops. As a result of your meetings with local organizations, you will gain a better understanding of the state of human rights in the West Bank.

The program begins with an overview of the Geneva Convention and international law surrounding human rights. You will then learn of the violations of these international accords in Palestine. 

Furthermore, you will get the chance to visit the United Nations Headquarters in Hebron, as well as other significant institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). You will go to Hebron and the surrounding regions to interview municipal authorities, community leaders, legislators, business owners, employees, teachers, and university students to learn more about how these violations occur.

Volunteers will be able to participate in a variety of training and mentorship programs on the subject of human rights. The courses will be tailored to your specific knowledge, interests, fields of expertise, and degree of experience. Because we are adaptable, you will be able to design your syllabus and schedule, allowing you to build your curriculum autonomously.

What Activities Can Be Organized When Volunteering?

There are several activities appropriate for all levels in the program that you may participate in during your stay, including:

• Educating Palestinian school and university students about basic rights
• Visiting UN buildings and Human Rights NGO Headquarters
• Visiting Palestinian refugee camps in and around Hebron.
• Writing human rights essays, with an emphasis on Palestine and Gaza
• Studying International Human Rights laws
• Creating a catalog of NGOs and describing and analyzing their impact on human rights violations across the world

And might include:

• Collaboration with journalist project students to create a short documentary
• Other activities (We happily encourage suggestions)

Program Fees and Information

For the total cost of this program Click Here. Program costs cover 3 hours of Arabic lessons, pre-departure support, accommodation, complimentary daily breakfasts, operating costs, and group excursions.

Program Fees Cover:

• Accommodation
• Language courses
• Operating costs
• Complimentary breakfast 
• Group excursions to Hebron 

There are no additional or hidden fees applied to these programs, as the cost quoted above is the final price that participants will pay.


Reviews and Awards

Volunteer in Palestine has been offering its services since 2011. Throughout the years, we have been developing many human rights volunteer and internship programs. We use the most advanced methods which we develop and enhance year after year. Education and learning through volunteering 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. Additionally, 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.

• +800 Reviews and ratings (96.8%) on gooverseas.com
• +160 Reviews and ratings on goabroad.com
• Participants’ video testimonials

How to Apply?

To register your interest, please send an email to Rafat, Volunteer in Palestine’s Manager at Rafat@excellencenter.org, with Human Rights Volunteer and Internship Programs In Palestine as the subject line to register your interest. From there, Rafat will then email you an application form.

However, should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at Info@ecpalestine.org. We look forward to hearing from you!


Conclusion

Volunteer in Palestine human rights volunteer abroad programs and internships are wonderful opportunities to contribute to the advancement of universal human rights in Palestine. Volunteers and interns will work closely with local organizations in the West Bank such as human rights organizations, law firms, charities, and activists. Participants will engage with local Palestinians in dialogue about their rights and liberties as declared in the Geneva Convention and the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

There are numerous reasons why you should consider visiting and volunteering in the West Bank, Palestine, whether you are planning to go to Palestine for fun, to learn the language or any other subjects, or even for religious reasons. You will benefit immensely from joining human rights internships. Our team at Volunteer in Palestine will assist you every step of the way before and throughout your stay. We emphasize the importance of the exchange of information and learning and are happy to address all of your questions about your stay, how to get to and from Hebron, the cost of living, and any other logistical questions. We hope to meet you soon.

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 look forward to hearing from you soon!

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