Trips and Site Visits: As a volunteer or student at Volunteer in Palestine in Hebron, you will be given the opportunity to be taken on several guided trips around Hebron, Palestine. The center manages and covers all costs for these trips in the city of Hebron, Palestine to make the experience as simple as possible.
The Old City of Hebron, Palestine
One of these trips is to a historic site located just a few kilometers from the Center itself, the al-Khalil Old City. This trip includes traveling through the famous souq, greeted by cries of “welcome!” from locals, and a guide from the center explaining the history and significance of each section.
Al-Ibrahimi Mosque
Located in the Old City is the al-Ibrahimi Mosque, which, as the fourth-holiest mosque in Islam and is the oldest major building in the world still serving its original purpose, is packed with religious and cultural artifacts, including the possible bodies of prophets.
Shuhada Street
Another place that we visit, located close to the Old City, is Shuhada Street, the former artery of Hebron. All the shops on the street were forcibly closed over a decade ago, and only a few families remain, braving a heavily armed checkpoint whenever they wish to leave their house.
The Excellence Center volunteers and students are also given the opportunity to meet some of these last families living on Shuhada Street, which provides a unique insight into the situation there.
Palestinian Refugee Camps
The Excellence Center/Volunteer in Palestine regularly organizes trips to Palestinian refugee camps in Hebron and Bethlehem, such as Al-Fawar, Arroub Camp and Aida camp, to show the volunteers and students what life is like in the center. If you volunteer as an English teacher, you may occasionally teach inside refugee camps.
Upon your visit, you will be able to hear peoples’ stories about how they became Palestinian refugees and what hardships they face living in camps. In addition, the center will provide a translator who can translate conversations and explain more about the history of the camps.
Visits to Masafer Yatta
The Excellence Center/Volunteer in Palestine frequently organizes trips to Masafer Yatta. This region, known as “مسافر يطا” in Arabic and also spelled as Mosfaret Yatta, is a cluster of 19 Palestinian hamlets situated in the southern West Bank within the Hebron Governorate of the State of Palestine. Masafer Yatta lies between 14 and 24 kilometers to the south of Hebron city, nestled in the southern Hebron Hills.
Our excursions are thoughtfully designed to offer you an unforgettable and enriching adventure that seamlessly combines cultural exploration with opportunities to engage with the local Palestinian community. These trips provide insights into the human rights situation and living conditions, enhancing your understanding of the region.
Bedouin Village Susya
Venture to Susya, a Bedouin village in Hebron, where 30 families, totaling approximately 450 people, have established a makeshift settlement over the course of 30 years. The Excellence Center arranges visits to Susya, aiming to enlighten international participants about the human rights violations and the living conditions experienced by Palestinians in this area.
Susya, located in the southern part of the West Bank, has been a focal point of attention due to the community’s enduring struggle against violence from settlers and the Israeli government. The Israeli authorities have attempted to evacuate and dismantle the village, not only as part of land acquisition for Jewish settlements but also within a broader plan to displace Palestinian residents from Area C.
During your visit, you will have the unique opportunity to engage with the Palestinian people of Susya, hearing their stories and experiences firsthand.
Palestinian keffiyeh Factory
The keffiyeh is a symbol of paramount importance in Palestinian history. As a volunteer or student here at the center, we will bring you to a local business that is integral to this history. Located 15 minutes from the center, the Herbawi Textile factory is the last remaining factory in Palestine that produces keffiyeh.
After trade restrictions were lifted, a slew of cheap imports drove many Palestinian keffiyeh makers out of business. The Herbawi factory is the last bastion of high quality kefiyyeh production, and visitors are provided the remarkable opportunity to see its inner workings.
Trips Around the Rest of Palestine
In addition, we facilitate trips around the rest of Palestine (although, unfortunately, we cannot cover all of the costs on these). We bring our volunteers and students to Ramallah, Jericho, and Jerusalem. These external trips, in addition to our local ones, provide an immense cultural experience unlike any other.
Final Remarks
Time spent in a foreign land is wasted without cultural immersion, so Volunteer in Palestine ensures that your time here is as immersive as possible. Our visits and trips around Hebron, Palestine are a fantastic introduction to Palestine’s rich, beautiful history.
Get Further Information
For more information, please visit our website: https://excellencenter.org/
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