Guide to Volunteering in Human Rights Programs in Palestine: Palestine remains one of the most pressing human rights struggles in the world. On a daily basis, Palestinians experience military occupation, displacement, settlement expansion, restrictions on movement, and violations of international law. These kinds of barriers impact the fundamental rights of millions of people,  like access to education, quality healthcare, and freedom of movement. 

The human rights situation in Palestine is complex and wide-reaching, with challenges that span the breadth of the community. The expansion of Israeli settlements, house demolitions, and land confiscation continue to displace Palestinian families and communities. People also face increasingly severe restrictions on their movement, with military checkpoints and travel permit systems limiting their ability to work, study, or visit family. Meanwhile, the blockade on Gaza and tightening restrictions in the West Bank have severely limited access to essential services.

International volunteers can play an important role in supporting a better future for human rights in Palestine. Their presence can help document human rights abuses, shed light on realities often overlooked or misrepresented by mainstream media, and spread hope and a sense of solidarity to the community. 

Opportunities for Volunteering in Human Rights Programs in Palestine

Because of the breadth of human rights issues in Palestine, International volunteers can contribute to human rights work in many different ways. Some of the most common ones include: 

Documentation and Media

Many volunteers work with organizations that document human rights violations, producing reports, articles, and visual media to raise global awareness. Their work is critical in countering misinformation and providing firsthand accounts of the situation on the ground.

Legal and Humanitarian Support

Volunteers assist in legal aid initiatives, refugee support, and psychosocial programs, helping individuals navigate the complex legal and humanitarian challenges created by the occupation.

Protective Presence and Accompaniment

Some volunteers participate in protective accompaniment programs, standing alongside Palestinian farmers, activists, and families facing violence, displacement, or military aggression. Their international presence can sometimes act as a deterrent to human rights abuses.

Advocacy and Solidarity Campaigns 

Volunteers engage in activism both during and after their time in Palestine, lobbying for policy changes, organizing awareness campaigns, and strengthening international solidarity networks.

Volunteers are welcome to bring their own ideas, too, utilizing skills and experience to help support Palestinians and reduce human rights abuses. 

Finding the Right Program

The human rights concerns when it comes to Palestine and the Palestinian community are significant, and as such there are many organizations offering volunteer opportunities. These programs cover a range of critical need areas such as education, community development, women’s empowerment, and refugee support. 

Because there are many organizations, selecting the right one is an important decision. It can be difficult to tell the reality of an experience from what you see online. So, how do you pick a good organization? 

Our first piece of advice is to go look for organizations that are Palestinian-led. Many well-meaning people come to try and set up organizations in international countries when they should instead be supporting the efforts of local people. If it doesn’t explicitly say on the website of the program you’re considering, make sure you get in touch and check that the organization is locally led. It’s also a good idea to check the prerequisites of your chosen program to ensure it will be a good fit for you as well as the community you’ll be working with. 

In terms of quality, check whether the organization you like has an online presence elsewhere where you can verify the experiences of other volunteers. Engage in Palestine is registered with Go Overseas, a well-known organization that helps people worldwide find meaningful and fulfilling volunteer positions. We currently have a 4.85 (out of 5) rating from 860 reviews and have received over 20 community awards from 2019 onwards, including for 2024. 

Our Palestinian Law and Human Rights Programs in Palestine

Our volunteer programs in Palestine are especially ideal for students and people who are looking for summer volunteer and internship programs in the West Bank, Palestine, Israel, or the Middle East.

Here, you can find a list of our internship and volunteer programs related to Palestinian law and human rights in Palestine:

1. Human Rights Program in Palestine

2. Volunteer in the Women’s Rights Program in Palestine

3. Palestinian Law Internship

4. Volunteer in Local Palestinian Villages and Rural Areas

5. The Palestine and Israel Internship

6. Volunteer with Refugees in Palestine

Visa and Entry Requirements

Currently, in order to travel to Palestine, you need to secure a visa from Israel. Tourist visas are issued on arrival at the border and can last for up to 90 days. As of January 1st, 2025, you need to fill out an Electronic Travel Authorization prior to departure. 

There are two key crossings into the West Bank; a land crossing through Jordan at the King Hussein Bridge, or arriving at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport just outside of Tel Aviv. Travel through Jordan is currently highly recommended as many people have recently faced difficulty entering Israel through Ben Gurion Airport. The way takes a bit longer and is a bit more complicated, but there is generally a better chance that you will be granted entry. You can read more about this in our article about traveling from Jordan to Palestine. 

Because of the current security situation, it is important to know that entry to Israel (and, by extension, the West Bank) is not always guaranteed. Israel’s security measures regarding foreign travelers have tightened since October 7th as they seek to limit the number of people traveling to support Palestine. 

Whichever route you go, there is always a chance that you may be questioned by Israeli border guards. Our advice? Be friendly, stay calm, speak about your intentions to travel to Israel, and try not to mention coming to Palestine or Hebron to volunteer. For more information, please reach out to our team at Info@ecpalestine.org. 

Ethical Considerations for Human Rights Volunteers

Volunteering in the area of human rights requires careful consideration, especially in a politically sensitive and historically complex region like Palestine. While most volunteers have good intentions at heart, their actions can have unintended negative consequences if they do not approach their work with cultural sensitivity and respect for the local community. Make sure the program you choose contributes to long-term and positive change rather than short-term or symbolic gestures. 

The Importance of Responsible Activism

Engaging in responsible activism means consistently asking important questions like: Am I taking up space in a movement that should be led by Palestinians, or, Is this work doing enough to support or build local capacity? It’s better to try and gauge this when you are looking for the right program and the right organisation to work with.

Responsible activism also means understanding the risks that local activists face. Unlike foreign volunteers, who often have the privilege of leaving if tensions escalate, Palestinians live with the long-term consequences of resistance. Volunteers must be careful not to put local activists in danger by attracting unnecessary attention, engaging in actions without community approval, or sharing sensitive information that could endanger lives.

Avoiding “Voluntourism” in Human Rights Work

One of the biggest ethical concerns in human rights volunteering is the risk of “voluntourism”—a phenomenon where short-term, unskilled volunteers engage in work that may be more about their own experience than the needs of the community. In the context of Palestine, this can take the form of well-meaning individuals participating in activities without a full understanding of the political situation or historical context.

To make sure they avoid voluntourism, human rights volunteers should:

• Learn about Palestinian history and current politics before arriving.
• Select roles that support existing local initiatives rather than creating new, unsustainable projects.
• Understand that volunteering in this context is not about “helping” Palestinians but standing in solidarity with and learning from them. 

Respecting Local Perspectives and Working Alongside Palestinian Activists

The most effective human rights volunteers know that Palestinians are the experts on their own struggle. This means deferring to local leadership, listening more than speaking, and ensuring that all volunteer activities align with the needs and goals of the community. Rather than imposing solutions or trying to be heroes, ethical volunteers should amplify local initiatives and provide support where asked.

This approach also extends to advocacy once volunteers return home. Volunteers can continue their work by educating their communities and advocating in line with Palestinian-led organizations. 

Challenges and Realities of Human Rights Volunteering in Palestine

One of the biggest challenges that volunteers can face in Palestine is the reality of the situation. It’s one thing to read about it but another to see it for yourself. Every Palestinian has a story about loss and how they have been negatively impacted by the occupation. This can sometimes be difficult for volunteers to hear. 

Safety in the West Bank is really easy to manage on a day-to-day level. Volunteers often say that they feel safer walking down the street here, even at night, than they do in their home country. Having said that, traveling anywhere requires increased awareness of your circumstances and some adjustments to behavior. In the West Bank, we recommend that you make sure to keep an eye on the news and avoid traveling to any ‘hot’ zones where there has been violence. 

We also recommend that you do not try to challenge or defy any soldiers or guards, no matter how you feel about the occupation. Not only could this put you at risk, but it may also endanger any Palestinian people you are traveling with. 

The staff at Engage in Palestine are very well-connected and informed about the local area, so it’s best to ask them if you are considering visiting somewhere that might have a safety risk. 

Finally, make sure to check whether your travel insurance policy covers travel to Palestine! 

How to Fund Your Volunteer Experience

A crucial thing to consider when planning to volunteer for human rights in Palestine is covering costs. One of these costs will be the fees for your volunteer program. Make sure to check what your organization of choice covers within their program fees.

At Engage in Palestine, your fees cover:

• Secure, modern, and fully-equipped accommodation close to the Center and Hebron’s main Ein Sara Street for the duration of your stay.
• Three hours of Arabic class per week to help you speak with local people and get around in Palestine (unless you are studying Arabic as your main program with us). 
• Breakfast five days a week, consisting of all the things you might find on a Palestinian breakfast table: bread, hommus, shakshuka, olive oil and za’atar, avocado, labna, and more! All were served with tea and coffee, of course. 
• All of your program activities include visits to local organizations, activists, journalists, refugee camps, and more. 

You can find the price list for our programs here.

Outside of the program fee, other potential costs include mobile data for your roaming, e-sim, or local sim card, eating dinner at restaurants along Ein Sara street with other volunteers, or travelling to other cities in the West Bank like Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jericho or Ramallah. What you spend during your time here really depends on your lifestyle and how many souvenirs you can fit into your suitcase! 

Is your bank account looking a little on the empty side? Fundraising is one way to help cover the costs of your chosen program. Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe offer a platform for your friends and family to get involved in supporting your volunteer experience. Sharing your motivations for coming to Palestine, along with a link for people to donate, is an easy way to get support. Other fundraising ideas could include setting up a bake sale, doing a running challenge and asking people to sponsor you, or organizing a clothes-swap event at your local community center. 

Make sure to check Google, your university, or human rights organizations in your area for any scholarship opportunities that might help fund your program in Palestine. 

Making a Lasting Impact: How to Stay Involved After Volunteering

Responsible volunteering doesn’t just cover what you do while in Palestine; it also matters what you do when you leave. One of the most powerful aspects of international volunteers coming to Palestine is the ripple effects of change they can make when they return home. 

Some volunteers speak with their family and friends about their experiences, some write to their local media, and some use their own personal platforms for advocacy or get involved in local movements to support Palestine in their hometowns. Every single action helps. 

Volunteers don’t have to be located in Palestine to make a difference, either. You can continue supporting local organizations through online volunteering, doing online Arabic lessons, or using your platform to share the work of inspiring individuals or organizations in Palestine. 

Summary

Due to the need, the Human Rights volunteer program at Engage in Palestine is one of our most popular programs. Our 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? Visit our GoOverseas page to hear first-hand accounts of people’s time in Palestine. If you have any further questions or would like to apply for one of our programs, please reach out to Info@ecpalestine.org. 

Find Us Online

Do you have questions about the Guide to Volunteering in Human Rights Programs in Palestine? Contact us:

Email: info@ecpalestine.org

WhatsApp:+972 599 479 880

Website: https://ecpalestine.org/

EC Website: https://excellencenter.org/

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Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter

Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/RafatECHebron

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQSLdFZWZcBm6Uj0XMYuKg

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