Best Ways To Help Palestinian Refugees And Children: The ongoing occupation of Palestine affects millions of Palestinians in Palestine and around the world. Palestinian children and Palestinian refugees are some of the most vulnerable groups of Palestinians and can therefore benefit greatly from additional support. Some of the issues Palestinian refugees and Palestinian children face are limited access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and necessities, including food and water (particularly in Gaza).
For anyone wishing to help Palestinian children and refugees, there are several ways to do this, which we will take a look at in this article.
Educate Yourself About Palestine
One meaningful way to help Palestinian children and Palestinian refugees is to become better informed about the situation in Palestine and the ongoing Israeli occupation. To be able to help with a problem, it is necessary to first have a sound understanding of it. There are several ways to educate yourself about Palestine, there are many resources online, and there are many books and documentaries that can grow your knowledge about Palestine.
Additionally, social media is a very powerful tool to learn about Palestine as you can learn directly from everyday Palestinians about their situation, their history, and their everyday lives. Palestinians are often denied their voice or silenced in mainstream news and other media, so seeking out the voices of everyday Palestinians is critical.
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Uplift Palestinian Voices
One key issue that Palestinians face in the media is that their voices are often excluded or talked over. Much of the literature that is commonly accessible about Palestine and the Israeli occupation of Palestine is not written by Palestinians. Palestinians are far more capable of telling their own stories than outsiders are, so it is important to listen to Palestinians and uplift their voices instead of listening to the voices that are talking over them.
Sharing information about Palestine, with your friends, family members, and other connections and through your social media might seem like it won’t make a difference, but all these small actions have the power to make a significant difference in the long run, even if you don’t see the direct impact of your actions.
Volunteer With Palestinians In Diaspora
Palestinians make up the largest refugee population in the world, which means there are millions of Palestinians in the diaspora. If there are Palestinian organizations or events in your local area, you can contact the organizers and see if there is a way you can volunteer with them to support them with whatever they need.
For example, this can include organizations that sell Palestinian-made handicrafts or other products, particularly those by Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, or Jordan can include organizations that sell Palestinian-made handicrafts around the world, and other organizations that work with Palestinian refugees or children.
Support The Palestinian Economy
There are several ways to support the Palestinian economy, this can spending money on Palestinian-owned businesses, including restaurants and other businesses that sell products that are either made by or support Palestinian children and refugees. If you cannot find any Palestinian-owned businesses in your local area, the internet is a great source of Palestinian products and you should be able to find on their website if your purchase will help Palestinian children and/or Palestinian refugees.
Another way to support the Palestinian economy is to visit Palestine and spend your money locally in Palestinian restaurants, Palestinian accommodations, Palestinian shops, and more.
Volunteer In Palestine
For those who have the financial means and privilege to be able to travel to Palestine, this is one way that you can help Palestinian refugees and children. Firstly, you will be able to learn a lot about the Palestinian cause while being on the ground in Palestine. Secondly, you can engage in volunteer work to directly support Palestinian children and Palestinian refugees. This is one of the best ways to make a tangible life in the difference of Palestinians that you meet on the ground in Palestine.
Volunteer And Help Palestinian Refugees And/Or Palestinian Children
Engage in Palestine is a local Palestinian volunteer organization and language school, located in Hebron, Palestine with many ties to the local community. Engage in Palestine has over 10 years of experience connecting international volunteers and interns with Palestinians in the local community, including helping Palestinian refugees and Palestinian children.
One of the best ways to help Palestinian children and refugees is through direct action, including volunteer work in Palestine. Keep reading to learn more about how you can help us support our Palestinian children and Palestinian refugees.
5 Best Volunteer Programs With The Palestinian Refugees
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.
In addition to volunteer opportunities to help Palestinian children and support Palestinian refugees, we offer several other programs. Our volunteer programs range in length from one week to three months and 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.
1. Volunteer With Palestinian Children
This program is an excellent opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students, professionals, retirees, social workers, and teachers interested in working with children in a volunteer capacity. It is also ideal for anyone, whether native or non-native English speaker, interested in interning with Palestinian children.
In addition, those interested in childhood education will benefit from volunteering with children in Palestine. Volunteers will be provided with a full immersion into Palestinian culture, daily life, politics, the human rights situation, and the educational system.
