Short-Term Volunteering Programs And Internships In Palestine by Engage in Palestine: Many people with at least some level of awareness about the Palestinian Issue can see the difficulties faced by Palestinians and feel the natural human urge to want to help those affected by the ongoing Occupation of Palestine by Israel. Visiting Palestine can be a great way to support Palestinians by uplifting the local economy while you also have the opportunity to learn more about Palestine and get to know Palestinians.
But to go beyond that, taking up a volunteering role or an internship can be a great way to help the people of Palestine on the ground and build meaningful relationships, whilst developing your skills and gaining the experiences you need in the professional world of work now or later in life.
You can find a wide range of opportunities in Palestine, depending on your career ambitions, areas of interest, field of studies, and previous experience. By participating in short-term volunteering programs and internships in Palestine programs (up to 3 months), you will get to have a meaningful and impactful experience, without the long commitment sometimes required by volunteer or intern positions, for example for 6-12 months.
Keep reading to learn more about why Palestine is a great place to participate in a short-term volunteering or internship program and relevant other information, such as about the safety situation, how to prepare yourself as well as some available opportunities.
Table of Contents
Why Palestine?
As alluded to, Palestine is a beautiful country that has had a particularly troubled history over the last +75 years due to the Israeli Occupation. As a result, all Palestinians face oppression and hardships to some extent or others, with Palestinian refugees and poor people usually suffering the most. The country has a fascinating history dating back thousands of years, with a rich culture (including very tasty food!) and as the location of many of the Holy Land cities like Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Jericho, it is a really interesting place to visit and spend time in.
Additionally, if you are interested in learning Arabic, Palestine is a great place to do it because the locals are friendly and helpful in assisting you to learn and you can learn in a fully immersive Arabic-speaking environment. Additionally, Palestinians speak the Levantine dialect which is the most recognized throughout the Arab world, so it is probably the most useful one for prospective Arabic students to learn.
Is It Safe To Volunteer In Palestine?
Yes, it’s safe. There are often negative media reports about the situation in Palestine, so it is understandable if you are concerned about safety, but the reality is far different from what you have likely heard. Almost all media reports circulate news that is inaccurate and biased without telling the full story. Additionally, the discourse on Palestine is almost always from a colonial and orientalist lens, and regular Palestinians, particularly the working class, are often censored and denied the use of their voice on social media and in the media.
The Situation In The Gaza Strip
Most of what you might hear in the media happens in Gaza, which has been under Israeli blockade and siege by air, land, and sea for at least 15 years. This makes daily life extremely difficult for many people in Gaza and Gaza is often referred to as the world’s largest open-air prison. 98% of the tap water is undrinkable and the majority of people only have electricity for 3-12 hours per day in Gaza.
On top of that, it is a tiny piece of land where around 2.1 million Palestinians live, of which around 1.4 million are internally displaced refugees from other parts of historic Palestine. All of these are just a few consequences of the Israeli occupation that you will rarely, if ever, hear about in the news.
The Situation In The West Bank
In contrast to Gaza (which foreign tourists are unable to visit due to the blockade and siege), the West Bank is a far more stable, accessible, and safe destination for international tourists to visit. While there are occasional outbreaks of violence, they are usually highly localized, and foreign tourists are not often exposed to the difficulties (unless they actively go looking for them of course) – as long as you are sensible with your movements and you don’t seek out trouble, it is perfectly safe to volunteer in Palestine.
Many internationals, both men and women, have visited the West Bank and said they felt safer here, even when walking at night alone than in their own countries such as the UK, The US, and Australia. They have reported that they also felt very welcome and that Palestinian people are very friendly and helpful. On top of that, many Palestinians leave their car doors and front doors unlocked, because street crimes such as petty theft and pickpocketing, while prevalent in many countries around the world, are almost unheard of in Palestine.
Why Choose Short-term Volunteering Programs and Internships in Palestine?
Unfortunately, Israeli tourist visas (issued on arrival at Ben Gurion airport or the land borders with Jordan) only last for 90 days. So the maximum length of stay, if you are doing voluntary work or an unpaid internship, is three months. This is generally sufficient time to get a taste of Palestine and see if it’s the right fit for you. However, it can be possible to leave after 90 days and re-enter a few days or weeks later to get a new visa, but this process is unpredictable.
If you want to find longer-term work in Palestine then you will have to go through an arduous Israeli visa process before you even enter the country. So we only recommend this if you have already visited Palestine before, really know the country, want to work here long term, and are willing to go through the visa application process.
How Can I Prepare For An Internship In Palestine?
Palestine, as mentioned, has its unique history and culture, so be sure to research the place and its customs before visiting. This will give you a better idea of what to expect and also will help advise you when packing your luggage. If you speak Arabic, practice it and plan your route to whichever area of the West Bank you will be visiting. Arrange your flights and travel insurance and notify your bank of your plans to travel abroad. Pack your bags accordingly, bearing in mind that the winters can actually get quite cold and wet and summers are blistering hot and you will soon be ready to go!
Short-Term Volunteering Programs And Internships With Engage In Palestine In The West Bank
Engage in Palestine in Hebron (a city located in the South of the West Bank) runs language, training, internships, and volunteer programs for those interested in helping Palestinian people. During your time with us, you will get to experience the local culture while developing your professional skills. All our programs are run flexibly from 1 week up to 13 weeks, depending on your circumstances and needs. After you arrive, you will be assigned a liaison manager to channel your work to where it is needed the most. We also provide you with accommodation, daily breakfast, and tailored Arabic tuition from a dedicated, personal Arabic tutor to help volunteers aid Palestinians in their native language.
We welcome people with all kinds of skills, such as in nursing, engineering, and sports coaching – we even had a circus performer volunteer to provide morale-boosting performances in refugee camps! Even if you feel like you have no special skills to offer, you could consider English teaching, which is a popular way to help the local Palestinians develop their English language skills.
We also organize and run frequent trips, around and within Hebron city, to see the historical monuments, the local industries, and other places or organizations of cultural, historical, or political importance. You will have two days off per week to spend as you please and you can arrange your trips by yourself or with other participants if you wish. This will ensure you have a fantastic and fun experience beyond the volunteering itself.
Our Short-Term Volunteering Programs and Internships in Palestine
Join Us For A Volunteer Program Or Internship In Summer
If you are a student, graduate, professional, taking a sabbatical or gap year, or anyone else with an extended break during the summer, we invite you to join us to take up one of our volunteering or internship opportunities over the summer. During summer (June through September), many people have holidays, including students in Palestine and abroad, which means it is when we are the busiest and host the highest number of internationals throughout the year.
So if you join us in the summer, you will find many other international volunteers, interns, and Arabic students with whom to make friends and explore Hebron and Palestine. Additionally, our partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, means we can provide academic credit to current university or college students seeking it.
We invite you to join us in the summer to gain practical real-life experience and grow your personal and professional skills while immersing yourself in Palestinian culture traveling, and making friends with people from many different countries.
Interning Or Volunteering With Us Makes A Real Impact
We aim to make a long-term difference with all of our volunteer and internship programs, for both the Palestinian local community and you through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. All of our programs are well-researched and targeted to ensure they have a real impact and foster shared learning for both our community and you. Volunteering or interning in the West Bank affords you the unique opportunity to genuinely make an impact on your life and the lives of local Palestinians and the wider community. As with most things, the more you put into your program, the more you will get out of it.
The Kind of Impact Depends on Which Program You Choose
For example, if you volunteer to teach English, you will get to have an impact on the education and English proficiency of Palestinian students. If you volunteer in our medicine and healthcare program, you will get to engage with medical professionals as well as support and educate medical students through running seminars or workshops. If you intern in our Palestinian Laws & Legal Internship Program, you will learn about local laws and the local legal system through a range of different settings such as visiting law courts and meeting with Palestinian lawyers. You will also impact the local community by contributing your time and sharing your knowledge and experience with Palestinian students and others who can benefit.
No matter which program you choose, you will get to engage with the local community and the Arabic lessons we provide you with will help you be able to integrate into the local community and communicate, even if only at a basic level, with locals. You will be immersed in Palestinian culture and daily life and learn about the current political situation first-hand from Palestinians, which will better inform you and therefore better equip you to make a genuine impact on your life and the lives of Palestinians.
The Benefits We Offer To You
Engage in Palestine offers numerous benefits to all of our participants. Some of these benefits include:
- Being immersed in Palestinian culture and daily life while living in Hebron.
- Provided accommodation with a Palestinian host family (for women) or an all-male dorm.
- Breakfast for each day that you are at our center.
- Three hours of Arabic tuition per week in Modern Standard Arabic, Levantine, or the Colloquial Palestinian dialect, taught either one-on-one or in small groups by one of our well-qualified and attentive Arabic teachers.
- The chance to make new friendships with other volunteers, interns, students, visitors, and residents.
- Participating in various activities and trips around Hebron, such as to the Old City, kaffiyeh factory, glass and ceramics factory, Ibrahimi mosque, a local refugee camp, local artists, and local organizations.
- The chance to experience Palestinian hospitality and enjoy Palestinian traditional cuisine and drinks.
- Two days off per week to spend as you please. You may wish to explore nearby cities such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarem, Qalqilyah, Jenin, the Dead Sea in Jericho, Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Nazareth.
- 24/7 program assistance, including pre-departure support.
- Academic credit towards your studies for current students is available on request.
- A certificate upon completion of your program.
Reviews and Awards
Engage in Palestine has been honored with several prestigious Community Awards, 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.
- +840 Reviews and ratings (96.8%) on gooverseas.com
- +170 Reviews and ratings on goabroad.com
- Participants’ video testimonials
Summary
Participating in short-term volunteering programs and internships in Palestine with Engage in Palestine offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a beautiful country with warm people, often misunderstood in the media. Contrary to common perceptions, the West Bank is safe for international visitors, and you’ll gain both personal enrichment and cultural immersion while making lifelong friends. Beyond the personal growth, you’ll also benefit professionally, gaining valuable practical experience in your chosen field or exploring new career paths.
We offer a variety of programs suitable for students, graduates, professionals, or anyone seeking a meaningful break. You can volunteer or intern with us for as little as one week or up to 13 weeks, at any time of the year. Alongside building hard and soft skills, you’ll make a positive impact on the local community through activities like facilitating workshops or interacting with locals. With free time to explore the region, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to experience Palestine and form lasting connections.
Find Out More
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Info@ecpalestine.org and on Whatsapp:+972 599 479 880
