Medical Volunteering In Palestine by Engage in Palestine: The ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine creates a lot of difficulties for Palestinians in Palestine. One of the key issues is that Palestine has very little government funding, so healthcare provision is unfortunately lacking, particularly when it comes to having adequate supplies and resources. While there are institutions such as the Red Crescent that try to meet the shortfall, there is still often a lack of access to good healthcare, particularly outside of large cities. International doctors, nurses, and others with relevant medical experience with an awareness of Palestine can provide help.
Whether it is a short-term placement or a longer-term job, there is a lot of capacity for internationals to provide medical assistance in Palestine to positively impact the local Palestinian community. There is a range of different ways this can be done, such as by providing medical outreach, physical and health education, health promotion, first-aid training, and more. In this article, we will cover some of the ways you can assist the people of Palestine.
Where In Palestine To Do Medical Volunteering
While the medical and healthcare situation is even more severe in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli siege and blockade of Gaza, this also makes it almost impossible to do any sort of volunteering in Gaza. To enter Gaza, medical or other volunteers need special permission from Israel, which is extremely difficult as well as expensive to get.
However, the West Bank is very accessible to International volunteers, medical or otherwise as well as being relatively stable and also safe. The places with the best infrastructure for receiving medical volunteers tend to be in the bigger cities like Ramallah, Jerusalem, and Hebron. Having said that, international organizations try to operate in all areas of the country. For example in the villages in the countryside, Bedouin villages and refugee camps in the West Bank, and the smaller cities like Nablus, Bethlehem, and Jericho.
Is It Safe To Work Or Volunteer In The West Bank?
Yes, the West Bank is very safe for international visitors and volunteers, which is in stark contrast to what the media portrays. This kind of disinformation is spread in an attempt to dissuade internationals from traveling to the West Bank and seeing the truth. The truth of how friendly and hospitable Palestinians are and the truth of the severity of the Israeli occupation and how it affects Palestinians.
Many internationals have traveled to the West Bank and been very surprised that it is much safer than they had been told and many even feel safer in the West Bank, including walking around at night alone, than in their own countries. The West Bank has been growing as a tourist destination in recent years and more and more people are seeing that it is not only safe but a wonderful place to visit.
There are of course occasional outbreaks of violence, but these are highly localized to individual areas and as a foreigner, your freedom of movement is not affected. As long as you are sensible, it is easy to avoid any outbreaks of violence if you wish to do so.
Choosing The Right Opportunity For You
Choosing the right medical volunteering opportunity in Palestine for you is an important decision that requires careful consideration and research. It will help you to first identify what your goals and interests are and the sort of volunteering work you wish to do. For example, if emergency medicine is your area of interest, you might want to look for organizations that focus on providing that sort of medical assistance. Or if you are interested in public health and community development, then look for organizations that offer those volunteering opportunities.
After that, it is important to research any organizations and programs you have found or look for new ones to ensure that they are compatible with your goals, interests, and ethics. It’s advisable to check an organization’s website and read about its values and mission to check if they align with yours. Additionally, you may wish to look for evidence that an organization has a strong track record of providing medical services and read reviews and testimonials from previous volunteers.
Finally, another important consideration is the logistics of volunteering, including its location, time, and cost. While some organizations could have flexible hours, others might have a minimal time commitment. It’s also crucial to take into account the expenses related to volunteering, such as accommodation and travel expenses. Before accepting a volunteering program, make sure you are well aware of the details. With careful research and consideration, you will be able to find a medical volunteering opportunity that fits your ambitions and enables you to meaningfully impact other people’s lives.
How To Prepare For A Medical Volunteering Role In Palestine
First of all, it’s a good idea to read up on what sort of medical conditions are most prevalent in Palestine. Beyond the usual diseases you will find in the Middle East, there are also medical conditions that are caused or exacerbated by the Occupation.
In psychological terms, there are many stresses and traumas from living under Occupation that affect all Palestinians in a variety of different ways. For example, in Palestinian refugee camps where people have had their homes and ancestral lands stolen or for Palestinians who have been imprisoned as a child or adult or witnessed violence against or the killing of a friend or family member by the Occupation.
