Who Comes to Volunteer in Palestine: People come from all over the world to volunteer in Palestine, and for many different reasons. Some arrive with a passion for the Palestinian cause, others seek to deepen their understanding of Middle Eastern culture, and many are drawn by the opportunity to immerse themselves in an Arabic speaking country in order to learn the language.
Whatever drives them, international volunteers make a significant impact in Palestine during their time here. Through teaching English to communities in need, sharing their skills and experience with local people, and just showing up in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, volunteers can really make a difference.
In return, many volunteers who spend time in Palestine speak of the personal transformation they experience, the incredible hospitality they receive, and the deep connections they make with the people here. Volunteering has a significant two-way benefit for the individual and the community alike.
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Profiles of Volunteers: A Diverse Community
Students and Recent Graduates
Those with a keen interest in the Middle East region, global geopolitics, foreign affairs, or diplomacy tend to benefit greatly from moving their knowledge off the page and into real life. Spending time immersed in Palestine is a great way for people to develop language skills, intercultural competency, and to learn more about the real situation on the ground.
Teachers and Educators
Educators play a crucial role in helping to shape the next generation. As education is such a critical need for some Palestinian communities, especially in the instruction and practice of English, we welcome people with teaching and facilitation skills.
Activists and Human Rights Advocates
Activism for human rights is a big part of Palestinian resistance. Those who practice advocacy from their home country or who are interested in human rights find themselves in good company when meeting some of the prominent local people and organisations working towards justice.
Medical and Humanitarian Workers
For those from the medical field, volunteering in places without adequate medical access or facilities can be a really rewarding experience that also makes a big impact on people’s lives. Some areas in Palestine have very limited access to reliable medical help, so this is one way to really bring your technical skills to help the community.
Writers and Journalists: Documenting Palestinian stories and amplifying voices
People often come to Palestine to learn more about the real situation on the ground, and to share what they learn with the world. Writers and journalists can make a particular impact through the use of their skills and their platforms, by hearing and sharing the voices of people living under occupation, and amplifying their voices.
Retirees and Career Changers
Many people think you have to be young to come and volunteer in Palestine, but that is simply not true! Retirees or those looking to shift their career trajectory often come with a vast wealth of skills and knowledge to share. Volunteer in Palestine welcomes volunteers from 18-70 years of age, from any country, and from all walks of life.
Why Do People Choose to Volunteer in Palestine?
Passion for social justice and human rights
As one of the longest-lasting conflicts in modern history, the plight of Palestine is close to many people’s hearts. The last few years especially have highlighted the incredible injustice of occupation and the need for a fair resolution. Spending time in Palestine is one way to experience the fight for social justice and human rights first-hand, hearing stories directly from people impacted by the occupation and learning from organizations working to expose human rights violations.
Volunteers can amplify Palestinian voices and challenge the dominant narratives about the region in their home countries through their time here. This engagement often extends beyond their time in Palestine, as many return home to become vocal advocates for Palestinian rights in their communities and professional spheres.
Interest in Middle Eastern culture and history
Palestine is a place of deep historical, cultural, and religious significance. Many volunteers are curious about the region’s rich heritage and eager to learn about its traditions, cuisine, art, and daily life beyond the headlines.
For those studying Middle Eastern history, Islamic studies, or regional politics, volunteering in Palestine provides a unique opportunity to witness history in motion. They engage with scholars, journalists, and activists who offer perspectives rarely covered in mainstream media, enriching their academic and personal understanding of the Palestinian experience.
Desire to learn Arabic through immersion
Immersion and daily practice are the best ways to learn any language, and the same goes for Arabic. The Palestinian dialect of Arabic, part of the Shami Arabic spoken in the Levant, is the closest to Modern Standard Arabic. This makes Palestine a popular destination for learners who want to study a useful dialect.
Many institutions that offer Arabic classes outside the Middle East, like universities, do not focus on spoken Arabic. This means that many people who learn Arabic this way can read and write well, but they have a lot of difficulty with conversation. Immersion is a great way to ensure you can practice your speaking skills daily. Volunteer in Palestine offers Arabic lessons as part of every program, allowing volunteers to practice conversational skills. This immersion strengthens language proficiency far more effectively than learning alone.
Personal or academic connections to Palestine
Some volunteers have personal ties to Palestine through family heritage, friendships, or academic research. For Palestinian diaspora members, volunteering is a way to reconnect with their roots, understand their family’s history, and contribute to their ancestral homeland.
Others may have been introduced to Palestine through university studies, religious affiliations, or interfaith programs. For these individuals, volunteering offers a chance to move beyond theory and experience the realities of Palestinian life firsthand.
What Do Volunteers Gain from the Experience?
Volunteering in Palestine has a real impact on the local community, but it also leaves a deep mark on the lives of our volunteers. Below are some of the tangible benefits that volunteers have had from their time at Volunteer in Palestine.
Personal Growth and Cultural Exchange
Volunteering in Palestine tends to result in deep personal growth, often pushing people outside their comfort zones and challenging their perceptions of the world. Living and working in a society shaped by resilience, hospitality, and struggle often teaches our volunteers valuable lessons about adaptability and empathy. Daily interactions with Palestinian families, students, and community members expose volunteers to a way of life deeply rooted in resistance.
Cultural exchange is an integral part of the volunteer experience. People share traditional (and delicious) meals with local families and take part in celebrating Palestinian holidays. These experiences break down cultural barriers and replace people’s preconceived ideas about Palestine with real human connections. Many volunteers also bring back aspects of Palestinian culture to their home countries, whether through food, storytelling, or political awareness, spreading a more nuanced and authentic understanding of Palestinian life than is often shown in the media.
Professional Development and Career Benefits
Beyond personal enrichment, volunteering in Palestine can be a significant asset to the professional trajectory of those who join. Many volunteers gain hands-on experience in their program area, gaining a deeper understanding of human rights advocacy, education, journalism, healthcare, and community development.
For those from an academic background, volunteering offers off-the-page exposure to things they might have learned in Middle Eastern studies or conflict resolution courses. This can help in shaping future research topics and publications. Journalists and writers develop a deeper understanding of the region’s complexities, building networks that allow them to continue covering Palestinian issues after their time in the country.
Medical professionals and social workers working in refugee camps or hospitals gain invaluable experience in crisis response, trauma care, and cross-cultural communication. These are skills that are directly applicable to careers in global health and humanitarian aid.
Deeper Understanding of the Palestinian Situation
One of the most profound impacts of volunteering in Palestine is the deep, unfiltered understanding it provides of the realities on the ground. Volunteers witness firsthand the effects of occupation, displacement, and resilience in ways that go beyond the way the media portrays it. Hearing the stories of loss and perseverance from Palestinian families, or witnessing the daily challenges of movement restrictions at checkpoints, brings a level of awareness that can’t be fully appreciated from afar.
This experience of volunteering in Palestine often reshapes people’s perspectives on justice and resistance. After what they see, many return home feeling a sense of responsibility to educate others, challenge misinformation, and advocate for Palestinian rights in their own communities.
Lifelong Connections with Local Communities
A central part of volunteering in Palestine is the close friendships and relationships people build along the way. The warmth and hospitality of the local communities leave a lasting impression, creating bonds that push past borders and nationalities. Many volunteers develop deep, lifelong friendships with Palestinian families, teachers, and their fellow volunteers.
These connections often bring volunteers back to Palestine multiple times, while others continue supporting Palestinian communities from afar through advocacy, fundraising, or sharing their experiences on their own platforms.
Where Do Volunteers Come From?
All over! Volunteer in Palestine hosts international volunteers, interns, students, and visitors of all ages (18+)—from gap year students to retirees—who are interested in Palestine. We offer a wide range of programs, year-round, which can last from 1 week up to 3 months.
Our visitors have come from all over the world – the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, among others.
Many volunteers don’t just come to Palestine once – they come back multiple times! Some people leave and return consecutively, sometimes for up to a year. Some people come back once a year or more. Stephen, a volunteer from Ireland, came to the center for the first time in 2024. He was so impacted by his time in Palestine that he helped set up a local Gaelic football team and came back to visit the Center in 2025.
Sometimes, the politics of the region can influence volunteer demographics, specifically who is allowed to pass the borders of Israel to cross into Palestine and who isn’t. Unfortunately, at the moment, some volunteers from an Arab background have been refused entry.
Summary
Whatever path leads you to Palestine, there is a volunteer program ready and waiting for you. The Volunteer in Palestine team is more than happy to speak with you about how you can lend your skills and experience to the local community. Want to hear from our previous volunteers? Head to our GoOverseas page to hear first-hand accounts of people’s time in Palestine. For any further questions or to apply for one of our programs, please reach out via email at info@ecpalestine.org.
Find Us Online
Do you have questions for us regarding who comes to volunteer in Palestine or about one of our programs? Contact us via:
Email: info@ecpalestine.org
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
Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/RafatECHebron
Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQSLdFZWZcBm6Uj0XMYuKg
Visit and Explore Palestine: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorePalestine
