Volunteer Work In Palestine: Out of the entire Middle East region, many people find Palestine the most fascinating country to volunteer in, due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions with Israel. Many ordinary Palestinians have a very difficult life, so this place can be the most fulfilling to volunteer helping others has a huge impact, and can be seen clearly.
Whether you’re inclined toward internships or hands-on service, these volunteer and internship programs in the West Bank, Palestine serve as a platform for fostering cross-cultural understanding and creating impactful experiences. From supporting Palestinian children and refugees to advancing Palestinian community empowerment, we aim to create sustainable development projects that make a lasting difference in the lives of local Palestinian residents.
West Bank Volunteer Programs
In this article, you will discover meaningful volunteer and internship programs in the West Bank that offer unique opportunities to engage in Palestine-related initiatives. These experiences transcend conventional volunteering, providing opportunities for legal affairs internships, human rights volunteering, teaching English, working with Palestinian refugees, interning with Palestinian children, and participating in women’s rights programs.
Immerse yourself in the Palestinian community through international volunteer experiences, collaborate with nonprofit organizations in the West Bank, and make a tangible impact through humanitarian work in Palestine. Our volunteer and internship programs are centered on community outreach, fostering youth engagement within the Palestinian population, and providing essential support to Palestinian refugees, children, women, and the broader Palestinian community.
Palestine Is Safe, With Friendly Locals
Palestine can be quite a daunting place to undertake a volunteer program because of the things you may hear in the media, but the reality is often very different from the picture that is painted. Aside from the traditionally friendly and hospitable locals, Palestine is largely a safe place to work, study and volunteer for outsiders. Gaza, however, is off limits due to security concerns, but the West Bank is much more stable than many might assume.
There are isolated flash-points and occasional incidents, but foreigners are usually immune to these highly localized outbreaks of violence. Like in any country, one must be sensible and aware of their surroundings and the context which they are living in.
Volunteering In Palestine Is Fun And Fulfilling
Beyond that, volunteer work is generally fun and fulfilling in Palestine, provided you are prepared for what it will entail and you have found the right organization with the right program. Most volunteer programs are time limited, as the Israeli government primarily grants tourist visas for a maximum of three months. If you want to volunteer for longer, you will have to apply for an official work visa which can be a particularly arduous process.
International NGO Volunteer Organisations
International NGO opportunities in the West Bank, Palestine are usually safe as they tend to be with big established organisations which have a reputation of being trusted for their work. This isn’t always the case so you still need to plan the volunteer experience and ensure that any potential organisation is giving you as much support as possible.
There will usually be lots of feedback about these programmes so you can see if they work for you, which makes this a good place to start if you are looking for a programme in Palestine for the first time – organisations like the UN, Human Rights Defenders and NGOs that deal with Palestinian refugee, human rights issues are your best place to look in this case.
Human Rights Organizations
The Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council (PHROC), compromising of:
- Al-Haq Organization – Law in the Service of Mankind
- Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
- Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
- Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
- DCI – Defense for Children International – Palestine
- Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center
- Aldameer Association for Human Rights
- Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies
- Hurryyat – Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights
- The Independent Commission for Human Rights (Ombudsman Office) – Observer Member
- Muwatin Institute for Democracy and Human Rights – Observer Member
- The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO)
- Community Action Center (Al Quds University)
- Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem
Our Short Term Internships And Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer in Palestine offers a range of short-term programs, including internships as well as volunteering opportunities. Our short-term (1–13 week) programs in the West Bank, Palestine are perfect for anyone looking to spend their summer break, gap year, or other time-limited period in a meaningful way.
You may learn more about each of the specific programs we provide by clicking the links in the table below.
Short Term Summer Internships
Interning in the West Bank in summer is a wonderful opportunity for anyone seeking summer internships in the areas of The Middle East, Palestine, Israel or close to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Bethlehem. At Volunteer in Palestine, located in Hebron in the West Bank, we provide the unique opportunity to travel, learn Arabic, make new friends and complete an internship in while being immersed in a new culture.
As a summer intern, you will be able to develop your skills and gain valuable real-life on the ground experience in a fascinating environment. Summer interns will also get to learn about Palestinian culture and society, explore the local area, as well as engage with people from diverse backgrounds.
Included in your summer internships, are trips in and around Hebron, including to Bedouin areas (like Susiya), Palestinian refugee camps, nearby villages, various local organizations, and the old city of Hebron. This allows you to learn and engage with Hebron locals from a variety of backgrounds who are dealing with challenging situations as a result of Israeli occupation.
Finally, our summer internships offer you a lot of flexibility, which make them particularly well-suited to university students or anyone else with a partial or full summer break. You are free to choose how long you wish your internship to last for (1-13 weeks) and you can start anytime throughout the summer. For current students looking to earn academic credit while undertaking a summer internship, we can provide this for you.
Finding The Right Volunteer Program In Palestine
It is imperative that you do your research before setting off to volunteer in Palestine. Volunteering can be a big investment of your time and money, so it is vital that you do your due diligence – it would be unfortunate to arrive in Palestine just to find that your organization is not particularly professional or that the program has the wrong focus for you.
The only way to avoid these mistakes is through thorough research and, crucially, check the reviews from former volunteers for any potential program – their satisfaction (or lack thereof) will generally be a good indicator for quality.
Preparing For Volunteer Work In Palestine
Aside from researching program opportunities, one needs to be aware of the culture, so that you understand what is appropriate in Palestine. In certain cities, it is not acceptable to drink alcohol or wear clothing which reveals too much skin.
Practice your Arabic and try to learn more about the specific place you will visit – if you will be based in one city, read up about its history and its current reputation. If you will be working across the West Bank more generally, then you should learn as much as you can about this fascinating place. Consider packing medicine, sunscreen and bug spray (especially if you are visiting in summer).
Do You Need Arabic To Volunteer In Palestine?
Arabic is not necessary to volunteer in Palestine, but it will certainly help. Most organizations will speak English and should, if they are creditable, offer Arabic lessons as well. Most people in the West Bank speak some level of English, so they should be able to help you get where you are going without too much difficulty. A bit of Arabic can really help though as the locals will see you’re making an effort and may even charge you less for taxis or food!
Our Program In Hebron: Volunteer In Palestine
Volunteer in Palestine is a bastion for volunteer work in Hebron (or Al Khalil as the locals call it) in the West Bank. Volunteer in Palestine’s center has strong community links to channel volunteers to where they are needed most. Hebron is a city living on the front line of occupation, so many Palestinians here live in deprivation, particularly near the Old City, the checkpoints and the H2 area where Palestinians live surrounded by Israeli settlers.
Volunteer Work In Hebron
Volunteer work takes all shapes and forms here: most regularly it takes the form of teaching English in places where there is no quality provision of these services. Sometimes it can mean writing articles about the Palestinian condition and the stories of some of the people living here – it can also mean running workshops on human rights and raising awareness of some of the issues facing the residents of Hebron.
Great Impact
Volunteer work programs in the West Bank are meticulously researched, thoughtfully tailored, and an ideal choice for those seeking to gain profound insights into the daily legal and human rights matters in Palestine. Our objective is to foster lasting positive change within the local Palestinian community through the exchange of ideas and a deeper understanding of each other’s experiences.
Participating in volunteer work and internships offers a distinctive opportunity to not only enrich your own life but also leave a lasting impact on the lives of others, including Palestinian children, refugees, youth, and community members in the West Bank, Palestine.
Benefits of Volunteer Work In Palestine
Volunteers and interns in Palestine receive many benefits during their time in the city of Hebron, West Bank. By being totally immersed in the Palestinian culture, you will be able to participate in many educational, cultural, social and community development activities.
Benefits of volunteering in the West Bank:
- Living in Hebron and visiting sites in the local and wider area
- Better Understand Palestinian politics and experience the occupation in the West Bank.
- Learning spoken Arabic from native speakers and embracing the opportunity to communicate with locals
- Get to know the human rights situation and supporting Palestinian refugees.
- Travelling to historical locations and nearby cities including Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus and Bethlehem in your free time
- Visit nearby cities such as Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Nazareth.
- Spending time and living with a Palestinian host family, if desired
- Visiting Palestinian universities, local institutions and organizations specializing in culture and education
- Eating local Palestinian foods and delicacies
- Attending cultural nights featuring entertainment and activities in Hebron’s social hubs
Some Inclusions In Our Volunteer Programs
As with any reputable volunteer organization operating in the Middle East, Volunteer in Palestine will provide Arabic lessons as a courtesy, of course. Additionally, Volunteer in Palestine provides accommodation as well as breakfast during your stay and will do everything to make your visit to Palestine happy and fulfilling. There is time off to spend with locals or to explore the other famous cities of the West Bank – the experience really is up to you, how you shape it, and how you live your best life in Palestine.
Volunteer in Palestine will provide you with a certificate of completion when you finish your program, as well as a reference letter to support you in finding a job in the future.
How To Apply
If you are interested in Volunteer Work In Palestine, please, write to us at Info@ecpalestine.org. We should be able to respond to your initial inquiry within 1 – 2 business days.
Related Links
| Volunteer in the West Bank | Volunteer with Palestinian Children |
| Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees | Teach English in the West Bank |
| Music & the Arts in the West Bank | Medicine & Healthcare in the West Bank |
Get Further Information
For more information, please visit our website: https://excellencenter.org/
Engage in Palestine: https://ecpalestine.org/
Study in Palestine: https://studyinpalestine.org/
Whatsapp:+972 599 479 880
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Watch us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQSLdFZWZcBm6Uj0XMYuKg
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Tags: Impactful volunteer work in the West Bank, Internship opportunities in Palestine, Nonprofit organizations in West Bank, Palestine volunteer opportunities, Support Palestinian refugees, Volunteer Programs in Palestine, Volunteering with Palestinian refugees, Women's rights programs in West Bank
