Short-Term Volunteering and Internships in Palestine: It is natural to see the difficulties in the Palestinian situation and feel the human urge to help those affected by the conflict and the ongoing Occupation of Palestine by Israel. A volunteering role or an internship can be a great way to help the people of Palestine (Palestinian refugees, women, youth, and children) on the ground, whilst developing your skills and building the experiences you need in the professional world of work in later life.
Why Palestine?
As alluded to, Palestine is a country that has had a particularly troubled history over the last seventy years, so there are many refugees and poor people there in need of help. The country has a fascinating history with a rich culture (including very tasty food!) and as the location of many of the Holy Land cities like Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Jericho, it is a really interesting place to visit and spend time in.
Additionally, if you are interested in learning Arabic, Palestine is a great place to do it – the locals are friendly and helpful in assisting you to learn and you can learn in a fully immersive Arabic-speaking environment. Additionally, Palestinians speak the Levantine dialect which is the most recognized throughout the Arab world, so it is probably the most useful one for foreigners to learn.
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Contribute to the Palestinian Local Community
Volunteers in Palestine can also play an important role in contributing to the Palestinian local community’s well-being as well as in building pathways to understanding. As we encourage volunteers to interact with locals and with Palestinian members of the refugee camps, many opportunities are offered on volunteer projects to support education and community development.
Is it Safe to Volunteer in Palestine?
There are often negative media reports about the situation in Palestine, but the reality is that the majority of the conflict is concentrated in Gaza, which is undergoing a state of siege currently. The West Bank, Palestine is far more stable as a destination and while there are occasional outbreaks of violence, they are usually highly localized, and foreign tourists are not often exposed to the difficulties (unless they actively go looking for them of course) – as long as you are sensible with your movements and you don’t seek out trouble, it is perfectly safe to volunteer in Palestine.
Why a Short-Term Volunteering Role or Internship?
Unfortunately, an Israeli tourist visa (issued on arrival at Ben Gurion airport) only covers three months, so the maximum length of stay if you are doing voluntary work or an unpaid internship is three months (13 weeks).
However, if you want to find longer-term work in Palestine then you will have to go through an arduous Israeli visa process before you even enter the country, so this is only recommended if you have already visited Palestine before and know the country and know that you want to work there long term.
How Can I Prepare for an Internship in Palestine?
Palestine as mentioned has its unique history and culture, so be sure to research the place and its customs before visiting. If you speak Arabic, practice it and plan your route to whichever area of the West Bank you will be visiting. Pack your bags accordingly, bearing in mind that the winters can actually get quite cold and wet and summers are blistering hot and you will soon be ready to go!
Short-Term Volunteering Opportunities
Engage in Palestine (a city located in the South of the West Bank) is a language and training school that runs a Palestine internship as well as other short-term volunteering programs for those interested in helping Palestinian people, experiencing the local culture, and developing their professional skills. Programs are run flexibly from a week or two up to three months depending on the needs of the volunteer. Volunteers are assigned a liaison manager to channel their work to where it is needed the most and oversee their professional development.
All kinds of skills are welcome: nursing, engineering, sports coaching – we even had a circus performer volunteer to provide morale-boosting performances in Palestinian refugee camps! Even if you feel like you have no special skills to offer, English teaching is a popular way to help the locals develop language skills they will need later in life. In addition to accommodation and some meals, all short-term volunteer programs in the West Bank include tailored Arabic tuition from a dedicated, personal Arabic tutor to help volunteers aid Palestinians in their native language.
10 Short-Term Volunteering and Internship Programs in Palestine
Here at the Engage in Palestine in Hebron, West Bank, we run a wide range of volunteer projects covering a large variety of subjects. Whether you have interests or expertise in arts, sport, law, justice, education, environmental and humanitarian issues, or in promoting professional development, we believe you can find a volunteer program to flourish in and contribute to extensively.
1. Volunteer in Local Palestinian schools
Volunteers 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. Volunteer In A Technology Program In Palestine
This is a unique Information Technology volunteer 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. Volunteer And Study Arabic (1-13 Weeks)
Volunteers 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. 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 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 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.
8. Volunteer in the 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.
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.
Area of Volunteering
Engage in Palestine offers volunteer and internship programs that mainly focus on the topics of English instruction, human rights, women’s rights, media and journalism, medicine & healthcare, Palestinian refugees, music and Arts, Palestinian culture and politics, Palestinian laws and legal system, Palestinian children and youth. Our short-term programs were designed to make an impact on the Palestinian community and aim to make a long-term difference in international and Palestinian participants’ lives.
Summer Volunteer Programs in Palestine
For people looking for volunteer programs over the summer in the West Bank, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, or Israel, the Engage in Palestine offers great volunteer opportunities that span from June to August. These volunteer programs are ideal for students, English native speakers, and anyone with a summer break or any individuals looking to volunteer on an extended visit.
These summer volunteer programs in Palestine combine Arabic language focus with full learning, immersion, and engagement in Palestinian culture, politics, and history. It includes visits to Bedouin areas (Susiya), Palestinian refugee camps, local villages, and community centers.
Explore Places in the West Bank
In addition to these things, there are also frequent trips, both within the city, to see the historical monuments and the local industry, and to other prominent places in the West Bank.
Frequent trips to Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and Nablus in the North of the West Bank, along with frequent hikes ensure that volunteers have a fantastic experience beyond the volunteering itself.
Benefits of Volunteering in the West Bank, Palestine:
Volunteers in the West Bank Palestine receive many benefits during their time in the city of Hebron. By being immersed in the Palestinian culture, you will be able to participate in many educational, cultural, social, and community development activities.
- Living in Hebron and visiting sites in the local and wider area
- Better Understand Palestinian politics and experience the occupation in the West Bank.
- Learning spoken Arabic from native speakers and embracing the opportunity to communicate with locals
- Get to know the human rights situation and support Palestinian refugees.
- Traveling to historical locations and nearby cities including Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus, and Bethlehem in your free time
- Visit nearby cities such as Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Nazareth.
- Spending time and living with a Palestinian host family, if desired
- Visiting Palestinian universities, local institutions, and organizations specializing in culture and education
- Eating local Palestinian foods and delicacies
- Attending cultural nights featuring entertainment and activities in Hebron’s social hubs
Great Impact
Our short-term Volunteer and Internship programs in the West Bank, Palestine are well-researched, targeted, and suitable for anyone who wants to gain insights into daily Palestinian legal affairs and human rights. We aim to make a long-term difference for the Palestinian local community through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. Volunteering and interning is a unique opportunity to genuinely make an impact on your life as well as others including Palestinian children, refugees, youth, and community members in the West Bank, Palestine.
Our volunteer projects 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.
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
Conclusion
In conclusion, short-term volunteering and internships in Palestine offer a unique and impactful opportunity to contribute to the well-being of local communities while immersing oneself in a rich cultural and historical context. By engaging in these programs, participants can develop professional skills, deepen their understanding of Palestinian life and history, and foster meaningful connections with locals.
Despite the challenges faced by Palestine, these programs provide a safe, rewarding, and eye-opening experience for those seeking to make a difference and gain personal and professional growth. Whether teaching English, supporting community development, or participating in specialized fields such as human rights or healthcare, the benefits extend far beyond the duration of the stay, creating lasting memories and contributions to both the volunteers and the Palestinian people.
Contact Us
Should you have any questions about short-term volunteering and internships in Palestine, 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
