Volunteer and internship opportunities in the West Bank by Engage in Palestine: The West Bank is a region of profound historical significance and cultural richness, offering a landscape dotted with ancient cities, religious landmarks, and vibrant local traditions. Despite its beauty and historical importance, the West Bank faces significant challenges, including political instability, economic hardship, and ongoing military occupation. These conditions create a complex environment where both residents and visitors navigate a landscape marked by conflict and uncertainty. However, this backdrop also underscores the urgent need for support and engagement, presenting a unique opportunity for those willing to contribute to meaningful change.

Numerous organizations offer volunteer and internship opportunities in the West Bank that enable individuals to make a tangible difference while gaining valuable skills and experiences. Engaging in these programs allows participants to address pressing needs in areas such as education, healthcare, and community development. Beyond the immediate impact, volunteers and interns immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of West Bank life, learning firsthand about its culture, history, and social dynamics. This experience not only helps alleviate some of the challenges faced by local communities but also provides personal and professional growth opportunities, equipping individuals with skills and insights that extend far beyond their time in the region.

Organizations Offering Volunteer And Internship Opportunities

There is a range of numerous organizations in the West Bank offering volunteer and internship opportunities, from grassroots community organizations to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to private sector organizations. These organizations offer a range of programs and projects in fields such as human rights, women’s rights, environmental conservation, education, healthcare, law, sports, and arts. Depending on your areas of interest and your skills, there are likely many different organizations that could benefit from your support and time.

Who Participates In Short-Term Volunteer Programs Or Internships In Palestine? 

The profiles of those who volunteer or intern abroad in Palestine have a very diverse range of backgrounds and are not restricted to any one group. People come from all over the world, from Norway to New Zealand to Chile to South Africa to Japan to volunteer or intern in the West Bank in Palestine. Volunteers in Palestine come from many different ethnic, social, educational, and economic backgrounds as well as religions, whether they are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, any other religion, or no religion at all. Nonetheless, there are several traits that people who decide to volunteer or intern overseas have in common.

A Great Desire To Make A Positive Impact

First of all, individuals who volunteer or intern in Palestine usually have a great desire to positively impact Palestine and the rest of the world. They frequently feel strongly about matters of social justice, environmental protection, or other important causes that motivate them to take action. They are willing to invest their time and effort in trying to improve themselves and the world because they feel a responsibility to act.

Open-Minded, Curious And Adaptable

Secondly, people who choose to volunteer or intern in Palestine tend to be open-minded, curious, and adaptable individuals. They are often interested in Palestinian or Arab cultures or at least experiencing and learning about new cultures. This is in addition to being keen on traveling, learning new languages such as Arabic, as well as meeting new people.  Participants in overseas internships or volunteer programs are people who are willing to step outside of their comfort zones and embrace new experiences in new surroundings. 

Initiative, Independence And Driven

Thirdly, individuals pursuing internships and volunteer opportunities in Palestine generally possess initiative, and independence, are driven by their ambitions, and are prepared to take the initiative to bring about change. They may be motivated to gain real-world experience in their field of study or a new field of interest, or they may have particular abilities or expertise that they desire to use to help others. 

If this sounds like you, then pursuing an internship or short-term volunteer program in Palestine can be a life-changing and highly rewarding experience.  

Advice How To Start Looking For Volunteer and Internship Opportunities in the West Bank

There are several factors to take into account when looking for volunteer or internship opportunities. It is advisable to first think about your interests and career or personal objectives. Finding internships or volunteer projects that fit with your hobbies, passions, or long-term professional goals is crucial. Next, think about the time commitment and budget required to fulfill the opportunity. In addition, finding a volunteer or internship program that matches your schedule is crucial because these experiences can last anywhere from a few hours to many months. Lastly, it’s important to think about the location of the internship or volunteer project that you are considering. Finding an opportunity in an accessible and desirable location is crucial because volunteer and internship opportunities can be found both locally and abroad.

How To Find Volunteer and Internship Opportunities in the West Bank

There are several ways to search for volunteer and internship opportunities. One very effective way is to research and make a list of organizations that align with your interests, ethics, and career goals. You may do this through internet searches, through talking with friends, family members, colleagues, acquaintances, or anyone else who has experience in the career path you are pursuing. While searching websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, or Glassdoor is a good idea for finding local opportunities, looking at websites such as Go Overseas and Go Abroad will be very helpful when looking for internships abroad and overseas volunteer opportunities. 

Another avenue for finding internship and volunteer opportunities is through college or university career centers or online job portals. Whether you are a current student or a graduate, colleges and universities often have many resources available to help current students and alumni find jobs, internships, and volunteer initiatives to gain work experience.

Internships And Volunteer Opportunities With Engage In Palestine

Engage in Palestine is a local Palestinian organization that is well-regarded and highly reviewed by former participants. Engage in Palestine offers a variety of different short-term volunteer programs, internships as well as intensive Arabic courses. These programs can include teaching English, volunteering with Palestinian refugees, volunteering in local Palestinian schools, media and journalism, human rights and so much more. With our programs, we aim to foster cultural connections and exchanges, as well as promote language learning and develop individuals and communities. 

While there are many opportunities for volunteer work and internships throughout Palestine, Engage in Palestine has over 11 years of experience running volunteer and internship programs and bringing internationals and Palestinians together.  Engage in Palestine is an excellent choice for anyone looking for structured yet flexible volunteer work and internships in the areas of Palestine, the West Bank, Israel, or the Middle East. Participants will have a fun, safe, and meaningful experience during their time with Engage in Palestine.

Our Range Of Volunteer And Internship Opportunities

Engage in Palestine offers a range of short-term volunteer programs and internships, providing participants the chance to gain valuable experience and develop their skills while making a contribution to the local Palestinian community in Hebron. Our internships and volunteer programs, which range in length from one week to three months, 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.

Summer Volunteering And Internships At Engage In Palestine

Many different people, particularly current university or college students and recent graduates are looking for summer volunteer and internship opportunities in the West Bank, whether to gain important experience, travel during their summer break, or any other reason. Summer is the peak travel time for many destinations, including Palestine, Israel, and The Middle East, which means this is when we are at our busiest and most full of life at Engage in Palestine. No matter whether you have a short or long summer break, you will find you can fit our programs into your schedule. You can choose whether you wish to participate for as little as one week or as many as 13 weeks and you can start and begin your program at any time during summer. 

Make The Most Of Your Summer

Volunteering or interning with us at Engage in Palestine is an incredible way to make the most of your summer. Not only will you get to gain valuable work experience and expand your skills and CV, but you will also have a wonderful time being immersed in Palestinian culture with us in Hebron. We take care of your accommodation for you, provide you with Arabic lessons, and take you on trips around Hebron to help you learn about and adjust to your new surroundings. You will also have countless opportunities to meet new people from Palestine as well as all over the world and make new friends. We can also provide you with academic credit or internship credit toward your studies if you would like. 

Quick Facts About Our Short-Term Internships And Volunteer Programs  

Below you may find a quick informative snapshot of our short-term volunteer and internship opportunities in the West Bank.

Where Is Engage In Palestine? 

Engage in Palestine is located in Hebron in the West Bank, of Palestine. Hebron is not only the largest city in the West Bank but it is also the commercial capital. It’s a bustling city, full of shops, restaurants, and cafes where Palestinians come from all over to do their shopping. The old city in Hebron is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Hebron is also home to the famous Ibrahimi Mosque. On top of this however, Hebron is also a city on the frontline of the Israeli occupation and is 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. 

Safety In Hebron

Many prospective volunteers and interns understandably have safety concerns due to the negative way that the West Bank and Hebron are often portrayed in the news. However, it’s important to realize that this type of news coverage is very biased and obfuscates the reality. Many of our former participants, including women, have told us how safe and welcome they feel in Hebron and sometimes even more so than in their own home countries. 

Overall, Hebron is very safe although as with any city, there are a few certain areas that are best to avoid late at night. While there are occasional outbreaks of violence in Hebron, they are highly localized and are very easy to avoid so long as you wish to do so. Our participants often spend their free time in the evenings getting a drink in a cafe, going for a walk or to a restaurant, or going out for ice cream or knafeh.

The Highlights Of Your Internship Or Volunteer Program With Engage In Palestine

What highlights will you experience during your short-term volunteer program or internship with us in Hebron, Palestine?

Keep reading to learn more:

• Building new friendships with other volunteers, interns, and students, as well as visitors, and local Palestinian residents and Engage in Palestine’s staff.
• Gaining valuable real-life work experience in your chosen field and developing a wide range of personal and professional skills. 
• Living in the fascinating city of Hebron and getting to experience it on a more intimate level than most tourists do and with your accommodation included. 
• Immersing yourself in Palestinian culture, Palestinian Arabic, and daily life. 
• Experiencing the hospitality of Palestine by participating in Engage in Palestine’s activities during your free time. 
• Sharing a traditional Palestinian breakfast at our center with your fellow volunteers, interns, and our staff each day (except Fridays), which is included in all our programs.
• Learning Arabic for the first time or continuing your Arabic learning journey with us with Arabic lessons in Modern Standard Arabic or the local dialect included as part of your program.
• Having many opportunities to practice your Arabic and have conversations with local Palestinians. 
• Engage in Palestine’s center is staffed by highly qualified and attentive Arabic and English teachers with excellent educational backgrounds, who are eager and enthusiastic to assist you.
• Gaining firsthand experience of one of the most politically complex and dynamic regions in the Middle East.
• Learning about the situation of internally displaced Palestinian refugees in the West Bank.  
• Participating in a range of educational, social, and community activities organized by us to provide a space for locals, Palestinian refugees, volunteers, and interns to meet, socialize, and learn. 
• Joining group trips and visits arranged by us to a range of different culturally, politically, or historically important sites such as the old city in Hebron, Al-Shuhada Street, the keffiyeh factory, a glass and ceramics factory, refugee camps, human rights organizations, local artists and much more. 
• Having free time to plan weekend trips with your fellow volunteers or interns to exciting nearby destinations such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarem, Qalqilyah, Jenin, the Dead Sea, Jericho, Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Nazareth, Tel Aviv, Masada, Amman, Aqaba and Wadi Rum.
• Program fees cover guided tours and activities, Arabic language tuition, accommodation, breakfast, and 24/7 program assistance from pre-departure to the end of your program.
• Obtaining academic or internship credit towards your studies (upon request).
• Upon completion of your internship or volunteer program, Engage in Palestine will provide you with a certificate. 

Duration Of Our Internships And Volunteer Programs

All of our short-term volunteer and internship opportunities in the West Bank are flexible in both duration and timing. You are free to choose how long you wish to participate, between 1 and 13 weeks. The 13-week maximum duration is due to the 90-day limit of the Israeli tourist visa that allows you to volunteer in Palestine. In addition to this, we offer our programs all year round and you are free to choose which dates you would like to start and finish. 

Flexible Booking Available

We understand that sometimes plans change, whether due to a change of heart, unforeseen circumstances, or last-minute emergencies. So with all of our volunteer programs, internships, and Arabic courses, we give you the flexibility to alter or delay your plans.

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. 

In Case You Need To Make Date Changes

In case you need to make any date changes, you can do this for free two weeks or more before your original start date. However, if you wish to cancel or change your dates within two weeks of your original start date, any payments you have made will be converted to a credit that you can use towards any other program in the future with us, or with our sister location in Germany.

What Do You Need To Be A Volunteer With Us?

• To be aged 18-70 years old (although exceptions can be made if approved by our director)
• The ability to communicate in English
• The ability to work with an international team
•  Patience and enthusiasm
•  Eagerness to learn

What Don’t You 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

Please note that some programs may have additional requirements. For example, if you wish to volunteer with Palestinian children, you will have to undergo a safeguarding interview. This is so that you fully understand your responsibility as a caretaker of children, as well as the laws and protocols in place to protect children from abuse. Another example is that to volunteer in our Medicine & Healthcare program, it’s a requirement to have prior experience in healthcare work.

Help Us Make A Long Term Difference

With all of the various programs that we operate from our center in Hebron, we aim to make a long-term difference for both the local Palestinian community and you through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. We ensure that all of our programs are well-researched and targeted so that they have a genuine and positive impact, while also effectively fostering shared learning. Undertaking volunteer work or an internship in the West Bank in Palestine is a valuable way to spend some of your time to better your own life as well as the lives of those in local communities. 

The Impacts Of Interning Or Volunteering With Us In Palestine

Short-term volunteering or interning in the West Bank can improve the professional and personal prospects in your own life as well as in the lives of our local Palestinian community members. Whether you choose to volunteer or intern, you will have a wonderful opportunity to develop a range of valuable transferable skills and gain real-world experience. It will also allow you to build meaningful connections with Palestinians as well as your fellow volunteers and interns and you may even make lifelong friends who will continue to enrich your life long after you have left Palestine. Volunteering or interning in Palestine may also open your eyes to new perspectives and opportunities as well as having a positive influence on those you meet in Palestine. 

Benefits Of Completing A Volunteer Program Or Internship At Engage In Palestine

Volunteering or interning with Engage in Palestine can provide participants with a transformative experience and several benefits. Here are a few of those benefits:

Cultural Immersion

Palestine is a nation with a rich history and culture, and working with Engage in Palestine as a volunteer or intern can provide you the chance to fully experience this remarkable country and culture. The opportunity to study Arabic, meet local Palestinians, try delicious Palestinian food and drinks as well as to enjoy Palestinian hospitality first-hand is available to volunteers and interns.

Personal Development

Volunteering or interning with Engage in Palestine can be an incredibly fulfilling personal development opportunity. Participants will be encouraged to grow outside of their comfort zones, learn new things, and comprehend themselves and their place in the world more fully. It also happens occasionally that volunteers and interns meet a future spouse during their program, and participants may also discover new passions, hobbies, or life paths. 

Professional Growth 

Participating in volunteer work or an internship with us can also be a fantastic opportunity to get invaluable experience in areas like education, teaching, community development, human rights, law, and community organizing for anyone wishing to improve their professional abilities and experience. Also, participants can enhance their resumes with their new skills and experience and there is also the chance to make valuable professional connections to add to your network.

Growing Relationships

Lastly, the chance to develop deep connections with people from all over the world, including Palestinians and other international volunteers is a huge benefit. These connections can promote cross-cultural understanding and empathy, and they can offer participants an invaluable support system both during and after their time in Palestine.

Volunteer With Palestinian Children

While Engage in Palestine has a dedicated volunteer program to work with Palestinian children, there are other opportunities for volunteers and interns to work with Palestinian children in any of our programs. 

For example, if you volunteer to teach English in the West Bank, you will have opportunities to teach Palestinian children English. Community development volunteers will be able to develop projects targeted to Palestinian children, youth, adults, or another segment of the Palestinian community. For anyone who takes our human rights or law internship, you may also wish to have a focus on children’s rights and the laws that affect them.

More About Children in Palestine

Nearly half (43.9%) of the Palestinian population inside of Palestine consists of children under the age of 18, 41.7% in the West Bank and 47.3% in Gaza. This means that there are many young people in Palestine who not only have all the pressure of growing up, but they are growing up under Israeli occupation. Palestinian children are the future, so it is particularly important to care about them, support their development, and empower them to create better futures for themselves and their country.  

Volunteer With Palestinian Refugees

While Engage in Palestine offers a specific volunteer program for anyone with an interest or passion for working with refugees and making a meaningful impact, all of our programs offer the chance to work with Palestinian refugees and learn more about their situation. 

Participants will get to visit a refugee camp such as Al-Fawwar or Al-Aroub and have the chance to work on projects and initiatives to positively impact the Palestinian refugees living there. This might include volunteer work such as teaching English to 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. 

If you have specific initiatives or activities you wish to implement during your program, we are always open to your ideas.

More About Palestinian Refugees In The West Bank, Gaza and Diaspora

The ongoing Occupation has created a very significant refugee population both inside Palestine and outside of Palestine. Palestinian refugees are not only the largest group of refugees in the world but are also the longest suffering. About 64% of Gaza’s population and 26% of the West Bank’s population are internally displaced Palestinians who are originally from other areas in historic Palestine such as Yaffa, Haifa, and Al-Naqab. 

In the diaspora, there are around 7 million Palestinians, most of whom are exiled and denied their right to return to their homeland by Israel. Many refugees in the diaspora are still living in refugee camps in Syria, Jordan, or Lebanon. In our programs, we focus on Palestinian refugees living in Hebron governorate and the surrounding area. 

Summary 

In conclusion, taking up volunteer and internship opportunities in the West Bank with Engage in Palestine allows interested individuals to have a valuable experience immersing themselves in the local culture and contributing to meaningful projects. By living and volunteering or interning in the West Bank in Palestine, it allows participants to obtain a more thorough grasp of the political and social dynamics in the region, while also being able to develop their skills and expand their network.

This can be a profoundly transformative experience that provides you with several benefits and experiences. Engage in Palestine can give you a meaningful and gratifying opportunity to advance your professional abilities, improve the lives of others, or simply immerse yourself in a rich cultural experience. Interns and volunteers with Engage in Palestine will be provided with accommodation, daily breakfast (except Fridays), Arabic lessons, trips around Hebron as well as pre-departure and ongoing in-country support to ensure that they have a welcoming, safe, and enriching stay with us. 

We hope that you will apply for a volunteer program or internship and join us in Palestine soon!

Find Out More

Do you have any questions? Then please do not hesitate to contact us: Info@ecpalestine.org and on Whatsapp:+972 599 479 880.

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