Too Old To Volunteer in Palestine? Engaging in Palestine is an exciting and unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your own life and the lives of others, try something different, and meet interesting people. However, if you are reading this page, you might be hesitant and wondering if your age will prevent you from engaging in Palestine. Adults of all ages are able to enjoy Palestine. However, there are some important considerations to make if you think your age will be a barrier. Continue reading to find out more.
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Too Old To Study Arabic In Palestine?
At Volunteer in Palestine, we offer intensive Arabic courses for English speakers in either Modern Standard Arabic or the local dialect. Our intensive Arabic programs are very mentally stimulating and require a lot of focus in class and dedicated time for studying and practicing outside of class. This can be a challenge regardless of age, particularly if you have never learned Arabic. In addition to that, you will want to organize your time well and have good time management so you can still have plenty of free time to rest, socialize, and enjoy yourself.
We also offer non-intensive Arabic courses, a less demanding option with only 12 weekly class hours. Alternatively, you can participate in one of our volunteer or internship programs that include three hours of weekly Arabic lessons. If you wish to add a few extra hours of Arabic classes, we can arrange this for you at an additional hourly cost. Your age shouldn’t be a barrier if you feel up to the challenge and have good all-round health!
Studying A Foreign Language Benefits Your Brain
Learning a new language has been shown in studies to improve memory, problem-solving, and concentration. This is because language learning involves the formation of new neural pathways in the brain, which can aid in keeping the brain active and engaged.
Our brains can become less active as we age, leading to cognitive decline. On the other hand, learning a foreign language such as Arabic can help keep the brain active, engaged, and functioning at a high level.
Too Old to Volunteer Or Intern In Palestine?
Volunteer in Palestine also offers a wide range of short-term volunteer and internship programs to interested adults of all ages. As long as you have the ability to engage with our programs successfully, then age shouldn’t be a hindrance. When considering if age is a factor in participating in one of our volunteer or internship opportunities, it is important to understand that each program will have different requirements and activities.
So some of our programs might be more suitable for you than others. Our programs are also very flexible, and we can tailor them to meet an individual’s needs because we know that our participants have different interests, needs, and circumstances.
If you wish to volunteer or intern with us but have specific age or health-related concerns, contact us, and we can advise you on your situation.
Too Old To Teach English?
Anyone wishing to volunteer to teach English in Palestine must have excellent communication skills, including good hearing and the ability to write on a whiteboard. You will also need to have a sharp mind, the ability to think on your feet, make lesson plans ahead of time, and be flexible. These qualities require you to be physically and mentally healthy, which isn’t necessarily dependent on your age.
Volunteering Has Numerous Health And Social Benefits
Studies show that volunteers provide numerous benefits for older adults, including improved physical and mental health, increased social engagement, and a stronger sense of purpose. Many older individuals or retirees find that volunteering keeps them active and engaged in their community, and it can even provide opportunities to learn new skills or pursue new interests.
Will Everyone Else Be Younger Than Me?
Our mix of volunteers, interns, and students is constantly changing. Sometimes, the median age is around 30; other times, it is lower or higher. We have hosted participants in their 70s and others who are only 18 years old. If you are worried that everyone else will be much younger than you, we hope that we can ease your concerns.
We host participants of all ages, and we have had many participants make good friends with each other despite significant age gaps. Personality and willingness to engage with others are much more important factors than your age when it comes to making friends and socializing with others. As long as you are friendly and willing to put yourself out there, you won’t have any problems having a wonderful time with our other volunteers, interns, and students despite age differences.
Navigating Around Hebron
Our volunteers generally make their way around the city of Hebron by walking or taking a taxi where needed. Palestine has several mountainous cities, and one of those is Hebron, which means there are many hills in the city! So being physically fit to walk uphill and around the city is important.
The sidewalks in Hebron are not always the best and are often full of people, resulting in many people walking on the road, which is normal here. So sometimes your walk home or to our center can feel a little like an obstacle course in some parts, which is a great way to get some extra exercise as long as you are physically fit enough and have good eyesight.
Taxis And Public Transportation In Hebron
While it is easy to hail a taxi off the street when you are on a main road in Hebron, you will find that if you live off a main road, you will usually need to walk a few minutes to a main road to get a taxi. There is also no public transportation system for buses, trains, trams, or metros in Hebron, like in many cities worldwide. Walking in Hebron is inevitable, and you will likely spend much of your days on your feet.
Weather In Hebron
If you have any health or weather-related concerns, there might be times of the year that are more suitable for you to engage in Palestine than other times.
Engaging In Palestine In the Summer
Our summers (June through September) are usually quite hot and dry, and the sun is quite strong in Palestine, with a high UV index. So it is important to wear sun protection, keep out of direct sun where possible, and stay hydrated. If you think the heat will adversely affect your age or health, we recommend engaging in Palestine during cooler weather.
Engaging In Palestine In Other Seasons
On the other hand, winters can get quite cold in Hebron. While the weather is usually warm and sunny or somewhat cold during the middle of the day, it gets much colder at night. Having indoor heating isn’t very common in Hebron; houses are generally built to keep the heat out. So when you are at home at night, it will likely be quite cold, so make sure you have plenty of warm clothing and layers.
Depending on your individual circumstances, you might find it easier to engage with us in Palestine in the spring or autumn/fall when the weather is more temperate.
Final Thoughts
At Volunteer in Palestine, we typically set an age limit for our programs at 70 years old. However, we can waive this age limit if our director approves it. If you are over 70 and wish to engage in Palestine, contact us to discuss your options. Generally speaking, no one is too old to Volunteer in Palestine, as long as you have good physical and mental health, which are not necessarily dependent on age.
Often the biggest barrier to older individuals engaging in Palestine is only their belief that they are too old and worries about how they will fit in with people younger than them. However, after they arrive in Palestine, they often only have one regret, which is that they didn’t do it sooner.
Contact Us
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
WhatsApp:+972 599 479 880
Website: https://volunteerinpalestine.org/
Website: https://excellencenter.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excellence.center
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter
