Human rights Internship programs are so important in boosting the important work of upholding human rights around the world. Whether it’s identifying potential human rights abuses or holding to account those who have already committed them, these programs are critical to ensuring we don’t live in a world where might is right and the strong dominate the weak.
With Which Organisations And Where Can I Take A Human Rights Internship?
Human rights Internship programs are available all over the world, whether they are with big multilateral international organizations like the UN or through non-governmental organizations like Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International. It is usually advisable to build a specialty in a certain regional area and or in a particular thematic focus like human rights law or mine clearing for example.
Choosing a regional focus is entirely down to your interests and ambitions. If you already have experience or a language that makes you particularly suitable for one area, pursue this further and concentrate your efforts on finding something in this region. If you are coming at this with no experience, consider what type of work you most enjoy and where it might be applicable in the future. There are lots of opportunities to take human rights internships in the Middle East, due to the plethora of international organizations which operate there.
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Preparing Yourself For An Overseas Post
If you are lucky enough to be selected for a human rights internship (bearing in mind how fiercely competitive this field is), your journey has only just begun. If you are going somewhere which is prone to exotic diseases like Africa or South East Asia, make sure you have taken all the necessary vaccinations and other health precautions.
Additionally, if there are security difficulties in the place you wish to undertake the program, you must read all the applicable safety information and travel advice before visiting. Make sure to pack appropriately, whether it is the right clothing for the environment and the culture or things for your well-being like insect spray or medicine for anticipated illnesses.
Finally, you may want to consider learning a bit of the local language so that you can feel comfortable traveling alone in a new and unfamiliar environment (and avoid getting ripped off on transport costs!).
Human Rights Internship Programs in Palestine
Here at the Engage in Palestine in Hebron, West Bank, we run a wide range of projects covering a large variety of subjects. Whether you have interests or expertise in justice systems, education, environmental and humanitarian issues, or in promoting professional development, we believe you can find a program to flourish in and contribute to the Palestinian people’s lives.
1. Internship in Local Palestinian schools
Interns in Palestine will get the opportunity to visit and teach English to students in Palestinian local schools in the local villages as well as the Palestinian refugee camps around Hebron. This is a great opportunity to engage with the young people of Palestine and learn more about the education system in the West Bank.
2. Intern In A Technology Program In Palestine
This is a unique Information Technology internship program for those with computer and technical skills who are also willing to share knowledge with our Palestinian children, refugees, students, and community members in Hebron while also learning about Palestinian culture and life.
3. Intern as a Teacher and Study Arabic (1-13 Weeks)
Interns in the West Bank, Palestine will have the opportunity to work with Palestinian children, refugees, young adults, university students, and families, helping them practice conversational English, organizing workshops, and teaching within Hebron’s vibrant community.
4. Journalism And Media
We are proud to offer our Journalism and Media Internship Program, based at our headquarters in Hebron, West Bank. In this program, we educate Palestinian students, undergraduates, travelers, and anyone interested in the political situation in Israel and Palestine to conduct projects involving journalism and media.
5. Internship In Palestine (1-3 Months)
The Internship in Palestine program will allow internationals to integrate with the Palestinian society, and learn about human rights, refugee situations, and politics in Hebron. Visits are organized for interns to different institutions.
6. Intern 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. Participants in this program will work with Palestinian children, youth, and women primarily to enhance their skills and provide education in one of the Palestinian refugee camps around the city of Hebron, Palestine.
7. Human Rights Program In The West Bank
The Human Rights 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.
8. Intern in the Women’s Rights Program in Palestine
The Palestinian Women’s Rights Internship 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.
9. 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.
10. The Palestine And Israel In Context Internship Program
The Palestine and Israel in Context Internship Program is for students at the undergraduate and graduate level, professionals, retirees, and anybody interested in the political history and present of Palestine and Israel.
Impact On The Palestinian Community
The internship program is so fulfilling as you get to see the impact you are making in the Palestinian community including Palestinian children, refugees, youth, and community members in the West Bank, Palestine. If you are selected for this human rights program, you will develop the skills needed to succeed in a career in Human Rights around the world.
Applicants who already have experience in law are especially appreciated, but everyone with an interest is welcome to apply. Should you be accepted, programme dates are flexible with the internship lasting from 1-13 weeks.
Furthermore, this internship program aims to make a long-term difference to the local Palestinian community through the principle of “walking in each other’s shoes.” interning in the West Bank will not only leave an impression on your life but also the lives of Palestinian children, refugees and other members of the community.
Program Requirements
Required:
- Between 18 and 75 years
- Ability to communicate in English
- Willing to meet and interact with a diverse range of Palestinian people
- An eagerness to learn
Not required:
- Ability to speak Arabic
- Travel experience
- Teaching experience or equivalent educational degree
- Being a native speaker of English
Program Structure
Interns in the Human Rights Program in the West Bank are entitled to many benefits which include:
- Three hours of Arabic lessons a week.
- Visit Palestinian refugee camps and organize activities for Palestinian children.
- Gain experience working with non-profits, humanitarian/ human rights law firms, NGOs, as well as other charitable organizations.
- Visits to human rights organizations in Palestine.
- Meetings with human rights activists, workers, law teachers, students, and NGOs.
- Exposure to daily life in Hebron, Palestinian culture, and society.
- Accommodation with either a Palestinian host family or in our male apartment
- The opportunity to eat and enjoy local Palestinian foods and desserts.
- Palestinian cultural nights featuring entertainment and activities.
- Opportunities to visit unique tourist attractions with a particular native perspective, including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah, Jenin, and the Dead Sea in Jericho.
- The ability to visit nearby cities as well as those in Jordan including Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Nazareth.
- Well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers, each with an excellent educational background, ready and happy to help you.
- A participant’s certificate upon completion.
The Current Situation In Palestine
According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) report released on 5 March 2015 and relating to the period of 26 May 2013 to 31 October 2014, there were noted to be, “widespread violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.”
The general pervasiveness of military occupation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and East Jerusalem has meant that adherence to international law is limited, with the independent international NGO, Human Rights Watch, noting “severe and discriminatory restrictions on Palestinians’ human rights.” As part of the Human Rights Volunteer Internship Program and your meetings with local organizations, you will gain a better understanding of the state of human rights in Palestine.
Brief Information About Human Rights
Based at Engage in Palestine in the city of Hebron, West Bank you will participate in many activities whilst visiting numerous human rights organizations such as the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, Human Rights Defenders, Youth Against the Settlements, and Christian Peacemaker Teams Palestine, thereby offering you the ability to practice what you have learned.
Additionally, you will work cooperatively with organizations in Hebron and the surrounding areas to provide workshops to Palestinian students on the subject of human rights, therefore strengthening both your resume and your professional network. As part of these workshops, you will be encouraged to share a combination of what you have learned, your particular knowledge, and your personal experience.
| Volunteers can freely choose their start and end dates year-round | Hebron, West Bank, Palestine |
| Program Language | English |
| Duration of program | 1 week-3 months |
| Arabic Hours per Month | 3 hours a week |
| Number of Volunteers/interns | Up to 4 international volunteers |
| Starting/ Ending Dates | Students of Middle Eastern studies Arabic studies Political sciences Scholars conducting case studies on Palestine and Israel Human aid workers Anyone interested in the human rights situation in the West Bank |
| Area of Volunteering | Legal situation in the West Bank Human Rights Refugees camps in Palestine |
| Volunteers Age | 18-75 |
| Days of the Week | Sunday-Thursday |
| Weekly Costs | 250$ (US Dollars) a week |
| Homestay in Hebron | Palestinian host family Male dorm Private (Additional fees apply) |
| Educational Degree | Not Required |
| University Credit | Available |
| Application Deadline | No Deadline |
| Suitable for | Students of Middle Eastern studies Arabic studies Political sciences Scholars conducting case studies on Palestine and Israel Human aid workers Anyone who is interested in the human rights situation in the West Bank |
| Tel Aviv Airport pickup | Available (Additional fees apply) |
| Rating and Reviews | Reviews On Gooverseas.com Reviews On Goabroad.com Participants video testimonials |
- Community breakfast at the center each morning
- Accommodation
- Pre-departure and in-country support
- Arabic classes (3 hours a week)
- Certificate of completion
- Visits to different institutions in the city of Hebron, e.g. the old city, glass and ceramic factories, local companies, refugee camps, public parks, and local universities such as the Palestine Polytechnic University and Hebron University
- Registration fee: 30$, payable at the time of registration.
Who Can Participate?
Our Human Rights Internship programs in the West Bank were developed for graduate and undergraduate students of Middle Eastern studies, Arabic studies, political sciences, professionals, employees of human rights organizations, scholars conducting case studies on Palestine and Israel, human aid workers, social workers, teachers, English native speakers, non-native speakers and anyone interested in engaging in the Palestinian culture and daily life
What Activities Can Be Organized When Interning?
In the Human Rights Internship program, there are many activities suitable for all levels that may be carried out during your stay, including:
- Educating Palestinian school and university students about basic rights
- Visiting UN buildings and relevant Human Rights NGO headquarters
- Visiting Palestinian refugee camps in and around Hebron.
- Writing articles on human rights, with a specific focus on Palestine and Gaza
- Studying International Human Rights laws
- Creating a catalog of NGOs and summarizing and assessing their impact on human rights violations throughout the world
And could involve:
- Collaborating with the journalism project students to release a short documentary
- Other activities (We strongly welcome your suggestions)
Human Rights in Palestine Program Schedule
You will be expected to work approximately 30 hours a week, from around 9 am until 5 pm, and from Saturday to Thursday with two days off. One of your days off will be Friday and another day of your choice.
Every morning, international interns start the day with breakfast at the Excellence Center. Breakfast is shared with Palestinian teachers, volunteers from other programs, and the directors of the center, offering you exposure to traditional Palestinian foods such as labneh and the opportunity to further practice your Arabic. From here, you will have the opportunity to go on sightseeing trips in Hebron that are coordinated by the Excellence Center alongside your program’s commitments. Evenings are typically free, although we will organize occasional optional activities as part of our commitment to showcasing Palestine’s culture.
In addition to your work on the Human Rights internship Program, you will also have your Arabic class schedule and time to prepare lesson plans for the workshops that you oversee. This is alongside your free time, where you are welcome to undertake excursions to other cities.
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
Accommodation And Arabic Lessons
Engage in Palestine houses successful applicants with a Palestinian host family or else in an apartment with other interns. All internship programs offer the opportunity to begin or continue learning Arabic, which is very valuable if you want to build up a focus on the Middle East and continue working in the region. Once you have completed the internship, you will receive a certificate of completion from the Center as well as ongoing support for your plans (such as the provision of a reference).
Summary
The human rights internship in Palestine provided by the Center is a really good way to increase your credentials in the field of Human Rights by working with established professionals in the field, but the most important thing about it is the chance to do real good and provide help for a community which you will soon feel embedded within.
Seeing the difference you can make and making new friends are the highlights for most of our interns. They find that not only do the locals provide ongoing updates as to the lasting impact of the interns’ work, but they also help the former interns to continue their Arabic learning journey once they have left the Middle East.
How To Apply
If you are interested in participating in our Human Rights Program, please, write to us at Info@ecpalestine.org. We should be able to respond to your initial inquiry within 1 to 2 business days.
In the subject line of your email write “Human rights Internship programs.” Upon responding we will attach an application form which you will fill out and return to us to begin the process.
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Contact Us
Should you have any questions, 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
