Throughout the Palestinian Refugees Volunteer Program, you will be working directly with Palestinian refugees in the city of Hebron, West Bank. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work with Palestinian women, children, 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. 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 the refugee camps are underdeveloped and lack many of the basic resources to fulfill their students’ educational needs. The main purpose of bringing volunteers to Hebron is so that refugees can gain skills that might otherwise be out of reach for them. This can be done through teaching English, but also in a plethora of other ways. With your time and volunteering, you can help make a genuine impact in the lives of the students.

Workshops For Palestinian Refugees

Further, volunteers will have the opportunity to work with local 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 refugees.

These workshops are crucial because they teach new skills, as well as foster cultural exchange. 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.

Volunteer in Palestine Programs can span anywhere from 1-13 weeks depending on the volunteer’s preference. This is a great opportunity for a wide range of people, from students to retirees. This volunteer program is ideal for those with an interest in political science, human rights, or politics of the Middle East and would like to pursue a career in teaching or humanitarian aid.

Volunteering with Palestinian Refugees is especially an opportunity for both undergraduate and graduate students looking to build experience in the human rights field. This is also a program fit for professionals and employees in human rights organizations to gain experience in a new setting with new cultures.

About Displaced People in Palestine

Many are surprised to learn that there are Palestinian refugees within Palestine itself. As a matter of fact, the Palestinian diaspora is the largest group of displaced peoples in the world, with approximately 7.1 million dispersed globally.

This phenomenon finds its roots in two key years within the mid-20^th century. The first is 1948 during the Nakba when Palestinians fled from their homes to escape Israeli militias, and the second is 1967 during the Six-Day War which ended in Israel occupying the Syrian Golan Heights, the West Bank, Gaza, and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, while also illegally annexing Jerusalem. While Jordan and Egypt had administered the West Bank and the Gaza Strip respectively between the time of the Nakba and the Six-Day War, these territories both fell under Israeli control thereafter. 

Over 700,000 Palestinians who fled during the Nakba from what was to become the new state of Israel to territories under Jordanian or Egyptian control thereafter became refugees, and their children to this day are still assigned refugee status.

Palestinians also fled to other parts of the region as well including Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, however the latter was the only country in the world to offer citizenship to the newly displaced refugees. Additionally, many eventually also migrated to other parts of the world such as Europe and the Americas.

Supporting Local Refugee Camps

Palestinian refugees fall under the purview of the United Nations, with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency–more commonly referred to as the UNRWA–supporting 19 refugee camps within the West Bank alone. Conditions in these camps such as Al Fawwar or Al Arroub are notoriously cramped and uncomfortable, lacking basic necessities, services, and infrastructure including hospitals and enough schools to accommodate the camp populations adequately.

These Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank originally began as expansive tent-cities, however as time went on and it became clear a return would not happen anytime soon, stone structures gradually replaced tents, causing cramped, concrete quarters. Refugee camps therefore have an exceptionally high population density where people often experience housing shortages and overcrowding. 

Your Impact on the Palestinian Community

By joining Volunteer in Palestine, you not only support a local Palestinian organization but also the Palestinian community in general. We offer low-priced courses for Palestinian students in order to empower lower-income families and give them access to affordable education and extra English language classes.

The center also offers many free of charge workshops, seminars, and courses to support Palestinian refugees in the city of Hebron. Volunteers in Palestine can play an important role in contributing to the Palestinian community’s well-being. Your work with us helps to develop and build pathways to understanding. Many opportunities are offered on volunteer projects in Palestine supporting education and focuses on community development.

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 use the skills and talents they already possess to enhance our program, create something new, and work for an improved program.

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.

Summer Volunteering and Internship Programs

While Volunteer in Palestine operates year-round (Summer, Winter, Fall, and Spring), we also have summer volunteer and internship programs specifically designed for students looking for opportunities to go abroad while also gaining university credit.

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.

Through a partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, The Excellence Center/Engage in Palestine is able to offer academic credit to our currently enrolled university students. This makes for the perfect opportunity to travel to Palestine during your summer, gain hands-on experience in a related field, and work towards your degree all at the same time.  

Our range of programs are designed so that each volunteer can focus on a personal passion of theirs or area of expertise. Volunteers also have the chance to combine different program components together to create an experience particular to the needs of their degree or career field. All programs are 1-13 weeks long and are accompanied with Arabic language classes provided by the Center. 

For volunteers interested in coming to Palestine, particularly with a focus on working with refugees, we strongly recommend the following volunteering opportunities:

Program Details

As a volunteer of the Palestinian Refugees Program, your prime responsibility will be offering educational and cultural services within the Palestinian refugee community. Most of  Volunteer in Palestine’s efforts are directed toward education since this is a critical need. The importance of working within these camps alongside refugees cannot be overstated. 

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. Because these camps are outside the main city centers, the people residing within them have limited opportunity to connect with international visitors and practice their English. Volunteer in Palestine therefore tries its best to respond to this need by organizing educational and community activities to bring Palestinians and international participants together. 

Volunteer in Palestine participants can stay from 1-13 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.

Activities

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.

 However, if teaching English is not your forte, there are a number of other ways to volunteer and assist refugees of Palestine. Volunteers can organize workshops and activities to build other skill sets 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 
• Resume and CV Workshops
• Journalism workshops for high school students 
• Medicine (First aid Courses)

What Language is the Program Run In? 

All of our volunteer programs are geared toward English speakers. However, and for the sake of immersion, for volunteers taking a higher course level in Arabic, there will be less English utilized in the classroom.

Further, when navigating through Hebron, Palestine, participants will be required to utilize their Arabic skills to the best of their ability, creating a fully immersive experience. 

Benefits of Volunteering in Palestine 

Many volunteers participate in this program for the experiences and skills that are gained through volunteering with Palestinian refugees. Aside from the feeling of making a real difference in the lives of others, there are some other benefits to be gained as well.

Volunteers in program also receive many benefits such as:

• An orientation about Palestinian culture and Hebron specifically

• Arabic language classes (12 hours a month or 3 hours a week)

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

• Presentations on Palestinian society and daily life

• Accommodation with either a Palestinian host family (for women) or in our male dorm

• Eating and enjoying local Palestinian foods and desserts

• Attending cultural nights featuring entertainment and activities, organized by us

• 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, Tulkarem, 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

• A certificate upon completion

Arabic Lessons for all our Volunteers

In addition to their work with Volunteer in Palestine, 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. These classes are designed so participants may better assist the people with whom they are working, with the hope they may connect on a fundamental level. Additionally, making the effort to learn the local language is a mark of good diplomacy and respect for the culture, one that is noted and appreciated by all those you meet.

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 which dialect of Arabic they would like to learn during their time in Palestine.

Choosing an Arabic Dialect

All volunteers at our base in Hebron will receive a choice of Arabic dialects to learn during their time in the West Bank. We can help you choose which Arabic dialect to study if you are unsure. 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)

Extracurricular Activities

Our volunteers from all over the world participate in educational, cultural, and community activities during their program. Listed above were some of the activities that have been executed in the past. There are a wide range of options for extra-curricular activities, and creativity is greatly encouraged when creating one.

Creating these workshops is a great way to add more to this experience not only for the refuge population but also for yourself and the other volunteers at the center. In addition, our program arranges many extracurricular activities including trips to the old city of Hebron, 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 as well as contemporary politics.

Accommodation

While 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 roommates which holds many new and exciting experiences! 

The second option available to participants (Female) is to stay with a Palestinian host family. Participants will receive a firsthand view into Palestinian life, customs, and culture while gaining an opportunity to practice their Arabic. 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 culturally immersive experience! 

Participants may also choose to live in private accommodation, however this will entail covering their own expenses. If this option is preferred, we are happy to help find a living situation suitable to your needs. Whichever mode of housing participants choose, their time in Hebron, Palestine will be immersive, enriching, and memorable! 

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!

Schedule For Volunteers

Volunteering with Palestinian refugees through the Excellence Center requires both 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. 

Every work day begins with breakfast. It typically consists of bread, olive oil and za’atar, hummus, labneh, baba ganoush, falafel, cucumber, tomato, and bell pepper– all of the essentials for a traditional Palestinian morning meal, and meant to prepare volunteers for the workday ahead. In addition, breakfast will be shared between all the Center’s staff, volunteers, and interns; this is designed to create stronger communal bonds throughout the Center, as well as touch bases with all participants on their experiences and ambitions for the coming day. 

The work day is filled with preparation for English classes and other workshops. In addition to their work, throughout the day volunteers will have their Arabic language courses which will require much study and preparation. This is accounted for in the workday as well. 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. 

Volunteer in Palestine also runs regular excursion trips into Hebron throughout the week, connecting volunteers with local activists and organizations. Evenings are usually free, allowing volunteers the chance to explore the city of Hebron, its many restaurants, shops, and historical sights by themselves or with fellow EC workers.

Traveling To Hebron

Reaching the Center in Hebron, Palestine will be a long journey, but it need not be arduous. Although there are some obstacles when traveling to Hebron, we are happy to help, and provide all the resources you need to reach us in an efficient, safe, and practical manner. Please read our articles below on planning your trip, flying to Palestine, the different routes to Hebron, and Israeli and 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

If you have any further inquiries about travel to Palestine, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. Our contact information can be found at the bottom of this page. 

Program Costs And Components

Volunteer in Palestine is priced competitively with other abroad programs: 250 Euros a week, with the stated costs covering the following expenses: 

• Housing in Hebron 
• Arabic Language courses
• Center’s operating costs
• Breakfast (Mon – Th) 
• Group excursions  

Further, the program prices listed on this webpage are the complete and final cost students will pay; there are no hidden fees upon arrival. A complete list of program details, costs, and components can be found below:

Who Can Participate?

Volunteer in Palestine does not discriminate on any basis. This includes a person’s nationality, ethnicity, religious standing, gender, sexual orientation, or by any other discernible means. Further, the Excellence Center has a long history of welcoming people from around the globe. 

The center has over 12 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, including volunteers from 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! 

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.

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.

How to Apply

If you are interested in participating in our Palestinian Refugees Program, please, write to us at Info@ecpalestine.org and CC Mr. Rafat Shantir at Rafat@excellencenter.org. We should respond to your initial inquiry within 1-2 business days.

In the subject line of your email write “Volunteering with Palestinian Refugees.” Upon responding we will attach an application form which you will fill out and return to us to begin the on-boarding process.

Great Reviews and Community Awards

Since 2011 the Excellence Center/Engage in Palestine has welcomed individuals from 40 different countries! While we continue to develop our programs to provide the best possible learning experience, for over 12 years the Center’s fundamental mission remains the same: to connect, teach, and advance individuals within the local and international community.

In 2019, we received our first “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards” recognizing the Excellence Center’s meaningful and unforgettable impact on international travelers. 

Additionally, the Excellence Center/Engage in Palestine is renowned for its cultural immersion, friendly staff and atmosphere, and its commitment to dispelling misconceptions about Palestine and Palestinians. If you are interested in the culture of Palestine and would like to visit the West Bank, please read our program reviews to see if the Excellence Center/Engage in Palestine is the right organization for you:

• 730+ Reviews (94%) on gooverseas.com
• 150+ reviews (96%) on goabroad.com
• Video Testimonials

Summary

The Palestinian Refugees Volunteer Program is perfect for those passionate about advancing human rights and assisting the cause of refugees in the West Bank, Palestine while actively working alongside local Palestinians. As a component of this program, participants will visit Palestinian refugee camps, work with human rights and international organizations, and most importantly provide education to refugee children.

Additionally, participants will participate in Arabic language classes and experience cultural immersion while living in Hebron as they learn the language and live with a local Palestinian host family. For those looking to aid the cause of Palestinian refugees and explore a career in humanitarian aid, the Volunteer with Refugees in Palestine is a great place to start. 

Related Volunteer Programs

How To Get Further Information 

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

EC Website: https://excellencenter.org/

Study in Palestine: https://studyinpalestine.org/

Whatsapp:+972 599 479 880

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