Volunteer in local schools in Palestine: This program is a fantastic opportunity to positively impact the lives of Palestinian children, refugees, and youth. Our Volunteer in Local Palestinian Schools program in Hebron, West Bank, is a unique scheme that welcomes both native and non-native English speakers and students, graduates, professionals, and retirees interested in enhancing the English and life skills of local students.
As a volunteer, you can visit local Palestinian schools, refugee camps, and villages around Hebron, where you can make essential contributions to the Palestinian community in the West Bank, Palestine. Participating in this program helps the students gain valuable skills and knowledge while learning about their culture and way of life. This is an ideal opportunity for anyone passionate about education, community development, and making a difference in the West Bank, Palestine.
Volunteer Programs in Local Schools in Palestine for 2025/2026
Volunteer in Palestine is now accepting applications for its Volunteer Programs in Local Schools in Palestine for 2025/2026. These programs are perfect for individuals looking to volunteer in the West Bank or Gaza and are passionate about education and community development. Volunteers can work in local schools, supporting teachers and Palestinian students while making a meaningful impact on the Palestinian education system.
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Immerse Yourself In Palestinian Culture a Volunteer In Local Schools in Palestine
Our volunteering with Palestinian children and youth program is designed to fully immerse you in Palestinian culture and forge strong relationships while challenging you as a person. You will work alongside the Palestinian men, women, and children of the local area, allowing you to meet many new people, study a new language, and learn more about the local Palestinians and refugees living in and around Hebron.
Once you arrive at Volunteer in Palestine and complete your personalized orientation, you can design and create workshops to benefit Palestinian children and youth. These workshops will make up the majority of your workload during your time in the West Bank, Palestine. Previous workshops created by volunteers have included:
- Fun days for Palestinian children in the refugee camps
- Conversational English language courses
- Arts and music courses for disabled children
- Media training for students
- Environmental camps for students
- Mathematics lessons
- Drama lessons
- Journalism workshops for high school students
- Medical seminars, such as first-aid courses
This volunteer program in the West Bank is open to everyone aged 18 – 70 from all countries, all majors, and all walks of life as long as they are willing to participate.
Volunteer With Palestinian Children And Youth In Summer
The Volunteer in Local Palestinian Schools in Summer Program is ideal for you if you are seeking to engage and volunteer with Palestinian children and youth in the summer. This volunteer program is especially suitable for university students who are looking for internships to gain practical, in-person experiences in the West Bank, Palestine, Israel, and the Middle East.
While we operate our Volunteer in Local Schools in Palestine Program year-round, we also have dedicated summer volunteer programs specifically designed for students looking for opportunities to volunteer abroad in teaching and volunteering with children and youth while gaining credit toward their studies. Volunteer in Palestine can grant our already enrolled university students academic credit thanks to collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Education.
As students in Palestine have school holidays in the summer, our summer program will be different from when it runs throughout the rest of the year. However, there will still be many exciting and various opportunities to participate, whether you join us in the summer or at any other time.
We invite you to join this program to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to travel throughout the summer, obtain practical experience in a related profession, and work towards your degree simultaneously.
Experience The Palestinian School System
In this volunteering program in the West Bank, Palestine, we would like to bridge the gap between the students in Hebron and the international volunteers who come to the center. This is for two reasons:
1) To allow the students to become familiar with foreign nationals
2) To enable you to experience and understand the Palestinian school system yourself directly
Many Palestinians in Hebron have never met or talked to a foreign national due to the Israeli Occupation limiting their prospects for traveling abroad and greatly limiting the tourism industry in Hebron. Palestinian students may experience a range of emotions when meeting with internationals. Some might be a bit scared and shy, and some will be very excited and eager to communicate with you and learn more about you.
While Palestinians learn English in school, they have limited opportunities to practice speaking English with fluent English speakers (whether native or non-native). This program helps to bridge that gap by connecting international English speakers with Palestinian children and youth. This will not only help them improve their English through practice but also help them improve their confidence, which will benefit their English and their overall self-esteem.
As a participant, this program also gives you a unique insight into the Palestinian school system by allowing you to experience it for yourself. You will be able to learn from other teachers and students while also getting practical experience through participating and teaching.
General Information About The Program:
| Location of Volunteer Program | Hebron, West Bank, Palestine |
| Program Language | English |
| Volunteering Duration | 1-13 weeks |
| Starting/ Ending Dates | Year round |
| Program Focus | Palestinian children and refugees Palestinian schools students Volunteering with Palestinian children |
| Monthly Costs | Here you may find the price list |
| Homestay in Hebron | Palestinian host family Shared Modern Apartment Private (additional fees apply) |
| Educational Degree | Not required |
| University Credit | Available |
| Application Deadline | No deadline |
| Reviews and Ratings | Reviews On Gooverseas.com Reviews On Goabroad.com Participants video testimonials |
A Flexible Volunteering Program
As a participant in the Volunteer in Local Schools in Palestine Program, you are welcome to choose what activities you would like to organize during your program and whether you would like to work with certain target groups (for example, children of a certain age).
We understand that our international participants have different skills, interests, and circumstances, so we are very flexible about the kinds of activities and experiences you wish to have. We also make the program length very flexible, anywhere from 1 to 13 weeks, so you can choose the best option.
A Wide Range Of Impact
Our Volunteer in Local Palestinian Schools Program in Hebron, West Bank, is well-researched, targeted, and suitable for anyone who wants to gain insights into daily Palestinian life, education, teaching English, and human rights.
We aim to make a long-term difference for the Palestinian local community by exchanging ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes.” Our programs foster shared and mutual learning for our community, volunteers, and interns. When you take on the role of a volunteer teacher, you not only help others learn, but you will learn so much from your students, which will impact your life even after leaving Palestine.
Volunteering and interning is a unique opportunity to genuinely impact your life and the lives of others, including Palestinian children, refugees, youth, and community members in the West Bank, Palestine.
When You Arrive In Hebron, Palestine
Before deciding on a schedule, volunteers will be welcomed to the center and given an orientation about Hebron and Palestinian culture, including Arabic classes and an introduction to Palestinian culture.
To help you become as involved as possible in the Palestinian community and culture, the center will provide you with accommodation with a Palestinian host family who will help you with your acclimatization and any issues that might arise. Male volunteers may instead stay at the Shared Modern Apartment.
As mentioned before, after the introductory week, you will decide what kind of activities to develop and present to your students based on your individual knowledge, interests, and level of experience. You will be given a lot of control over this process.
Which Kind Of Activities Can You Organize?
At Volunteer in Palestine, we strive to provide volunteers with a flexible and customized experience that aligns with their interests and goals. We are happy to work with you to create a volunteering plan that suits your preferences and skills.
Currently, our program offers a variety of opportunities, including:
- Teaching conversational English to Palestinian children, youth, and refugee children in local schools in and around Hebron.
- Planning and organizing interactive activities such as painting, photography, and writing workshops.
- Organizing activities aimed at entertaining refugee children in Hebron.
- Assisting in organizing weekly workshops for Palestinian refugees on educational-related subjects such as writing resumes and formal emails, teaching employment, and educational writing skills.
- Helping Volunteer in Palestine’s staff in administration-related activities, such as writing articles and reports and printing student materials.
By participating in our program, you can gain valuable experience and make a meaningful contribution to the local community. We look forward to working with you to create a volunteering plan that aligns with your interests and goals.
Who Comes To Volunteer?
Volunteer in Palestine does not discriminate on any basis, including a person’s nationality, ethnicity, religious standing, gender, sexual orientation, or by any other discernible means.
Furthermore, we have a long history of welcoming people from around the globe, including those 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, China and New Zealand.
Although most of our volunteers are aged 18 and above here in Palestine, if you are younger than 18, please contact us and discuss volunteering possibilities. We have welcomed volunteers up to 75 years of age in the past and have programs suitable for everyone with any specialization or interest.
To volunteer in a local Palestinian school, you should be:
- Willing to work with diverse Palestinian children, youth, and school students
- A student or graduate who seeks teaching experience
- Someone interested in the educational system in Palestine
- An interest or principal in English or education
- 18+ and willing to make an impact on the local community
- Someone who desires to help the future leaders of Palestine
What do you need to be a volunteer in a local school in Palestine?
- 18+
- The ability to communicate in English
- The ability to work with an international team
- Patience and enthusiasm
- To be eager to learn
What don’t you need?
- The ability to speak Arabic
- Travel or work experience
- To be a native speaker of English
- A degree in English or any specialization
- Experience in teaching English as a foreign language
Do I need a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate?
No, having a TEFL certificate is not a requirement. You will receive a teaching manual and all the necessary resources and materials.
Arabic Lessons For Volunteers
All our international volunteers and interns receive 3 hours of Arabic classes a week or 12 hours a month with an experienced and knowledgeable Palestinian teacher. This foundation ensures that all volunteers will have plenty of chances to interact with locals and learn and practice the language.
No matter your Arabic level, from total beginner to advanced, we make our Arabic lessons suitable for you. On top of that, as a volunteer or intern, you can freely choose what kind of Arabic you would like to learn.
Arabic Dialects To Learn
Our participants receive a choice of Arabic dialects to study during their time in the West Bank. 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)
If you are unsure about the difference or which dialect will best suit you, we are always here to help and offer advice.
Accommodation
Volunteer in Palestine aims to achieve social discourse through cultural immersion. The center provides the program participants’ accommodation in Hebron, West Bank, as follows:
- Female participants can live with a designated Palestinian host family in the local Hebron area.
- Male participants can stay in our modern shared apartment, just a five-minute walk from Volunteer in Palestine in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine.
Private rooms can also be arranged, although these naturally come with an additional fee.
A Typical Day at Volunteer in Palestine
You will be expected to work approximately 25-30 hours a week, from around 10 am until 5 pm, Saturday to Thursday, with two days off. One of your days off will be Friday and another day of your choice.
International volunteers start the day with breakfast every morning at Volunteer in Palestine. Breakfast is shared with Palestinian teachers, volunteers from other programs, and the center’s directors, offering exposure to traditional Palestinian foods such as labneh and hummus and the opportunity to further practice their Arabic. You may arrange to have lunch whenever you have a break in your schedule, and it is easy to find supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, shawarma, and falafel near Volunteer in Palestine.
During the day, you will also have the opportunity to go on sightseeing trips in Hebron that Volunteer in Palestine coordinates 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. During the evenings, our volunteers often arrange to go to a cafe to study or socialize, have dinner at a restaurant together, spend time with their host family (only for female volunteers), or go to a local gym.
In addition to your work on the local schools 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 can 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!
Benefits Of Volunteering:
Our volunteer in local schools program in the West Bank, Palestine, offers many benefits, including:
- Living in Hebron and undertaking trips to the old city, holy sites, and more during your time
- Gain practical teaching experience and experience working with Palestinian children, students, and youth.
- Learning spoken Arabic from native speakers and embracing the opportunity to communicate with locals
- 3 hours of Arabic lessons per week
- Well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers, each with an excellent educational background, ready and happy to help you.
- Exposure to daily life in Hebron, Palestinian culture and society
- Accommodation with either a Palestinian host family or in our male apartment
- The opportunity to eat and enjoy local Palestinian foods and desserts
- Palestinian cultural nights featuring entertainment and activities
- Opportunities to visit unique tourist attractions with a particular native perspective, including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem, Qalqilyah, Jenin, and the Dead Sea in Jericho
- The ability to visit nearby cities as well as those in Jordan, including Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Nazareth
- A participant’s certificate upon completion.
When To Apply To Volunteer In Local Schools In Palestine?
Volunteer in Palestine welcomes international volunteers year-round and allows volunteers to decide when they would like to start their program. We are very flexible with beginning and ending dates, and you can choose your volunteer period anywhere between 1 and 13 weeks.
We understand that everyone has different schedules and availability, so we work with each volunteer to create a program that fits their individual needs. Whether you want to volunteer for a few weeks during your summer break or for several months during your gap year, we can help you design a program that aligns with your goals and availability.
Awards And Recognitions
Volunteer in Palestine has been honored with several prestigious Community Awards and recognized as the Best Language School and Top Volunteer and Internship Program Provider for the years 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. For more details, please visit our profiles on GoOverseas.com and GoAbroad.com.
- 830+ Reviews (96%) on Gooverseas.com
- 160+ Reviews (94%) on Goabroad.com
- Participants’ video testimonials
Safety Of Our Volunteers And Interns
The region of Palestine is perpetually unstable. The situation sometimes becomes more volatile, and unrest and war always exist. 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 welcoming and hospitable people, and they recognize that the politics of a country may differ from its people.
Since its formation in 2011, 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 they have never faced any threats or safety issues while in Hebron or the West Bank in general.
Do I Need A Visa To Volunteer In The West Bank, Palestine?
Most Volunteer in Palestine participants in the Volunteer with Palestinian Children and Youth in Local School Program receive a tourist visa for three months (90 days) when they fly into Israeli airports or cross the checkpoint from Jordan to the West Bank. This tourist visa is sufficient to participate in any of our programs.
In general, no prior visa is needed for Americans, Canadians, Britons, Australians, and most Europeans to enter Palestine (and Israel), as these interns usually qualify for the visa exemption agreement. When you arrive at the Israeli Airports in Tel Aviv or Eilat or the land border, you will be granted a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days, which allows you to travel in Palestine and Israel.
Tel Aviv Airport Pickups
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 are charged, and the trip costs about 160 Euros. If you are interested in this option, we can arrange it for you.
Summary
The Volunteer in Local Schools In Palestine Program in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine, is the perfect opportunity for university students, graduates, those taking a sabbatical or gap year, and people looking to make a difference in the lives of Palestinian children in Hebron, Palestine. As a volunteer, the ways in which you can apply your skills are nearly endless. You will get to volunteer and have an impact, be immersed in Palestinian culture, and learn a lot about Palestine.
You will engage with the local community, particularly Palestinian children and youth, during your program. You will get the opportunity to learn first-hand about the Palestinian school system and participate in it. You can choose to do many potential activities in this program, such as running conversational English classes, art, music, drama, dance workshops, or media, journalism, healthcare, and medicine workshops. This program is flexible so that you can engage in your chosen activities and areas of interest.
Volunteering with children and youth in Palestine is a unique experience that will shape your perspective for years. Whether you are a native or non-native English speaker, you are welcome to participate in our programs. No matter your level of Arabic, you are also welcome and will have the opportunity to learn Arabic for the first time or build upon your existing Arabic level.
In addition, volunteering in the West Bank is the perfect opportunity for anyone interested in a career working with children, refugees, early childhood education, or children’s welfare. If you are a current university or college student, you can obtain credit for your studies while volunteering with us in Palestine. Whether you are a student or not, you can participate in this program year-round for as long as you like, between 1 and 13 weeks.
How To Apply
If you want to volunteer with us at Volunteer in Palestine, please email info@ecpalestine.org with the subject line “Volunteer in Local Palestinian Schools.” We will then send you the application form so you can start your journey with us.
Our team is happy to answer any questions and guide you through the application process. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to impact the lives of Palestinian children and youth positively.
Related Volunteer Programs
Contact Us
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
WhatsApp:+972 599 479 880
Website: https://volunteerinpalestine.org/
EC Website: https://excellencenter.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excellence.center
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter
