Volunteer in Palestinian Refugee Camps in Hebron: Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank exist because of the mass displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War (known as the Nakba, or “catastrophe”). When the State of Israel was established, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee or were expelled from their homes in what became Israeli territory. Many sought refuge in neighboring areas, including the West Bank, which was under Jordanian control at the time.
To address this crisis, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was established in 1949 to provide aid and services to Palestinian refugees. Temporary camps were set up to house displaced populations, but the lack of a long-term resolution to the conflict persisted.
There are 19 official Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank, housing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians and their descendants. Today, these camps are densely populated areas where generations of refugees live under challenging conditions, often facing poverty, overcrowding, and limited access to resources and opportunities.
Near Hebron, the refugee camps include Al-Fawwar, Arroub, and Al-Hussein (Al-Arrub). These camps face unique challenges, including overcrowding, limited infrastructure, and frequent military incursions due to their proximity to Israeli settlements and military installations. For instance, Al-Fawwar Camp, located just southwest of Hebron, is known for its dense population and the severe restrictions placed on residents’ movement, which hinders access to jobs, education, and healthcare.
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Life in the Palestinian Refugee Camps
Al-Fawwar is the largest refugee camp in Hebron, located on the city’s outskirts. At first glance, passing by in a car might appear like any other town, with its densely packed buildings and narrow streets. The camp has grown into a permanent settlement. Yet, its residents remain stateless, holding onto the hope of returning to the homes their families were forced to leave over two generations later.
The residents of camps like Fawwar face many challenges in their daily lives, such as:
Overcrowding and Infrastructure
The camp is densely populated, with narrow alleys and inadequate infrastructure. Many homes are poorly constructed, resulting in residents often facing water shortages, inadequate sewage systems, and unreliable electricity.
Access to Services
Basic services like healthcare and education are stretched thin. UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, runs schools and clinics in the camp. However, funding shortfalls limit their capacity and leave residents with limited quality-of-care and educational options.
Economic Hardship
Unemployment rates are high within the camp, exacerbated by restricted movement and the resulting limited access to jobs outside the camp. Many families are struggling to make ends meet.
Safety and Tensions
The camp regularly experiences military raids and arbitrary arrests of residents. Sometimes, clashes lead to the use of weapons like tear gas. This creates an atmosphere of constant tension and insecurity, especially for children.
Despite the challenges, people in the refugee camps keep hope alive as they wait to return to their homes. They believe they will one day, and that belief runs strong, even through the generations.
On a recent trip to Al Fawwar Camp with Volunteer in Palestine, our volunteers visited one of the four schools operating out of the camp. One of the teachers, Tahrir, invited the volunteers to her house to meet her mother. Over coffee, they spoke about how the camp began with only tents and how the buildings slowly rose up about them as the years passed.
Tahrir and her mother have lived most of their lives in Fawwar, and she says it feels like home, but she doesn’t belong there. There’s something missing. When asked if, given the choice, the people of Fawwar would stay in the home they’ve always known or return to the land they’ve only always heard about, Tahrir says they would go in an instant and without a second thought.
How to Volunteer in Palestinian Refugee Camps in Hebron?
While the resilience of Palestinians keeps their hope alive, many things can be done to help make day-to-day life in the camps easier. Volunteer in Palestine provides great opportunities for volunteers to come and make a difference in places like Al Fawwar camp in Hebron.
1. Volunteer in the West Bank Program
2. Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees
3. The Palestinian Women’s Rights Program
4. Media and Journalism in Palestine Program
5. Volunteer to Teach English in the West Bank
6. Volunteer with Palestinian Children
7. Palestinian Community Development Program
The Palestinian Community Development Volunteer and Internship Program has an essential impact on the Palestinian community. Through this program, you can help empower community members to develop themselves personally, professionally, and economically. At the same time, volunteers gain valuable experience in their personal development by running seminars, giving lectures, offering employment advice, and building interpersonal relationships within the local Palestinian community.
8. Volunteer in the Environment and Conservation Program in Palestine
Volunteer in Environment and Conservation Program in Palestine: You are invited to join us at Volunteer in Palestine and volunteer in our Environment and Conservation program, aimed at teaching Palestinian youth, refugees, and children about the importance of preserving the environment. In the West Bank, Palestine, there is a pressing need for such programs, as many residents of Hebron are unaware of the harmful effects of littering and environmental neglect on their own lands and streets.
This volunteer program is an excellent opportunity for students, graduates, and travelers interested in the environment and conservation in the West Bank. If you’re a university student looking for an environment and conservation program abroad to supplement your studies during your summer break, this program is ideal for you.
By joining our volunteer program in the West Bank, you will have the chance to share your passion for the environment and conservation, experience Palestinian daily life, and learn about Palestinian culture firsthand. We offer our participants three hours of complimentary Arabic Classes each week, taught one-to-one or in small groups of two to three students, and accommodation during their stay.
9. Volunteer in a Sports Project in Palestine
Volunteer in a Sports Project in Palestine: Since its establishment in 2011, Volunteer in Palestine has maintained high standards in English language teaching with the help of numerous international volunteers. However, to meet the increasing demand for diverse programs, we are excited to introduce a new series of volunteer programs, including the Volunteer in a Sports Project in Palestine.
This volunteer program in the West Bank offers a unique opportunity for current students, postgraduates, gap year students, professionals, teachers, retirees, and anyone interested in sports-related fields to volunteer with the local Palestinian community. As a volunteer, you can share your passion and expertise by organizing workshops, lectures, sporting tournaments, training sessions, summer camps, and more for Palestinian youth.
The Volunteer in a Sports Project in Hebron program is ideal for individuals with a strong interest and background in sports or related fields. Through this program, you can develop your activities and contribute to the local Palestinian community while gaining personal and professional development opportunities and having fun.
10. Volunteer With Orphanages in Palestine
Volunteer With Orphanages in Palestine: Hebron City, in the Occupied West Bank, is home to several orphanages that provide essential care and support to thousands of Palestinian children who have lost one or both of their parents. The high number of orphans in the region is largely due to ongoing conflict, military occupation, economic hardship, and limited access to healthcare. Some children lose their parents to direct violence, such as military raids, airstrikes, and clashes. Others are caused by the impact of long-term instability, including imprisonment of family members, displacement, or lack of access to health services.
There are approximately 7,000 orphans in and around Hebron city, ranging from infants to young adults. These orphanages provide essential services such as housing, education, medical care, and psychological support to children without stable family situations. They often rely on funding from local charities, international donors, and religious organizations to support their operations. Some orphanages also function as social enterprises, operating businesses like kitchens and grocery stores to generate income and further support their work.
Educational Support
Volunteers can help teach English or support the development of other skills for children and adults alike. Some volunteers have done things like help people with their CVs, run specialized training sessions, and give presentations in their areas of expertise. These initiatives can help provide a great education and better employment opportunities for people within the camps.
Community Projects
Some volunteers organize community projects for people in the camps, such as health campaigns, clean-up initiatives, and recreational activities for children. Such projects are valuable in helping build community care and cohesion.
Advocacy
Based on their experience at the camps, many volunteers choose to undertake some form of advocacy in order to help raise awareness about the situation of refugees. This includes sharing their experiences at the camps and the stories of people they meet on their own platforms or through media back in their home countries.
Role of Volunteer in Palestine
Volunteer in Palestine helps to facilitate connections between volunteers and refugee camps like Al Fawwar. While teaching English to students is one of our most common activities, there are many other ways that volunteers can help make a difference. The sky’s the limit!
For example, volunteers can organize various workshops and activities, such as resume-writing workshops, arts-and-crafts workshops, sporting events, and cultural exchanges. Volunteers are also encouraged to use their existing skills and talents to enhance the program, create something new, or offer improvement.
For example, doctors or nurses can provide medical aid and assist other local medical NGOs in assisting refugees. Volunteers with specialized skills or experience in the performance industry are encouraged to organize concerts and live performances.
The center also offers many free-of-charge workshops, seminars, and courses to support Palestinian refugees in and around the city of Hebron. Volunteers in Palestine can play an essential role in contributing to the Palestinian community’s well-being. Through Volunteer in Palestine, many volunteer projects support education and focus on community development.
Cultural and Emotional Impact on Volunteers:
Life is difficult in the refugee camps of Palestine. This can be seen in the day-to-day struggles of the residents and through the consistent yearning to return to the homes they had to flee. Working in this environment comes with its own challenges. It can be hard to hear so many stories of disadvantage and loss. It can also be hard to be in a place with such high security considerations.
However, the experience of spending time with Palestinian refugees, learning more about their daily lives, and volunteering to help improve their standing is incredibly rewarding. Many people who volunteer in Palestine reflect on the Palestinian people’s humanity, strength, and abundant hospitality.
Waleed, a 2024 volunteer at Volunteer in Palestine, says, “The most surprising thing I saw was the smiles on the faces of the kids in the Refugee camps. Going into the program and refugee camps, I was expecting the families and children to be unhappy and sad; however, most of the children were glowing and happy, whether it was from their faith or seeing a foreigner; it was really nice to see and know this.”
Louise, a 2024 volunteer from Australia, says, “I participated in the Palestinian Refugees program and had the privilege of teaching displaced young people in a camp near Hebron. I got to know so many people living in the camp and heard firsthand the stories of their lives and learn a lot about the history and current situation of Palestinians.”
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 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. For more details, please visit our profiles on GoOverseas.com and GoAbroad.com.
Reviews, Ratings, and Community Awards
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 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. For more details, please visit our profiles on GoOverseas.com and GoAbroad.com.
Summary
Palestinian refugee camps exist between two worlds – being at home and yet without a sense of belonging, trying to live their lives but still waiting to leave. They exist on the knife-edge of the Israeli occupation, their movement and opportunities restricted, always waiting for the next bout of violence to erupt. At the same time, these people never allow the grim reality of their situation to dampen their spirit or dull their kindness.
Any support that can improve day-to-day life in the West Bank’s refugee camps is incredibly welcome. That’s why Volunteer in Palestine offers international volunteers the opportunity to come and spend time with these communities, contributing skills and expertise while also showing solidarity with their cause.
If you’re interested in spending time in the West Bank and volunteering in refugee camps around Hebron, please contact Info@ecpalestine.org.
How To Apply and Make an Impact by Volunteering in Palestine
If you’re interested in volunteering in the Palestinian refugee camps in Hebron, please email us at Info@ecpalestine.org. We’ll send you an application form to complete and return, and we’ll guide you through the next steps of the process.
Find Us Online
Do you have questions about our work? Contact us:
Email: info@ecpalestine.org
WhatsApp: +972 599 479 880
Website: https://volunteerinpalestine.org/
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Tags: Palestinian refugee camps Hebron, Support Palestinian refugees Hebron, Volunteer programs with Palestinian Refugees, volunteer with Palestinian refugees