Likewise, trauma wounds have a higher incidence than usual here, such as being shot by live bullets or rubber bullets, getting hit by tear gas canisters, or inhaling tear gas. It may also be a good idea to check with the organization you are volunteering with beforehand if there are any supplies or equipment that they need that you can bring with you from your home country.
In addition, be sure to take care of your health both mentally and physically. It’s also important to research information about the local customs and culture to make sure you are aware of what sort of behavior is acceptable and what is something to avoid. You will also want to consider where exactly in Palestine you are going so you can research the weather and local attitudes towards dress. Remember that while the Middle East is very diverse, it is generally a social requirement to dress much more modestly than in Western countries.
The Medicine And Healthcare Volunteering Program with Engage in Palestine in Hebron
Engage in Palestine, located in Hebron, the West Bank, is a local organization that runs a range of short-term volunteer and internship programs, including a Medicine & Healthcare in the West Bank volunteering program to channel medical help to where it is most needed. Our programs are very flexible and you can join us for as long as you would like, from 1 week up to 13 weeks. You may also choose your own start and end dates at any time throughout the year.
Through our volunteer in the Medicine & Healthcare Program, you will have the chance to assist Palestinian children, teens, mothers, and refugees, thereby making a significant impact on our local community. Although the scope of your medical volunteer work will greatly depend on your specific experience and qualifications, you will have the opportunity to exchange knowledge and engage in cross-cultural learning with local Palestinians as well as our other international volunteers.
Learn From Local Medical Professionals
During your medical volunteering program, we will pair you up with local professionals, including doctors and nursing students, to facilitate a shared learning environment. This allows you to learn useful information, including details about the Palestinian healthcare system, how Palestinians work in local hospitals, and what subjects are covered in medical and healthcare specializations at nearby universities and colleges.
Medical Volunteering In Summer
For students, graduates, or experienced medical professionals seeking volunteer or internship opportunities in medicine and healthcare in Palestine, Israel, or the Middle East during the summer, Engage in Palestine has the program for you. While we offer our Medicine & Healthcare Program year-round, the summer program is perfect for those who have a short or extended break during the summer. If you are a current university student looking for academic credit for your summer program, we can provide that for you.
Our summer program will allow you to gain real-world and hands-on experience in Palestine in the medical and healthcare fields as well as to enhance your knowledge of these fields in the Palestinian context. Additionally, you will get to learn about the most important challenges facing the Palestinian medical sector under the Israeli occupation, learn about Palestinian refugees, the human rights situation, and the Palestinian healthcare system.
During this program, we will take you on numerous visits in and around Hebron, including to clinics and hospitals as well as to other areas of cultural, political, or historical importance, such as the old city of Hebron, refugee camps, and local organizations.
Our summer program is flexible and there are start dates available throughout the summer. Additionally, you are free to participate from as little as one week, up to 13 weeks. We hope you will take this opportunity to make the most of your summer by volunteering in medicine and healthcare in Palestine, learning some Arabic, and immersing yourself in Palestinian culture while making new friends.
Make A Positive Impact Through Medical Volunteering
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.
Engage in Palestine’s short-term volunteer programs provides a unique opportunity to gain real-world experience, develop professional and personal skills, and fully immerse yourself in Palestinian culture. You can significantly impact public health in the West Bank through your volunteering work and applying your knowledge and expertise as a medical practitioner.
As a volunteer in this program, you will be able to contribute to a range of initiatives in the medical and healthcare field while engaging the local Palestinian community. For example, you may create and conduct workshops for Palestinian medical students or other Palestinians in the local community to raise awareness about public health, how to be healthy, or how to provide basic emergency medical care (first aid). This will not only give you valuable experience and allow you to build personal and professional relationships, but it will directly impact the local Palestinian community.
The Benefits Of Volunteering With Engage In Palestine
Participating in a medical volunteer program with Engage in Palestine in Hebron offers numerous benefits to volunteers. While some of the benefits have already been mentioned in this article, others are outlined below.
Arabic Lessons
All of our medical and healthcare volunteers receive Arabic lessons as part of their volunteer program. In most cases, volunteers receive three hours of Arabic classes per week (although there are opportunities for interns to take more for an additional cost).
Your Arabic lessons will be taught one-on-one or in small groups of 2-5 students by one of our Arabic teachers. This also offers the opportunity to personalize your Arabic lessons with your teacher. For example, you could spend some of your lessons learning relevant medical vocabulary in Arabic to assist you throughout your volunteer program.
Our Arabic teachers are all native speakers, they also speak English and will make sure you learn Arabic in an immersive and supportive environment. Additionally, volunteers can choose to learn either the local dialect (which is more useful for daily communication) or Modern Standard Arabic.
Accommodation
Engage in Palestine provides accommodation for all of our international participants throughout their short-term volunteer programs.
Female participants generally live with a local Palestinian host family. In most cases, male participants will share an all-male dorm organized by us. It is often a challenge to place male students with a Palestinian host family, due to the conservative nature of Hebron, however it can be possible at times. If you are interested in this option, let us know as early as possible.
An alternate option is private accommodation, which we can arrange for you for an additional cost.
Breakfast Every Day Except Friday
Every day (except Fridays), we share a traditional Palestinian breakfast at our center with our staff, volunteers, interns, and Arabic students. This included breakfast allows you to socialize and catch up with others while also getting to try delicious Palestinian breakfast foods such as hummus, labneh, mutabal, zeit oo za’atar, and much more.
Days Off To Travel
The opportunity to travel throughout Palestine, Israel, and Jordan is one of the main attractions for our international participants. As such, we provide you with two days off per week (generally Fridays and Saturdays) to explore, rest relax, or spend however else you wish. Most weekends, interns will arrange to spend the weekend away with other international participants from our center.
There are many different local and international cities you can visit on your days off, including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho and the Dead Sea, Nablus, Tulkarem, Qalqiliyah, Jenin, Haifa, Eilat, Tel Aviv, Masada, Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Tiberias, Nazareth, Netanya, Safed, Amman, Aqaba and Wadi Rum.
Pre-departure and In-Country Support
We know that traveling to volunteer abroad can feel daunting, so we provide pre-departure support before your arrival to Palestine and then ongoing in-country support throughout your stay with us.
We Can Provide Academic Credit
If you are a current university student seeking academic or internship credit towards your studies, we will happily provide this. This is possible due to our collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Education. If we peaked your interest, just let us know and we can tell you more.
A Certificate Of Completion And Letter Of Recommendation
Finally, we provide all of our wonderful volunteers with a certificate to reflect their successful completion of their volunteer program and a letter of recommendation which may be of great value for your future career ambitions.
Reviews and Awards
Engage 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, Engage 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 Engage in Palestine’s positive effect on the global travel community.
Overall, Engage 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
Summary
Volunteering in Engage in Palestine’s Medical Volunteering In Palestine program will provide you with a unique opportunity to gain practical experience and make a meaningful impact on the lives of underserved Palestinian communities. This short-term volunteer program offers volunteers the chance to work alongside local Palestinian healthcare professionals in a variety of medical settings, including hospitals, clinics, community outreach programs, and workshops facilitated by you.
Engage in Palestine provides comprehensive support to our international volunteers, including Arabic language classes, cultural immersion activities, excursions in and around Hebron, as well as accommodation. Depending on your interests and expertise, as a volunteer you can choose from a variety of focuses for your volunteer program, such as primary care, mental health, or public health education.
An additional benefit of volunteering with Engage in Palestine is the opportunity to gain firsthand cultural knowledge of Palestinian society and culture. Overall, participating in Engage in Palestine’s short-term medical and healthcare volunteer program is a great chance for anyone who wants to learn about median and healthcare in Palestine, while positively impacting local Palestinian communities in these fields. We look forward to receiving your application for our medical volunteering program here at Engage in Palestine in Hebron, at some point soon very 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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