Palestine and Israel Internship: Whether you’re an undergraduate, graduate, professional, retiree or just someone interested in the political history, human rights, Palestinian refugees or current situation, the Palestine and Israel in Context Internship program is for you! With the ability to hear the opinions of everyday people and understand, grasp and witness the effects of the conflict first hand, this is a fantastic opportunity to gain insider knowledge beyond the headlines.

In particular, if you’re a current student of humanities, political sciences or Middle Eastern studies and looking to frame your knowledge within a cultural context, this internship program in Palestine is particularly pertinent to you as you will explore the occupation in the West Bank as well as meet Palestinian civillians, local human rights activists and families who are subject to Israeli military law.

In addition to these great opportunities, you will also be provided with an Arabic language course tailored to your individual level. With tuition three hours a week, you’ll also be able to immerse yourself in your surroundings by chatting with local Palestinians, ordering food in restaurants and more. Therefore, for those looking to enhance their knowledge of Arabic, experience cultural immersion and conduct political research, consider our program to gain an in-depth, personalised internship.

Looking for Summer Internships?

Volunteer In Palestine works with and is supported by the Palestinian Educational Authority, meaning that university credits are available for many of its summer internship programs, making this particular program a desirable internship opportunity. If enrolled in this program as an intern, students will gain a broader perspective on the Israeli/Palestinian situation.

Interns will have the opportunity to create dialogues on the contemporary situation in Palestine with university staff and students, lawyers, human rights actors, local politicians as well as everyday people. This summer internship is ideal for students who are seeking a unique, hands-on experience. 

Community-Based Outreach Activities

Designed to increase your knowledge of the conflict, you will act as a cultural ambassador for your country by spearheading community outreach programs for cross-cultural communication. For example, you will visit Palestinian refugee camps and discuss the geopolitical circumstances of Palestine with local politicians and activists.

Examples of outreach activities in Hebron, Palestine include organizing educational workshops (such as conversational English lessons for Palestinian children, youth, womens and refugees), CV and employment workshops and computer programming workshops. Furthermore, we are flexible and are happy to help you design and deliver a workshop for any skill you’d like to teach.

Moreover, in Hebron you can organize community sporting events, informational cultural presentations and others of your choice. But don’t worry, you won’t have to go through it alone as you will work with local Palestinians to enact these programs and gain sources of inspiration. The sky’s the limit at Volunteer In Palestine!

What You Will Contribute

As an intern in the Palestine and Israel in Context Internship Program, you will not only be studying the issues at hand but also working with us to create constructive programs geared towards benefiting members of the Palestinian community, e.g. designing workshops that address fundamental cultural differences.

At Volunteer In Palestine we want to invite people from around the world to come to Palestine and utilize their individual expertise to help the people of Hebron.

Benefits of interning in Hebron, Palestine

• 12 hours of Arabic lessons for each month you intern

• Accommodation with a Palestinian host family or a shared flat

• Breakfast with other participants (6 times a week)

• Pre-departure and support during your time in Palestine

• Visits to various sites in the city of Hebron (including refugee camps, the old city, different factories, etc.)

• Understanding of Palestinian politics and the experience of occupation in the West Bank 

•  Getting to know the human rights situation and helping the Palestinian refugees.

• Engagement in educational, social and community activities

• Palestinian hospitality and a pleasant climate

• Living and gaining impressions from one of the most politically divisive and ambivalent regions of the Middle East

• The opportunity to visit unique tourist attractions with a native perspective – including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah, Jenin and the Dead Sea in Jericho

• Visiting nearby cities both nationally and internationally such as Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Nazareth

• Help from well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers with excellent educational backgrounds

• A certificate upon completion

Schedule For Volunteers

You will be expected to work approximately 30 hours a week, from around 9am until 5pm and 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 the directors of the center, offering you exposure to traditional Palestinian foods such as labneh 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 the Volunteer In Palestine alongside your program’s commitments. Evenings are typically free, although we will organize occasional optional activities as part of our commitment to showcasing Palestine’s culture.

In addition to your work on your program, you will also have your own Arabic class schedule and time to prepare for any workshops that you oversee. This is alongside your free time, where you are welcome to undertake excursions to other cities.

Indeed, you may be surprised by how fast your schedule will fill up and how quickly your time will fly!

Who Can Participate?

Volunteer In Palestine does not discriminate on any basis and this includes nationality, ethnicity, religious standing, gender, sexual orientation or any other discernable means. Furthermore,we have a long history of welcoming people from around the globe including: 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.

Are there any requirements for participants?

• Colloquial in either Arabic or English
• Between the ages of 18 and 75 (unless granted special permission by the Center’s director)
• A positive attitude and an eagerness and openness to learn

Program Accommodation

During your time in Hebron, Palestine, you will have the opportunity to reside with a Palestinian host family, giving you the valuable chance to immerse yourself completely in the Arabic language as well as to have a rare look into Palestinian culture and life. This means taking part in family meals, witnessing and attending Palestinian cultural events and seeing the ins and outs of daily life.

However, if a host family should be unavailable (which will only apply to male participants), there is the option to reside in a shared flat or dorm in the city center. Whichever case, you will have plenty of opportunities outside of your time with the center to immerse yourselves completely in Palestinian culture.

Program Costs & Information

Our fees are priced competitively with other abroad programs, with the stated costs below covering the following expenses:

• Housing
• Language courses
• Center’s operating costs
• Breakfast (Mon – Fri)
• Group excursions

Arabic Classes For Program Participants

All of our international volunteers and interns receive 3 hours of Arabic class per week with an experienced and knowledgable Palestinian teacher. Additionally, there are plenty of chances to meet many people in Palestine, giving you the opportunity to learn and practice your Arabic skills further. But that’s not all, because as a thank you for your time with us, you can freely choose what dialect of Arabic you would like to learn from the following list:

• Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)
• Colloquial Palestinian Arabic
• Colloquial Shami/Levantine Arabic (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine)
• A mixed program between MSA and colloquial dialects

If you are unsure which dialect to study, we can guide and help you choose the one most appropriate for your needs, however they are all beneficial and our teachers are all very knowledgeable.

Awards & Recognitions 

We continue to strive towards “excellence”: In 2022 we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities and one of the top three language schools worldwide by Go Overseas. We received a total of five Go Overseas Community Choice Awards in 2022. The Excellence Center was  also recognized as one of the top Teach Abroad Providers for the category of “benefits” and one of the Top Internship Abroad Providers for the categories of “growth” and “support”. 

In 2021, we were also rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities. We received the community choice awards by Go Overseas in the categories “Best Language School”, and voted best on “fun” and “instruction.” 

In 2019, we received our first “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards” to acknowledge the Excellence Center’s impact on the community of travelers around the world. The Excellence Center continues to be a highly rated travel organization across its selection of programs. Check out our many great reviews here:

• +630 Reviews (94%) on Gooverseas.com
• +150 Reviews (96%) on Goabroad.com
• Participants’ video testimonials

What Language Is The Program Run In?

ThePalestine and Israel in Context Internship is geared toward English speakers however, for the sake of immersion, the higher the course level the less English will be utilized in the classroom. Furthermore, when navigating through Hebron, you will be required to utilize your Arabic skills to the best of your ability, creating a fully immersive experience.

General information:

Other Programs

However, if this program is not for you (or if you just fancy partaking in more than one or trying something new instead), we run a wide range of volunteer projects at the Excellence Centre. Covering a variety of subjects, whether you have interests or expertise in arts, sports, refugee care, laws and justice, education, environmental and humanitarian Issues or just in promoting professional development, you can certainly find a volunteering program in which you can flourish and greatly contribute to.

Our short-term volunteer programs in the West Bank, Palestine include: 

A Flexible Program

Volunteer In Palestine in Hebron will work with you to shape this volunteer position to suit your experience and skills. As we are very flexible, you will be able to freely choose what kind of activities and workshops you would be interested in implementing during your time with us.

Looking for volunteers year round, you decide when you would like to start and we organize things accordingly. You can volunteer anywhere between 1-13 weeks.

Traveling To And From Hebron And The West Bank

All of our volunteers travel to and from Hebron using single or shared taxis which pass through checkpoints.

You will 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
• How to get to Hebron, Palestine
• Planning your trip to Palestine
• How to get from the Ben Gurion Airport, Israel to Hebron

How to Fly to Palestine?

The easiest way to get to Volunteer In Palestine is to fly to:

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

Alternatively:

• Flying to Eilat airport in the south of Israel and then traveling by shuttle or by taking a bus to Jerusalem and then to Hebron. However, the duration of the trip can last between six and seven hours.
• Flying to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan and then crossing the border to Palestine. However, this takes more time and is more expensive.

How Do I Get A Visa To Visit Palestine?

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

Generally, no prior visa is needed for Americans, Canadians and most Europeans in order to enter Palestine but please refer to the visa exemption agreement for further information. Upon your arrival at the Israeli Airports in Tel Aviv or Eilat, you will be granted a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days. This is sufficient for participation in Volunteer In Palestine’s programs and to enable you to travel around Palestine and Israel easily.

Tel Aviv Airport Pickups

The Volunteer In Palestine staff can organize a taxi to pick you up at Ben Gurion Airport and take you straight to Hebron and the Center. This is the easiest and fastest way (about an hour, 60 km/37 miles) to get to us.

Additional fees apply and the trip costs about 160 Euro. Please us if you are interested in this option.

Safety Of Our Volunteers And Interns 

The region of Palestine is perpetually unstable. While there is always unrest and war, the situation sometimes becomes more volatile. Nonetheless, each year millions of tourists visit Palestine and the West Bank, including Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin, Tulkarem, Nablus and many other cities without any safety issues. Palestinians in general are a welcoming and hospitable people and they recognize the politics of a country may differ from its people.  

Since its formation in 2011, the Excellence Center/Volunteer In Palestine has welcomed over 1,000 international visitors. These visitors have lived and worked in Hebron for weeks or months at a time and overall they never faced any threats or safety issues while in Hebron or the West Bank in general.

Moreover, the Excellence Centre is situated in an area of Hebron which is under the Palestinian authority and in the heart of the city. Our Palestinian host families and the male dorms are located near the Volunteer In Palestine as well.

Summary

The Palestine and Israel in Context Internship program in the city of Hebron, West Bank is for anyone that is looking to put their foot through the door of Palestinian community development as well as those who are interested in diplomacy, human rights, Palestinian refugees and political science. If you are looking to make a difference and be open to new experiences and cultural immersion, this internship program on Palestine is for you!

How To Apply

If you are interested in participating in our Israeli – Palestinian conflict program, please, write to us at info@ecpalestine.org CC Mr. Rafat Shantir at Rafat@excellencenter.org. We aim to respond to your initial inquiry within 1 – 2 business days.

In the subject line of your email write, “The Palestine and Israel in Context Internship program.” 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.

Related Volunteer Programs

How To Get Further Information 

For more information, please visit our website: https://excellencenter.org/

Whatsapp:+972599479880

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excellence.center

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