2. Volunteer With Palestinian Refugees In The West Bank
The Palestinian Refugees Program is a great opportunity for a wide range of people, from students to retirees, who are passionate about human rights and wish to work directly with Palestinian refugees in the West Bank. Volunteers in this program will work with Palestinian children, youth, and women primarily in order to enhance their skills and provide education in one of the Palestinian refugee camps around the city of Hebron, Palestine.
3. Human Rights Program In The West Bank
The Human Rights Volunteer Internship Program is designed to teach applicants knowledge about human rights. Students will undertake visits to human rights organizations and are offered the ability to practice what they have learned encouragingly and naturally. Alongside these visits, there will also be meetings with human rights activists, workers, law teachers, students, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
4. Volunteer in Women’s Rights Program in Palestine
The Palestinian Women’s Rights Volunteer Program is for students who are interested in social studies, especially the subject of women’s empowerment. Throughout the program, students will gain more insights into women’s rights in Palestine, specifically in the city of Hebron where our center is located.
Participants of the volunteer project will be provided with many opportunities to meet Palestinian women, visit women’s rights organizations in Hebron, West Bank, and engage in educational and cultural activities during their time in Palestine.
5. Palestinian Laws & Legal Practices Internship
This internship program is ideal for students and scholars of law, social sciences, academics, human rights, and anyone interested in the Palestinian legal systems operating in the West Bank, Palestine. Interns can join our family from 1-13 weeks, year-round. The Palestinian Laws Program aims to provide a full understanding of legislation applying to the West Bank and Gaza.
During the internship programs, interns will visit local Palestinian lawyers, law faculties, courts, human rights organizations, legal religious institutions as well as legal clinics to witness the enactment of laws, decision-making processes, court rulings, legal negotiations, mediations, and the variety of social spaces they concern.
Engage in Palestine’s internship in Palestinian Law and Legal Practices is designed to create dialogue between participants and Palestinian legal experts, as well as introduce participants to one of the most complex legal systems offering them an opportunity to learn about Palestinian Law, Humanitarian Law, and the issues surrounding Palestine and Israel.
Where In The West Bank Is Engage In Palestine?
Engage in Palestine is located along the main street (Ein Sara) in the city of Hebron, one of the most culturally rich and ancient cities in Palestine. Hebron is geographically very close to Jerusalem at only 30km away, however many Palestinians in Hebron have never been to Jerusalem due to the Israeli-imposed checkpoints and restrictions that prohibit Palestinians from accessing their city.
As it is also the largest city in the West Bank, it is also close to 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. It’s important to emphasize that despite all this, Hebron is very safe for international visitors, and Palestinians in Hebron are very friendly and welcoming.
Opportunities To Work With Palestinian Children In The West Bank, Palestine
Engage in Palestine also offers great volunteer opportunities to support and help Palestinian children, which are perfect for those passionate about working with children and want to make a positive difference in the lives of Palestinian children. While volunteering with Palestinian children with Engage in Palestine, you will get to learn a lot about the struggles that Palestinians, including Palestinian children face, and how you can best support them. You will also get to experience Palestinian hospitality and culture while working to help Palestinian children in the ways that they need.
During any of our volunteer programs with Palestinian children, volunteers can participate in activities such as 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 to help Palestinian children.
Work With Palestinian Refugees In The West Bank, Palestine
Engage in Palestine provides opportunities for international volunteers and interns to engage with and help Palestinian refugees, whether in our volunteer with Palestinian Refugees Program or any of our other short-term programs. This allows you to support Palestinian refugees in ways that will be most beneficial to them, while you can also learn more about their lives and experiences as Palestinian refugees and as human beings.
There are many different ways you can best help Palestinian refugees, no matter your level of expertise educational background, interests, and skills. Our participants working with Palestinian refugees will get to visit Palestinian refugee camps in Hebron governorate, such as Al-Fawwar or Al-Aroub camps, and have opportunities to positively impact the Palestinian refugees living in these camps.
During your time with us, you can work on voluntary projects 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.
Why Are There Palestinian Refugee Camps?
There are several Palestinian refugee camps across the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. These were created mostly between 1948, when the Nakba began, and 1967. The Nakba refers to the ongoing event of Palestinians being displaced or made refugees in their land and abroad, their homes and villages being destroyed, and continuing to be oppressed and subjugated as a result of the establishment of the state of Israel on top of historic Palestine.
While Palestinian refugees are no longer living in tents, Palestinian refugee camps still exist today because Palestinian refugees in Palestine and around the world are denied their right of return by Israel.
Most Palestinian Refugee Camps Are Administered By UNRWA
Most refugee camps in these areas are official refugee camps administered by UNRWA (United Nations Relief And Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees. UNRWA was created in 1949 specifically to provide essential services, including health and education services as well as humanitarian assistance. Palestinian refugees, who, to this day still make up the largest refugee population in the world. In the late 1940s when the Nakba began, there were around 750,000 Palestinians made into refugees but today there are almost 6 million Palestinian refugees around the world.
Palestinian Refugee Camps In/Near Hebron
The two major refugee camps in Hebron governorate (that is the surrounding area but not inside the city center itself), are Al-Aroub and Al-Fawwar refugee camps. Al-Aroub is one of the largest refugee camps in the West Bank and is located around 10km north of Hebron, on the route to Bethlehem.
Duration And Timing Of Our Short-Term Internship Programs In Palestine
Our short-term volunteer opportunities and internship programs, whether working with Palestinian children, Palestinian refugees, or in any other field, are very flexible for our overseas participants. Our interns and volunteers can choose their own start and end dates all year round and can choose how long their program duration is, starting from 1 week and lasting up to 13 weeks. This makes it very flexible and accessible no matter your schedule and budget.
Summer Volunteer Opportunities With Palestinian Children And Palestinian Refugees
Additionally, from June through September, Engage in Palestine offers summer internship opportunities and summer volunteer programs in the West Bank, Palestine. Volunteering with Palestinian children and/or Palestinian refugees is a great way to spend your summer. Our summer projects are particularly ideal for university or college students and recent graduates looking for intern or volunteer organizations abroad to volunteer or intern with in the summer. However, you don’t have to be a student or graduate to join us in the summer!
Flexible Booking
Whether due to a change of heart, unforeseen circumstances, or last-minute emergencies, we understand that plans can change. For this reason, we make all of our volunteer programs, internships, and Arabic courses flexible, allowing you to change or delay your plans.
Additionally, 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
In case you need to make any date changes to your short-term internship or volunteer program with Palestinian refugees and/or Palestinian children 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 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.
Quick Facts About Our Short-Term Internships and Volunteer Programs In Palestine
Below you may find a quick informative snapshot of our short-term volunteer and internship opportunities.
| Location of Programs | Hebron, West Bank |
| Age of Participants | 18-70 years old |
| Program Focus | Teach English in Palestine Volunteer with Palestinian Children Palestinian Refugees Law and Human Rights Community Development Medicine & Healthcare And More |
| Program Language | English |
| Volunteering Program Duration | 1-13 weeks |
| Starting/ Ending Dates | Participants can freely choose their starting and ending dates and we offer volunteer programs and internships in Palestine year-round |
| Timeframe | Short Term Summer Winter Spring Autumn / Fall Year Round |
| Travel Type | Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women |
| Weekly Costs | Starting at 230€ – Check Our Price List |
| Accommodation in Hebron | Palestinian host family Male dorm Private (additional fees apply) |
| Included Arabic Lessons | 3 hours per week |
| Educational Degree | Not Required |
| University Credit | Available |
| Application Deadline | No Deadline |
| Reviews and Ratings | Reviews On Gooverseas.com Reviews On Goabroad.com Participants video testimonials |
| Tel Aviv Airport Pickup | Available (Fee applies) |
Requirements To Intern Or Volunteer At Engage In Palestine
Our short-term opportunities to volunteer and work with Palestinian refugees and Palestinian children in the West Bank, Palestine are very flexible and open to a wide range of participants. To work with Palestinian children, you will first need to undergo a safeguarding interview with us, to ensure that you are aware of the responsibilities and laws in regards to working with children in Palestine.
Aside from that, there are a few requirements needed from prospective interns and volunteers, which are outlined below.
To Intern Or 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 Working With Palestinian Children and Palestinian Refugees In The West Bank?
- Current university or college students looking to spend a semester abroad or their summer doing an internship either for academic credit or not for credit
- Anyone interested in or passionate about Palestinian culture, Arab culture, or learning about the Palestinian cause, Palestinian refugees, human rights, and the Israeli occupation of Palestine
- Anyone passionate about working with children, youth, and/or refugees
- Anyone looking to learn Arabic while working 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, Peace And Conflict Studies, or other related fields
- People with Palestinian or Arab heritage wishing to learn their family’s language and culture, reconnect to their roots and give back to the Palestinian community
- 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 in other countries, particularly Palestinian or Syrian refugees
- Anyone interested in internship opportunities abroad or summer intern work abroad
- Anyone passionate about social justice, human rights, community development, teaching English abroad, or other similar fields
The Impact Of Interning With 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 internships and 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, Palestine are well-researched and targeted to ensure that they have a positive impact. We offer opportunities to engage with and support Palestinian refugees and Palestinian children as they are some of the groups of Palestinians most in need of support.
Volunteering Or Interning In Palestine Helps You To Become Better Informed
Interning with Engage in Palestine allows you to contribute some of your valuable time to create a positive impact on our local Palestinian community, including Palestinian refugees and Palestinian children.
At the same time, you will also be able to grow your skills and gain valuable work experience in return. Volunteering or interning with us in Palestine allows you to learn a lot about human rights in Palestine, the issues that Palestinian children and Palestinian refugees face, and the best ways you can help.
Knowledge Helps You To Make A More Significant Impact
By being better informed, you will have more power to make a more significant contribution to Palestinian refugees and Palestinian children during the time you spend in Palestine, as well as after you return home. You will be able to leave Palestine, having a better idea of the best ways you can support Palestinian children and Palestinian refugees. In addition, you have the chance to gain new knowledge, a new appreciation and understanding of the Palestinian people, their culture, and resilience in the face of ongoing occupation and oppression.
Some Of The Benefits And Highlights Of Volunteering Or Interning With Engage In Palestine
- We provide your accommodation in Hebron for you, included as part of your internship or volunteer program, either in a homestay or shared apartment.
- Be immersed in Palestinian culture, the local community, and daily life in Hebron.
- Each morning (except Fridays), join us at our center for a Palestinian breakfast as part of your short-term internship program, shared with other participants and our staff.
- Gain valuable work experience working with Palestinian refugees and Palestinian children, and build and develop your skillset through working with Palestinians and your fellow interns and volunteers.
- The experience of living and interning or volunteering abroad is a valuable opportunity for personal development, including growing your confidence, trying new things, becoming more independent, and a more proficient problem-solver.
- Meet and make lasting friendships and connections with people from Palestine as well as all over the world.
- You will receive three hours of Arabic lessons per week provided by us, with the choice between learning Levantine (Shami) Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, or Colloquial Palestinian (Ammiya) Arabic.
- Learn Arabic one-on-one or in a small group class (2-5 students) in an immersive environment and with personalized instruction provided by one of our well-qualified native-Arabic teachers.
- 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.
- Learn about the human rights situation in Palestine and support Palestinian refugees, Palestinian children, and Palestinian women.
- 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 or internship credit towards your degree for currently enrolled university or college students thanks to our partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education.
- You will receive a certificate upon completion of your internship program.
Reviews and Awards
Engage in Palestine has been honored with several prestigious Community Awards, and it has been 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
Final Thoughts
There are several ways that individuals who are passionate about the Palestinian cause can help Palestinian children and refugees, who are some of the most vulnerable communities of Palestinians. These can include supporting the Palestinian economy, supporting Palestinian organizations, advocating for Palestinian rights, assisting with humanitarian aid, and volunteering on the ground in Palestine.
One local Palestinian organization offering fantastic volunteer opportunities to help Palestinian refugees and Palestinian children is Engage in Palestine, located in Hebron Palestine. Engage in Palestine offers a range of volunteer work opportunities, including some specializing in working with Palestinian children and Palestinian refugees. You can choose how much of your valuable time you can contribute, from 1-13 weeks and at any time of the year.
Volunteering in Palestine allows you to better inform yourself about the Palestinian cause, the situation in Palestine, and the challenges that Palestinians, Palestinian children, and Palestinian refugees face regularly. This knowledge will help you make an even bigger and even more positive contribution in the near and distant future. You will also have the chance to work alongside Palestinian children and Palestinian refugees to directly help them in the ways that they need.
We hope that you will join us in Palestine and volunteer with Palestinian children and/or refugees with us soon!
Find Out More
Should you have any more questions on the best ways to help Palestinian refugees and children, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
WhatsApp:+972 599 479 880
Website: https://ecpalestine.org/
EC Website: https://excellencenter.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excellence.center
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter
