Volunteer In The West Bank, Palestine: At Engage in Palestine, we offer both short-term and long-term volunteer and internship programs. As a volunteer, you will have the chance to work with Palestinian children, youth, women, refugees, young adults, university students, and families by assisting them in practicing their conversational English, organising workshops in a variety of subjects, and staying in Hebron’s lively, sociable neighbourhood while teaching English in the West Bank.

Throughout the year, Engage in Palestine offers volunteer opportunities in the West Bank, Palestine, providing the chance for participation with durations ranging from one week to three months (13 weeks) in all seasons (Summer, Winter, Fall, and Spring).

In Hebron, West Bank, our volunteer programs create a warm and welcoming environment that offers international volunteers from all corners of the world the opportunity to immerse themselves in Palestinian culture, daily life, and gain insights into the complex situation in the area.

Volunteer And Internship Programs

We offer accessible and affordable volunteering and internship programs in Hebron, West Bank to both native and non-native English speakers interested in helping the Palestinian community while learning Arabic. You can choose from our wide range of volunteer opportunities, including teaching English as a foreign language and studying and exchanging information via workshops about the human rights, legal and political situations in the West Bank and much more.

Our volunteer projects in the West Bank, Palestine are open to you whether you’re a student, graduate, professional, or retired person searching for volunteer opportunities in the West Bank, Palestine, Israel, the Middle East, or the larger Arab world. 

Experience Volunteering In Hebron, West Bank

Our wide choice of flexible volunteer options in Hebron, West Bank, are offered all year long to our international volunteers from all around the world. They provide fantastic learning experiences for those who are:

• Looking to travel in the Israel/ Palestine area

• Interested in summer volunteer programs in the West Bank, Palestine 

• College, university or gap year students looking for volunteering opportunities in Israel and Palestine

• Interested to help Palestinian refugees and children 

• Concerned about the political and humanitarian situation in the local region and the people and communities affected

• Interested in Palestinian and Arabic culture, particularly those who want to learn and improve their Arabic

Short Term Volunteer In the West Bank Programs

We operate a wide range of volunteer initiatives covering a wide range of topics here at Engage in Palestine in Hebron, West Bank. We are certain that you may discover a volunteer program where you can excel and make a significant contribution to Palestinian community, regardless of your hobbies or areas of interests or expertise in the arts, sports, law, justice, education, environmental and humanitarian concerns, or in fostering professional growth.

Our short-term volunteer programs and projects in the West Bank, Palestine include: 

Volunteer & Internship Programs In Gaza

Gaza Strip offers a variety of volunteer programs. They cover important topics like human rights, teaching English, women’s rights in Palestine, supporting Palestinian refugees and children, journalism, Palestinian culture and politics.

The volunteer and internship opportunities in Gaza, Palestine are for a wide range of people, including students who study the Middle East and Arabic, people interested in politics, professionals, employees of human rights organizations, researchers studying Palestine and Israel, humanitarian workers, social workers, teachers, native English speakers, non-native English speakers, and anyone who wants to learn about Palestinian culture and daily life. Please click here for more information.

Discover A Unique Opportunity For Cultural Exchange

Our volunteer opportunities in the West Bank, Palestine empower you as an individual, fully immersing you in Palestinian culture and fostering enduring relationships. As a volunteer in Palestine, you’ll collaborate with Palestinian children, women, and refugees and community members in the West Bank, making meaningful contributions to the Hebron Palestinian community.

Engage in Palestine has welcomed hundreds of volunteers from around the world, striving to achieve a rich cultural exchange and vibrant social dialogue through the Volunteer in Palestine Program. This diversity of perspectives enriches our activities and programs.

We assure you of complete immersion in Palestinian life and exposure to a multitude of Palestinian viewpoints in exchange for your skills and experience. This cultural interaction will enable you to transcend preconceived notions and biases, gaining insight into the opinions,

Furthermore, all types of volunteers can participate in one of our many volunteer programs in Palestine, whether you would like to work with Palestinian refugees or just enjoy a cup of tea while learning about Palestinian culture. Some volunteers want to teach English while others want to volunteer with English-speaking students in other fields such as healthcare or journalism.

Many volunteers select to return to us year after year, either to continue serving in the same program or to try a completely different volunteering opportunity, as our programs make a real difference and may be tailored to meet your preferences.

Make A Contribution To The Palestinian Community

When you volunteer in the West Bank, Palestine, you can also play an important role in contributing to the Palestinian local community’s well-being as well as in creating bridges of understanding. As we encourage volunteers to meet locals and with Palestinian members of the Palestinian refugee camps, a wide range of volunteer projects to support education and community development are offered.

If you are someone who wishes to learn more about daily Palestinian legal matters and human rights, you can benefit from our well-researched, focused volunteer and internship programs in the West Bank. Through the sharing of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes,” we want to have a long-lasting impact on the local Palestinian community as well as you.

A once-in-a-lifetime chance to truly change your own life as well as the lives of others, such as Palestinian children, women, refugees, young people, and locals in the West Bank, Palestine, is offered via volunteering and internships.

Participate In Many Extracurricular Activities

As an international volunteer, you will take part in a variety of educational, cultural, and social activities throughout your time in the program, which are organized by Engage in Palestine. These activities include visits to the old city, visits to Palestinian families’ homes, and tours of nearby businesses and organizations, to name a few.

You may learn more about the local and larger region by doing this and getting to witness a variety of various elements of life in Palestine.

Who Comes To Volunteer In The West Bank?

Volunteers and interns from a variety of different countries, including the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan, and all over Europe, are warmly welcomed by Engage in Palestine. Volunteers and interns from a broad range of ages, professions, backgrounds, cultures, and locations are also eagerly accepted.

International volunteers who are 18 years old or older are often welcomed, but if you are younger than this, please feel free to get in touch with us to explore volunteering opportunities in the West Bank. Activities suitable for everyone have been previously extended to volunteers up to the age of 75.

Since the center’s establishment in 2011, we have accepted a variety of applications to engage in our volunteer programs, and we have over ten years of experience doing so. These applicants have included:

• University students who wish to experience and have intimate knowledge of the Palestine and Israel area 

• Gap year students

• Older or retired people seeking adventure

• People who are interested in studying and practicing their Arabic

• Participants who would like to know more about Israel/Palestine and the political and humanitarian situation firsthand

• College students who wish to write articles or conduct research in Palestine

• People who are interested in spending a short time in a community and family setting

• Everyone who is willing to help Palestinians and make a difference in the community

Despite the fact that we welcome a diverse spectrum of people, one thing all of our volunteers have in common is an open mind and a desire to learn about and participate with Palestinian culture and customs. We try our best to guarantee that you depart with a grin on your face and wonderful memories in addition to arriving with a smile on your face and excitement racing through your body.

Are You A Qualified Teacher?

We encourage you to considering being a part of our Teach For Palestine Program if you have a degree in English, since it is especially appropriate for those who have had formal training in the English language or who are presently employed as English instructors in their own country.

However, having teaching experience or being a certified teacher is not a requirement for you to volunteer to teach English at Engage in Palestine. Instead, we encourage volunteers who have a genuine love for the subject matter, a readiness to learn, and a desire to benefit from the opportunity. Please have a look at programs like the English Teaching and Arabic Study Internship for more details.

Requirements To Volunteer In The West Bank

Our volunteer programs are designed so that you are not expected to be an expert in your chosen profession upon arrival, but rather to develop useful experience as you go. Volunteering in them has various advantages that enable you to make a difference in both your life and the lives of others.

Even while some courses demand a general university degree, official academic credentials are usually not necessary. If you meet the criteria listed below, you are welcome to join us:

• 18+ (although further restrictions may depend on program)
• A good attitude and willingness to learn
• An interest in meeting and engaging with many people in Palestine
• The ability to communicate in English
• Willing to be a part of a family

However, what you don’t need in order to volunteer in the West Bank, Palestine is:

• The ability to speak Arabic
• Travel experience
• To be a native speaker of English
• A degree in English or any specialization
• Experience in teaching English (for English teaching programs)

When Can I Start And End My Volunteering Program?

Volunteers in the West Bank, Palestine are needed all year round by Engage in Palestine. We’ll set everything up, and you pick when you would like to begin

Arabic Classes For All Of Our Volunteers

All of our international volunteers in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine, take Arabic lessons for three hours each week, for a total of twelve hours a month from a center-based teacher who is a native Arabic speaker.

Additionally, you will have numerous chances to meet individuals in Palestine with whom you may converse with in Arabic and improve your language abilities. You may select the dialect you want to study at will because we are adaptable and want to give you the right option for you.

Arabic Dialects That You Can Learn

During your stay with us and as part of your volunteer placement, you will have the opportunity to learn one of several Arabic dialects.

The options we offer right now are:

• Shami or Levantine Arabic (Amiyya dialect) اللهجة العامية او الشامية
• Colloquial Palestinian Arabic
• Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)
• A mixed Program: (Modern Standard Arabic and Shami Arabic)

We can help you choose which Arabic dialect to study if you are unsure about the differences between them or which is the best option for you.

What Kind Of Activities Can You Do While Volunteering?

Engage in Palestine is incredibly accommodating when it comes to what you can do while you are here with us, so we are ready to help plan and involve you in the events that you would like to take part in. The following are just some examples of tasks you may arrange yourself or assist other Palestinian instructors and visitors with:

• Providing conversational English lessons with Palestinian and international instructors at our center, as well as assisting other instructors with the preparation of their class outlines

• Educational and cultural events such as organizing weekly seminars for the Palestinian community on a variety of topics, such as cultural differences, writing resumes, and formal email writing

• Helping Palestinian teachers in assessing Palestinian students’ English capabilities

• Organizing activities according to your interests and expertise such as painting workshops, writing workshops, handicrafts, filming, photography, journalism and media workshops and healthcare seminars

• Organizing fun and entertaining activities for our Palestinian students

• Administrative activities such as helping our staff and interns in writing reports, making schedules, printing class materials, etc.

Summer Volunteer Programs In The West Bank

Engage in Palestine provides excellent volunteer opportunities from June through September for those searching for summer internships or volunteer programs abroad in the West Bank, Palestine, or Israel.

For students, native and non-native English speakers, those with summer breaks, and anyone wishing to serve abroad for an extended period of time, these volunteer programs and internships are perfect. Additionally, due to our partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, we are able to provide university or college credit to currently enrolled students. This means you can travel and volunteer while working towards your degree.

These volunteer summer programs in West Bank, Palestine combine a focus on the Arabic language with thorough education, immersion, and participation in Palestinian culture, politics and history. Visits are made to Palestinian refugee camps, local villages and community centers in addition to Bedouin regions (such as Susiya).

Benefits of Volunteering In The West Bank

The city of Hebron, in the West Bank, offers a lot of advantages to volunteers in Palestine. You will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of educational, cultural, social, and community development activities while being completely immersed in the Palestinian culture.

Benefits of volunteering in the West Bank, Palestine:

• Living in Hebron, West Bank and visiting sites in the local and wider area

• Better understand Palestinian politics and experience the Israeli occupation in the West Bank

• Learning Palestinian spoken Arabic from native speakers and embracing the opportunity to communicate with locals

• Get to know the human rights situation and supporting Palestinian refugees, children and women

• Opportunity to travel to historical locations and nearby cities including Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus and Bethlehem in your free time

• You will have days off so you can 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

• The possibility of obtaining academic credit towards your degree for currently enrolled university or college students

Travel In Your Spare Time

From our base in Hebron, you will have numerous opportunities to travel in your spare time to other nearby places, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Akko, Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, and Bethlehem. International tourists may easily and affordably travel between Palestine and Israel.

Our volunteer programs provide participants lots of free time to explore the region. You can even make some new pals among the Palestinians while you’re there!

Awards And Recognitions 

We continue to strive towards “excellence”: In 2022 we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities and one of the top three language schools worldwide by Go Overseas. We received a total of five Go Overseas Community Choice Awards in 2022. The Excellence Center was also recognized as one of the top Teach Abroad Providers for the category of “benefits” and one of the Top Internship Abroad Providers for the categories of “growth” and “support”. 

In 2021, we were ranked as one of the top three programs in the world for providing volunteer opportunities, demonstrating our continued commitment to “excellence.” In the categories of “best language school” and “fun” and “education,” we won the community choice awards from Go Overseas.

Our inaugural “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards” were given to us in 2019 to recognize the influence Engage in Palestine has had on the global travel community. Across its range of programs, Engage in Palestine continues to receive excellent reviews from travelers. 

Check out some of the many fantastic reviews we have here:

• +730 Reviews (94%) on Gooverseas.com
• +160 Reviews (96%) on Goabroad.com
• Participants’ video testimonials

Program Quick Facts

The table below gives some general information about all of our volunteering opportunities in Palestine 

Brief Information About Costs:

We charge a cost of 250 Euro per week depending on how long you stay since Engage in Palestine does not receive funding from any governmental or non-governmental organizations. These costs also include:

• 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 various locations within the city of Hebron, such as the old city, glass and ceramic factories, local businesses, refugee camps, public parks, and local universities like the Palestine Polytechnic University and Hebron University

Volunteering As A Woman In The West Bank

However, for women, particularly those from a totally different culture, the thought of coming alone to volunteer in Palestine adds a few extra aspects to consider. It’s understandable that you might be concerned about your safety during your stay in Hebron.

We have welcomed many female volunteers and students learning Arabic at Engage in Palestine and we have heard many times that they felt safe and welcome in Hebron. In fact, since our establishment in 2011, the majority of our volunteers at Engage in Palestine have been women. Our female volunteers and Arabic students stay with a host family, who they may spend time with in the evenings.

It is important to remember that Hebron is a conservative society, and as such, it is necessary for international visitors and volunteers to dress appropriately. While female volunteers are not required or expected to wear a hijab in Hebron, it is important to dress modestly to show respect to the local culture and people as well as to limit unwanted attention.

While you’re in Hebron, your Palestinian host family will support and assist you. Our staff and other international volunteers will also be on hand to support you when needed.

For further details, please see the article titled Traveling as a Woman in the West Bank.

Safety Of Our Volunteers And Interns

Palestine has not been stable over the past several decades due to the Israeli occupation; there is constantly turmoil and violence, and it fluctuates between being tranquil and being more dangerous. Nevertheless, it is much safer for international visitors and there are never any safety concerns when millions of visitors travel to Palestine and the West Bank, including Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin, Tulkarem, Nablus, and many more places. In general, Palestinians are kind and hospitable people who understand that a country’s policies and its citizens may differ.

Over 1000 international visitors have been welcomed since Engage in Palestine was founded in 2011. For a few weeks or months, these travelers resided and worked in Hebron, West Bank and overall they experienced no threats or feelings of insecurity while in Hebron or elsewhere in the West Bank.

Our Palestinian host families and the male dorms are close to Engage in Palestine and we are located in the center of Hebron city, which is under Palestinian control.

Come To Volunteer In Hebron, West Bank!

Join us! Come work as a volunteer for human rights and peace in the West Bank, Palestine. The kind people of Palestine makes visiting the West Bank a fantastic and welcoming experience. Any volunteering program that you choose will have a plethora of people that need support, so you will have many opportunities to make a big impact on the Palestinian communities you’re aiding. This will undoubtedly also be a huge influence on your life, both personally and professionally.  

Volunteering in West Bank, Palestine is an exceptional opportunity for you to meet Palestinian people, experience their daily life, learn Palestinian Arabic and observe the Israeli-Palestinian conflict first-hand. Palestinians’ daily lives are impeded in many ways by the Israeli occupation, yet Palestinian children and youth still have hopes and aspirations for a better life.

They are eager to learn and better themselves and their community’s conditions. Your role as an international volunteer or intern may help improve the prospects of Palestinians in a variety of ways, including teaching English, organizing community activities, increasing awareness and most importantly informing the world that Palestine is not what mainstream media sources commonly portray. 

Because Palestinians have not always had the opportunity to offer the world an authentic portrayal of their culture, they are eager to share their expertise and encourage international visitors to participate in their cultural activities. As a result, your experience in Palestine will be fulfilling and gratifying. No matter how long you intend to spend in Palestine, you will be thoroughly immersed in this culture.

Raise Awareness About Palestine

We encourage you to share your volunteer experience and raise awareness about the situation in Palestine with your friends, family and others in your community. But more than anything, we ask that you keep in mind to share your love of Palestine with the world as well, as doing so will encourage others to visit the West Bank and experience Palestine firsthand.

If you are ready to volunteer or looking for more information about the logistics of getting to Palestine and Hebron, keep reading the sections below for more information. Overall, we are confident that you will have a delightful and unforgettable time in Palestine and we look forward to welcoming you.

How To Get A Visa to Volunteer?

The majority of international visitors (including our overseas participants) receive a tourist visa that is valid for three months (90 days) upon arrival into Israeli airports or at the land borders with Egypt or Jordan. This is adequate for you to take part in Engage in Palestine’s activities and to move about Palestine and Israel without difficulty.

Americans, Canadians, Australians and the majority of Europeans can enter Palestine without a visa in most cases, however for further details, please refer to the visa exemption agreement.

Flying Into Palestine

Unfortunately, there are no airports in Palestine, making it slightly more difficult to travel straight into the West Bank. However, it isn’t too difficult for international volunteers and interns because they can fly into Israeli airports and then cross the border to Palestine via a private or shared taxi. For Palestinians that wish to go abroad, they generally have to travel to Jordan or Egypt and fly overseas from airports there.

The quickest routes, in our opinion, to reach Engage in Palestine in Hebron are:

• To take a plane to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv (Israel). From the airport, first take a train or shared taxi to Jerusalem. From there, you can take a shared taxi to Engage in Palestine in Hebron. The total travel time is around 2.5 hours.

• To fly into Eilat Airport in Israel and then take a van or shuttle to Jerusalem and then another shared taxi to Hebron. However, the duration of this trip might range from 6-7 hours.

• It is possible to travel to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, and then pass into Palestine, however this method takes much longer and is more expensive.

Traveling To And From Hebron, West Bank

We understand that many volunteers and students who participate in our various programs, particularly those visiting the Israel/Palestine region for the first time, may naturally have questions about things like:

• How to get to Hebron, West Bank?
• How to make your way to Engage in Palestine once arriving?
• Transportation in the area; which taxi you should take?
• How to cross the checkpoints in the West Bank?

As such, we have created these four pages that should provide you with all the information you need to know about how to get to Hebron, Palestine, and Engage in Palestine (as well as some helpful contact details):

• How to fly to Palestine
• How to get to Hebron, Palestine
• Planning your trip to Palestine
• How to get from the Ben Gurion Airport (Israel) to Hebron

For any further questions, you are always welcome to get in touch with us

How To Apply

Please send us an email at Info@ecpalestine.org and write “Volunteer In The West Bank,” as the subject line. We will then send you the application form.

Related Volunteer Programs

How To Get Further Information 

For more information, please visit our website: https://excellencenter.org/

Engage in Palestine: https://ecpalestine.org/

Volunteer in Palestine: https://volunteerinpalestine.org/

Whatsapp:+972 599 479 880

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excellence.center

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

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

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

Visit and Explore Palestine: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorePalestine