The Women’s and Children’s Rights Program in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine is an excellent choice for those wishing to study or work in the field of human rights, women’s rights, children’s education, humanitarian or social work. This volunteer program also adds a cross-cultural context to the topic of women’s and Palestinian children’s rights in general, perfect for those looking for experience outside of the typical western context.

The intercultural competence and communication skills that will be learned during this internship are desirable skills in the jobs market, as they are essential components in the areas of humanitarian aid, education and intersectionality. 

Our Women’s and Palestinian Children’s Rights volunteer program welcomes individuals of all English-speaking backgrounds, regardless of whether they are undergraduates, graduates, professionals, or retired. This program presents a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in volunteering in Palestine, the West Bank, Israel, the Middle East, or the broader Arabic-speaking world.

Who Is This Program Ideal For?

University students specializing in Women’s Studies or in Early Childhood Education should notice this program provides volunteers with first-hand experience in their chosen field. This volunteer program is not just for students, however, it is applicable to a diverse range of backgrounds from young professionals to retirees. Anyone with a passion for the welfare of Palestinian women and Palestinian children is welcome to apply, and all are welcome to volunteer for human rights, women’s rights and children’s rights in Palestine.

Volunteers in Palestine can join the Women’s and Palestinian Children’s Rights program for a period of their own choice, ranging from one to 13 weeks in duration, and anytime of the year. We are very flexible when it comes to start and end dates. 

The Current State Of Women’s Rights In Palestine

In recent years, Palestine has seen many advancements in regards to women’s rights. Every year, more and more Palestinian women are attending university, often outperforming their male counterparts academically. Women are also becoming more involved in public life, working in the areas of law and government in particular. All of these developments are fairly new, however. Unfortunately, many women in Palestine are simply unaware of the opportunities and resources available to them. 

Women in Palestine are often the sole financial providers in their households, due to the realities of occupation and the arbitrary Israeli imprisonment of Palestinians. This can therefore strain women’s abilities to care for and educate their children. Many children in Palestine have difficulty accessing secure education, let alone after school programs, and are also more likely to have their education interrupted due to financial pressures at home. This is especially true in Palestinian refugee camps where economic opportunities are severely limited. Although the public education system in Palestine is robust, instruction in subjects such as Math and English can often fall below the standard required.

Program Description

Volunteer in Palestine has partnered with the Palestinian Ministry of Education in Ramallah to provide local outreach programs for volunteers. This ensures that volunteers will be placed with organizations in settings where their skills and expertise are most needed.

Upon arriving at Volunteer in Palestine, volunteers will team up with one of our liaisons. Liaisons are responsible for partnering volunteers with an appropriate organization, considering skill set and the needs of the organizations. From here, the program is essentially divided into two parts: defending women’s rights and promoting children’s education and welfare. 

Defending Women’s Rights

This portion of the internship program is dedicated to raising awareness of women’s rights in Palestine. Volunteers will help Palestinian women secure the number one determiner of their future: their right to an education. You will raise awareness of the opportunities available to them, of their rights, and you will assist local Palestinian schools and organizations in defending, upholding, and enforcing this mission.You will learn first-hand about the circumstances surrounding Palestine, and of the importance of universal education. 

This will entail volunteers working closely with local Palestinian law firms, charity organizations, non-profits, universities, and NGOs in order to gain a clear understanding of the circumstances in which Palestinian women live. During this portion, volunteers will focus on the rights of women as guaranteed under international law.

You will have options to cooperate with the aforementioned organizations in developing educational workshops, presentations, or work in an all-girls school. Your service will help give voice to the Palestinian people while elevating their morale, effectively building on the contributions of previous participants and on the continuous efforts of Palestinians up to the present day.

Childcare And Education

In addition to advocating for women’s rights, you will also have the opportunity to advance the cause of children’s education and welfare through Volunteer in Palestine. In partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, volunteers will get to assist local Palestinian teachers in subjects such as English and Mathematics. Volunteers will help fill the gaps in children’s education, especially in the case of children struggling to access the resources needed for their academic growth and development. 

Volunteers will be lending their assistance to after school programs and educational workshops facilitated by Volunteer in Palestine, while also having the opportunity to create their own unique programs in order to inspire Palestinian children.

Examples of workshops could include arts and crafts projects, international cultural expos, film nights or English reading events such as a children’s book festival. These programs are very flexible, and volunteers are always encouraged to make suggestions and create original and unique content for Palestinian students.

A Huge Range Of Impacts

The Palestinian Women’s and Children’s Rights program is well researched, and is suitable for anyone looking to gain some insights into the daily life and education of Palestinians. The program aims to have a long term impact on the local Palestinian community through the exchange of ideas and by practicing the concept of “walking in each other’s shoes”. 

Volunteering and interning in the West Bank, will provide you with a unique opportunity to make a lasting impression, not just on your own life but on the lives of Palestinian children and refugees and the wider community. Before you arrive and long after you leave, Volunteer in Palestine is working to improve the rights and situation of the women and children of Palestine through the accumulative contributions of years of volunteers. 

Your assistance in this goal is indispensable and highly valuable- your impact can change lives, including but not limited to:

• Contributing to Palestinian women’s rights in the West Bank
• Volunteering with Palestinian children to better their education
• Elevating women’s voices in Palestinian communities
• Ensuring Palestinian women understand their legal rights and the opportunities available to them
• Gaining practical experience of working in the fields of human rights and international law
• Earning university credit while volunteering abroad

Interacting With Palestinian Culture

Palestine is located at the heart of the Levant (the area associated with the Eastern Mediterranean). Many people are unaware of the cultural diversity of Palestine and the Levant, having only a crude understanding of the heritage of these lands. Although the situation in Palestine can at times be difficult, participants will find that the Palestinian people are friendly and open, and that Palestine in general is a safe place to visit. 

Participants will find that the majority of Palestinian people are incredibly friendly and open to foreigners. If participants utilize their Arabic skills, no matter how developed, they will find that most Palestinians are enthusiastic and patient communicators who are simply delighted that people have taken an interest in their language and culture. Palestine also provides ample opportunities for learning about an interesting culture and visiting important historical and religious sights. You may also travel on your own and see distinctive tourist sights from a local’s point of view, such as Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Jerusalem, and the Dead Sea in Jericho.

By enrolling in this volunteer program participants will take part in something unique, an experience that is sure to be remembered throughout their lives. Additionally, participants will be immersed in Arabic language and culture while living in Hebron, Palestine.

Arabic Culture And Language Immersion

All of our international volunteers and interns in Palestine will receive 3 hours of Arabic lessons a week, or 12 hours per month, with a Palestinian teacher. These classes are designed so that participants may be better able to assist the people with whom they are working by connecting with them on a fundamental level. Making the effort to learn the local language is also seen as showing respect for the culture, one that will be noted and appreciated by all those you meet.

During their stay, volunteers will meet new people in Palestine on a daily basis, giving them ample opportunities for practicing the Arabic that they have been learning in class. Volunteers can choose whether to learn Modern Standard Arabic or Palestinian Colloquial Arabic: whichever would be more helpful in their careers. 

All of our volunteer and internship programs are geared toward English speakers. For the sake of language immersion, however, the higher the Arabic course level, the less English will be utilized in the classroom. Students will also have the opportunity to utilize their Arabic language skills when traveling through Palestine, thereby ensuring a fully immersive experience. 

Immersive Excursions In Hebron

During your program, we will take you on a number of excursions in and around Hebron, to learn more about the situation in Palestine and immerse you in life in Hebron. These excursions will include visiting the Old City of Hebron as well as the local universities and industries, while a tour of the refugee camps will help them to gain a better understanding of Palestine’s contemporary political situation by interacting with locals.

Palestinian Host Family

Volunteers can also be invited into a Palestinian family who will serve as a host during your stay. This will ensure contact with Palestinian culture and intercultural contact, while giving students an easy and relaxed environment to practice their Arabic. However, available spaces for host families is limited, and can only be guaranteed for our female volunteers.

Male volunteers who do not choose to stay with a host family, or can not be assigned to one, will stay in our all-male dormitory. This is due to the conservative nature of Hebron, which makes it more challenging to place male volunteers with Palestinian host families.

Summer Volunteering- Intern in Palestine

For anyone looking for volunteer opportunities with Palestinian children’s and women’s rights organizations in Palestine during the summer months, this volunteer program is ideal. While the program is available all year long, the summer is an especially popular time to visit.

Especially for students who are taking a gap year, have a summer break, or are between studies, this program would make a perfect internship in Palestine to provide relevant and worldly experience in an area in need. Volunteers in our Women’s And Children’s Rights In Palestine can also look forward to the many community and social activities which take place during the summer months in the West Bank, Palestine.

Is University Credit Available? 

Volunteer in Palestine offers students university and internship credits in cases where they are needed for their university course. We can offer you this due to our accreditation with the Palestinian Ministry of Education. Furthermore, if you are applying for funding to volunteer in Palestine, Volunteer in Palestine can provide all the relevant and requested documents.

Program Benefits

As a Women’s and Children’s Rights volunteer in Palestine, you will not only gain an insight into the political, social and cultural parameters that influence the lives of Palestinians, but will yourself be in a position to make positive changes in their lives. You will, of course, have the opportunity to enjoy many rewarding experiences during your stay. You will be provided with accommodation and will be supported in your endeavors by Volunteer in Palestine throughout the program.

The Women’s and Children’s Rights in Palestine program offers many benefits to volunteers, including:

• Trips to the Old City of Hebron, holy sites, historical monuments and more 

• 3 hours of Arabic lessons per week

• The opportunity to utilize your Arabic when communicating with locals 

• Exposure to the daily life, culture and society of Hebron

• Accommodation with either a Palestinian host family or in our all-male dormitory

• The opportunity to enjoy local Palestinian foods and desserts

• Attendance at Palestinian cultural and entertainment activities

• The assistance of well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers, all with an excellent educational background, ready and willing to help you

• A participant’s certificate upon completion.

Moreover, Weekends in Israel exploring the famous historical cities such as Jericho, Jerusalem, Akko, Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea, Eilat, Tiberias, Nazareth, Be’er Sheva, Ashdod, Masada are awaiting you!  Travel to Jordan’s most ancient sites in Petra, Amman, Wadi Rum, Irbid and Aqaba and broaden your experiences in the Middle East!

Travelling between Palestine and Israel is easy and inexpensive for international visitors and our volunteer programs provide our participants with plenty of free time to discover the area, even ensuring you make some new Palestinian friends along the way!

Volunteer Requirements

Volunteer in Palestine does not discriminate on any basis; this includes nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other basis. We have a long history of welcoming people from around the globe, from all walks of life and from all backgrounds and identities. We have only a handful of requirements:

• To be 18 years of age or over
• An ability to communicate in English
• Eagerness to learn and patience to work with a diverse team

What Don’t You Need:

• The ability to speak Arabic
• Travel or work experience
• To be a native English speaker
• A degree in English or in any other subject 

Program Costs And Information: 

Volunteer in Palestine is priced competitively in comparison to other programs, with prices of €250 a week. Program costs cover language courses, accommodation, complimentary breakfast each day the participant attends the center, operating costs and group excursions. There are no additional or hidden fees applied to these programs, as the price quoted above is the complete and final cost that participants will pay.

Program Fees Cover:

• Arrival and pre-departure assistance
• Accommodation
• Language courses
• Operating costs
• Complimentary breakfast 
• Group excursions to Hebron 
• A certificate upon completion

All participants also pay a one-time registration fee of €30. Program prices listed on this webpage are the complete and final costs students will pay; there are no hidden or additional fees.

General Information Regarding Program Costs And Components

How To Apply

If you are interested in participating in our Women’s and Children’s Rights Program, please, write to us at Info@ecpalestine.org  CC Mr. Rafat Shantir at Rafat@excellencenter.org. . We should be able to respond to your initial enquiry within 1-2 business days.

In the subject line of your email write “Palestinian Women’s and Children’s Rights.” Upon responding we will attach an application form which you will fill out and return to us to begin the process.

Traveling To Hebron, Palestine 

Reaching Volunteer in Palestine’s center in Hebron may entail a lot of traveling, but it need not be arduous. Although there are some obstacles to be overcome when traveling to Hebron, Volunteer in Palestine has compiled a list of resources which will help participants reach us in an efficient, safe and practical manner.

Please read our articles below on planning your trip, flying to Palestine, the different routes to Hebron, and on Israeli and Palestinian taxi services: 

• How to fly to Palestine
• How to get to Hebron, Palestine
• Planning your trip to Palestine
• How to get from the Ben Gurion Airport (Israel) to Hebron

Program Reviews And Awards

Volunteer in Palestine in Hebron, West Bank has been offering volunteer programs since 2011, and we have hosted more than a thousand international visitors. While we continuously develop our programs to provide the best possible learning experience, our fundamental mission remains the same: to connect, teach and develop individuals within the local and international community. 

In 2022 we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities and one of the top three language schools worldwide by Go Overseas. We received a total of five Go Overseas Community Choice Awards in 2022 and were recognized as one of the top Teach Abroad Providers for the category of “benefits” and one of the top Internship Abroad Providers for the categories of “growth” and “support”.

In 2021, we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities. We received the community choice awards by Go Overseas in the categories “best language school”, and voted best on “fun” and “instruction”. 

In 2019, we received our first “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards” to acknowledge Volunteer in Palestine’s impact on the community of travelers around the world. Volunteer in Palestine continues to be a highly rated travel organization across its selection of programs

Check out our reviews and testimonials from previous participants, linked below, to see if we are the right language school for you.

• 630+ Reviews (96%) on Gooverseas.com
• 130+ Reviews (94%) on Goabroad.com
• Participants’ video testimonials

Summary

The Women’s and Children’s Rights volunteer program in Palestine offers a remarkable opportunity for individuals who are passionate about promoting Palestinian women’s rights and human rights. While the program welcomes participants from all backgrounds throughout the year, it is particularly well-suited for students studying Women’s Studies and Education.

Throughout their time in the West Bank, volunteers will collaborate closely with local Palestinian organizations, NGOs, and schools. Their tasks will include raising awareness among local women about their rights and opportunities, providing educational support to Palestinian children affected by war and occupation, gaining hands-on experience in intercultural and intersectional contexts, and potentially participating in Arabic language classes while having the option to stay with a Palestinian host family.

By volunteering, participants will contribute to the ongoing struggle to support women in the Levant and make a tangible and positive impact on the Palestinian community. If this volunteer program aligns with your interests, we encourage you to reach out to us today to initiate the application process.

Related Internship And Volunteer Programs

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