The West Bank has a variety of volunteer opportunities that provide interested volunteers with the chance to engage with local Palestinian communities and make a difference in the region. Individuals can make a tangible difference in the lives of Palestinians, including Palestinian children while also acquiring significant cross-cultural experience and insights by participating in one of the best volunteer programs in the West Bank.

Volunteer programs in the West Bank facilitate cultural exchange between international volunteers and local Palestinians and they allow internationals to better understand and support Palestinians’ struggle for freedom and justice. Engage in Palestine, a local Palestinian volunteer organization in the West Bank offers some of the best volunteer programs in the West Bank, which we will explore in this article.

Volunteering In The West Bank With Engage In Palestine In Hebron, Palestine 

Volunteering with Engage in Palestine in Hebron, West Bank, is an extraordinary opportunity to immerse yourself in Palestinian culture, learn some Arabic, and contribute to making a meaningful difference in the lives of Palestinians in the local community. Engage in Palestine is a local volunteer organization and language school that offers Arabic and English language courses, volunteer opportunities, and internship opportunities, all of which have a strong emphasis on cultural exchange. 

Work Alongside Palestinians 

As a volunteer with Engage in Palestine, you will get to work alongside local Palestinians in a variety of projects that can include English teaching, organizing cultural events, running workshops or seminars on important topics, in addition to contributing to and supporting community development initiatives. Moreover, while volunteering in the West Bank with Engage in Palestine, you will experience the warmth and hospitality of Palestinian people, try different delicious Palestinian foods, and explore the rich history and culture of the West Bank and the wider region.

Gain A Deeper Insight Into Palestinian Daily Life While Challenging Yourself

By joining us in Hebron, Palestine as a volunteer, you will gain a deeper insight into Palestine’s daily life and get to contribute to positively impacting the local Palestinian community. You will get to meet with locals and learn about their experiences and struggles while living in Hebron. This is one of the best opportunities in the West Bank to enhance your skill set and gain valuable work experience in different fields while challenging yourself and your current perspectives. 

A Supportive And Stimulating Environment

Engage in Palestine provides a supportive and stimulating environment that allows you to grow both personally and professionally while making new friends. Volunteering with Engage in Palestine is an experience that you won’t soon forget and it will broaden your horizons and develop your skills, while positively impacting the lives of others in the West Bank.

Where In The West Bank Is Engage In Palestine?

Engage in Palestine is located in the city of Hebron, along the main street called Ein Sara, which is full of shops, cafes, and restaurants. Hebron is one of the most culturally rich and ancient cities in Palestine, located in the south of the West Bank and approximately 30km south of Jerusalem. Its governorate, which includes the city of Hebron and its surrounding villages, has a population of over 700,000 people, making it the largest city in the West Bank. Hebron is located not too far from cities such as Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv.

Hebron is well-known for its rich cultural past and range of industries including glass-making, ceramics, and leather products. The old city of Hebron is architecturally stunning and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, Hebron, particularly in and around the old city is on the frontline of the Israeli occupation. It’s the only city in the West Bank with Israeli settlers living inside part of the city itself. This makes Hebron a very important city, not only historically and economically, but also to see and understand the effects of the occupation.

Voted One Of The Best Providers Of Volunteer Programs Worldwide In 2022 And 2021 By Go Overseas

Over the last several years, Engage in Palestine has been awarded several Community Choice Awards by Go Overseas, which are awarded based on the reviews from former participants. Most recently, we were awarded as one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities abroad in 2022 and 2021. We were also voted by the Go Overseas community as being among the best providers of teaching abroad programs and internships in 2022. 

As you can see, Engage in Palestine is highly regarded as well as providing some of the top volunteer programs in the West Bank as well as the rest of the world.

Engage in Palestine’s Best Volunteer Programs In The West Bank

Engage in Palestine offers an excellent range of short-term volunteer programs, providing interested volunteers with the chance to gain valuable experience and develop their skills while also making a contribution to the local Palestinian community in Hebron. Our volunteer programs which range in length from one week to three months, are made to be adaptable and customized to the needs and interests of the individual.

You may learn more about each of the specific programs we provide by clicking the links in the table below.

Volunteer Program To Teach English In The West Bank

Engage in Palestine offers a unique and rewarding program for individuals interested in teaching English to Palestinians in the West Bank or those interested in teaching English abroad. If you are pursuing a career in English language teaching, teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), or teaching English as a second or other language (TESOL), this is a great opportunity and one of the best volunteer programs in the West Bank. Our volunteer English teaching program is open to volunteers with a range of teaching experience, whether you are looking for your first experience teaching English or have years of experience. Both native English speakers and fluent non-native English speakers are welcome to volunteer as an English teacher in the West Bank with us at Engage in Palestine.

During your volunteer English teaching program, you will have the opportunity to teach English to Palestinian students, including Palestinian children while also learning about Palestinian culture and history. The program includes both classroom teaching at our center in the city of Hebron and community outreach activities, such as teaching English to Palestinian refugees.

Volunteer With Palestinian Children Program In The West Bank

Engage in Palestine also offers a volunteer with the Palestinian children program, ideal for anyone passionate about working with children and who wishes to positively impact their lives. This opportunity to volunteer with Palestinian children is an excellent chance for volunteers to learn about and experience Palestinian culture while working with Palestinian children.

During this program, a volunteer can participate in a range of volunteer activities with Palestinian children, including teaching English or other subjects, leading extracurricular activities, and working on volunteer projects that aim to improve educational opportunities for Palestinian children. If you are interested in teaching children or in childhood education and development, this volunteer program is a great opportunity for you and one of our best volunteer programs in the West Bank. 

Volunteer In Human Rights In The West Bank

Engage in Palestine’s Human Rights volunteer program is designed to provide volunteers and interns with various opportunities to engage in activities related to human rights, cultural exchange, education, and community development in the West Bank. Human rights volunteers can participate in several different activities and projects during their time in the West Bank, including teaching, advocacy, running workshops, and community outreach. 

Additionally, participants will have the chance to work with local Palestinian organizations that specialize in human rights, including women’s rights and children’s rights. Interns and volunteers will also get to participate in workshops and classes that are aimed at increasing their awareness about human rights issues in Palestine and the Israeli occupation of Palestine. This opportunity to volunteer in human rights in the West Bank is especially suitable for those who have studied or are passionate about human rights but is open to individuals from around the world. No prior experience or expertise is required.

Volunteer With Palestinian Refugees Program In The West Bank 

Engage in Palestine’s Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees program is a wonderful opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of some of the most vulnerable communities in the region and another of our best volunteer programs in the West Bank. Our Palestinian refugees volunteer program is designed for volunteers to support Palestinian refugees who were displaced from their homes and are still living in difficult conditions, many years later. 

As a volunteer with Palestinian refugees, you will work alongside local Palestinian refugees to provide support in areas such as education, healthcare, social services, and more, depending on your interests, experience, and expertise. This may include teaching English to Palestinian refugee children, organizing cultural, educational, or other events, and creating or assisting community development projects. This program is one of the best opportunities to learn about the unique challenges that Palestinian refugees in the West Bank face, while also making a meaningful difference in their lives.

Volunteer In the Community Development Program In The West Bank 

Another one of the best volunteer programs in the West Bank is our Community Development volunteer program offered year-round. Your role as a community development volunteer will include creating and facilitating workshops, lessons, programs, and other activities that are aimed at teaching Palestinian youth about community and economic development in and around Hebron. This can also include helping Palestinian youth with their English, and their self-confidence and discussing career, job, and study opportunities with them. 

If you have expertise or experience with entrepreneurship, starting a small business, or assisting others to enhance their employability, or any other you will be able to utilize that throughout this program to assist Palestinians in the local community. Through community development volunteer work in the West Bank, you will not only be able to positively impact local Palestinians and assist them in creating better futures for themselves, but you will also be able to develop yourself personally and professionally. 

Quick Facts About Our Short-Term Internships And Volunteer Programs In The West Bank  

Below you may find a quick informative snapshot of our short-term volunteer and internship opportunities.

Best Summer Volunteer Programs In The West Bank

Engage in Palestine has some of the best summer volunteer programs in the West Bank, running from June through September. These are great programs for anyone who is searching for summer volunteer opportunities in the West Bank, Palestine, Israel, the Middle East more broadly, or close to the cities of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, or Tel Aviv. If you are a student, graduate, professional, taking a gap year or sabbatical, or otherwise have a summer break, our summer volunteer programs in the West Bank are a great way to make the most of your summer. Summer is our busiest time, so you will have plenty of opportunities to make new friends and positively impact the Palestinian community through a range of volunteer projects, while also getting to learn some Arabic and immersing yourself in Palestinian culture. 

Our programs have starting dates throughout summer and you can choose how long you wish to volunteer for in the West Bank (from 1-13 weeks), making our programs very flexible and suitable for all kinds of schedules. 

Volunteer With Palestinian Children In The West Bank

While Engage in Palestine has a dedicated volunteer program to work with Palestinian children, there are other opportunities for volunteers and interns to work with Palestinian children in any of our programs. Volunteering with Palestinian children in the West Bank can be a very rewarding experience both for international volunteers and Palestinian children. Children in Palestine experience a range of issues including due to their social class, their family’s economic situation as well as living under Israeli occupation. These issues can include poverty, limited access to quality education in some areas in addition to trauma, and psychological distress due to the ongoing Israeli occupation. Additionally, numerous Palestinian children have been arrested by Israel, imprisoned, and put on trial in military courts. 

Another aspect of volunteer work with Palestinian children in the West Bank is the chance for cultural exchange. Palestinian children get to teach overseas volunteers about Palestinian culture and their daily lives and experiences while learning about people and cultures from all over the world. 

Volunteer With Palestinian Refugees In The West Bank

One of Engage in Palestine’s best volunteer programs in the West Bank is our Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees program. However, with any of our volunteer and internship opportunities, there are possibilities to work with Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and to learn more about their daily lives and circumstances.  

Participants will get to visit Palestinian refugee camps near Hebron such as Al-Fawwar or Al-Aroub camps and have the chance to work on volunteer projects and initiatives to positively impact the Palestinian refugees living in these camps. This might include volunteer work such as teaching English to Palestinian refugee children running workshops to enhance the employability of refugee youth and students or meeting with the local community to learn about their situation and ways in which you can help. 

If you have specific initiatives or activities you wish to implement during your program, we are always open to your ideas.

Duration And Timing Of Our Short-Term Volunteer Programs In The West Bank

As one of the top volunteer organizations in the West Bank, Engage in Palestine offers overseas students, volunteers, and interns a great amount of flexibility and participants can choose which dates to begin and finish their volunteer program year-round. Each program can last from as little as one week and up to 13 weeks and participants have the freedom and flexibility to choose their program duration. 

From June through September, we also offer some of the best summer volunteer opportunities in the West Bank, Palestine. These are particularly ideal for university or college students looking for volunteer organizations abroad to volunteer or intern with in the summer.

Flexible Booking

We understand that whether due to a change of heart, unforeseen circumstances, or last-minute emergencies, plans can change. Therefore, we make all of our volunteer programs, internships, and Arabic courses flexible so that you can change or delay your plans. 

All of our programs have flexible start and end dates and during the application process, you can choose when to begin and end anytime throughout the year for 1-13 weeks.

Date Changes

If you need to make any date changes to your short-term volunteer program in the West Bank, Palestine, you can do this for free two weeks or more before your original start date. However, if you wish to make changes or a cancelation within two weeks of your original start date, any payments you have made will be converted to a credit for you to use towards any of our other programs in the future either in Palestine or with our sister location in Germany.

Requirements To Volunteer In The West Bank With Engage In Palestine

Our short-term volunteer programs in the West Bank are very flexible and open to a wide range of participants. While a few of our programs require specific experience or expertise from volunteers and interns, (such as our Medical & Healthcare volunteer program), the following requirements generally apply across all of our volunteer opportunities. 

To Volunteer With Us, You Need:

• To be aged 18-70 years old (although exceptions can be made if approved by Engage in Palestine’s director)
• The ability to communicate in English
• The ability to work with an international team
• Patience and enthusiasm
• Eagerness to learn

What You DON’T Need:

• The ability to speak Arabic
• Travel or work experience
• To be a native speaker of English
• Experience in teaching English as a foreign language

Who Is Volunteering In The West Bank For?

• Current university students looking to spend a semester abroad or their summer doing volunteer work or completing an internship either for academic credit or not for credit
•  Anyone interested in Palestinian culture, Arab culture, or learning about the Palestinian cause and the Israeli occupation of Palestine
• Anyone looking to learn Arabic while volunteering with Palestinians, including Palestinian children and Palestinian refugees in the West Bank 
• University or college students or graduates who are studying or have studied Middle Eastern Studies, Arab Studies, Islamic Studies, Human Rights, International Relations, International Law, Diplomacy, Political Science, or other related fields
• People with Palestinian or Arab heritage wishing to learn their family’s language, and culture and reconnect to their roots
• Students, interns, or professionals with a personal or professional interest in Palestine, Israel, or the Middle East in general
• People who are social workers or otherwise work or aspire to work with refugees, particularly Palestinian or Syrian refugees
• Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities abroad or summer volunteer work abroad
• Anyone passionate about social justice, human rights, community development, teaching English abroad, or other similar fields

The Impact Of Volunteering In The West Bank With Engage In Palestine

At Engage in Palestine, we aim to make a long-term difference for both the local Palestinian community and you, through our range of various short-term volunteer programs, through the exchange of ideas, and “walking in each other’s shoes”. All of our internships and volunteer opportunities in the West Bank are well-researched and targeted to ensure that they have a positive impact. 

Volunteering in the West Bank with Engage in Palestine is an opportunity to contribute some of your valuable time to have a meaningful impact on the lives of those in our local Palestinian community. Your time volunteering in Palestine will also surely have a big impact on your own life, even long after you leave Palestine. Volunteers can leave Palestine with a sense of accomplishment as well as with a new appreciation and understanding of the Palestinian people, their culture, and resilience in the face of ongoing occupation. 

Some Of The Benefits And Highlights Of Volunteering With Engage In Palestine

• Your accommodation in Hebron is a part of your program which we arrange, either in a homestay or shared apartment.
• The immersion in the Palestinian culture and daily life in Hebron. 
• Each morning (except Fridays), join us at our center for a Palestinian breakfast as part of your short-term volunteer program, shared with other participants and our staff.
• Gain valuable work experience and develop your skills through working with Palestinian children. 
• Meet and make friends with people from all over the world. 
• Three hours of Arabic tuition per week, with the choice between learning Levantine (Shami) Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, or Colloquial Palestinian (Ammiya) Arabic.
• Learn Arabic privately or in a small group class (2-5 students) in an immersive environment and with personalized instruction.
• Learn Palestinian-spoken Arabic from native speakers and embrace the opportunity to communicate with locals.
• The chance to gain a better understanding of Palestinian politics and experience the Israeli occupation in the West Bank.
• The possibility of learning about the human rights situation in Palestine and supporting Palestinian refugees, children, and women (if you wish). 
• The opportunity to travel to historical locations and nearby cities including Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus, and Bethlehem in your free time.
• You will have days off so you can visit other nearby cities such as Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Nazareth.
• Visits are arranged by us to Palestinian universities, local institutions, and organizations specializing in culture and education.
• Having lots of chances to eat local Palestinian foods and delicacies.
• We offer you pre-departure support as well as ongoing in-country support during your time with us in Palestine. 
• You can obtain academic credit towards your degree for currently enrolled university or college students.
• You will receive a certificate upon completion of your program. 

Reviews and Awards

Volunteer in Palestine has been offering Arabic courses for non-native speakers since 2011. We have developed many Arabic immersion programs and online courses over the years. We use the most advanced teaching methods, which we develop and enhance year after year. Education is an active process always advancing, and you will be part of the development. 

Despite continuous program improvements to ensure the best learning experience, our core goal remains connecting, teaching, and developing individuals. Additionally, we aim to promote and encourage exchange in the local and international communities. 

We continue to strive towards excellence:

In 2022, we ranked as “one of the top three organizations worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities”. We also ranked as “one of the top three language schools worldwide” by Go Overseas. We also received a total of five Go Overseas Community Choice Awards. Among others, Volunteer in Palestine earned recognition as one of the top Teach Abroad Providers for the category of “benefits”. Besides that, we were also one of the Top Internship Abroad Providers for the categories of “growth” and “support”. 

In 2021, we were one of the top three volunteer programs in the world. Go Overseas awarded us the community choice awards in the categories of “best language school”, “fun”, and “teaching”.

In 2019, we received our inaugural “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards.” This award recognized Volunteer in Palestine’s positive effect on the global travel community.

Overall, Volunteer in Palestine is a highly-rated travel company.

• +800 Reviews and ratings (96.8%) on gooverseas.com
• +160 Reviews and ratings on goabroad.com
• Participants’ video testimonials

Final Thoughts

Engage in Palestine offers some of the best volunteer programs abroad in the West Bank, including volunteer opportunities to teach English, work with Palestinian refugees, volunteer with Palestinian children, volunteer in environment and conservation, and volunteer in human rights or women’s rights. We have a wide range of short-term volunteer programs in the West Bank, suitable for a large array of different interests, skills, and expertise that interested volunteers can share with our local Palestinian community. 

Engage in Palestine is very highly reviewed by our former participants and we have been recognized by Go Overseas in both 2021 and 2022 as being in the top three providers of volunteer programs worldwide. This demonstrates our firm commitment to both our international volunteers and our Palestinian community. Our short-term volunteer programs ranging from 1-13 weeks are great opportunities for students, graduates, professionals, those on a gap year or sabbatical, and anyone else who wants to go beyond the typical tourist experience in Palestine, Israel, or the Middle East.

We hope you will join us for one of our best volunteer programs in the West Bank at Engage in Palestine shortly!

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

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