Study In Palestine in Hebron offers human rights volunteer opportunities that highlight Palestinian rights and promote personal and professional growth. Students gain experience in international law, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid while enhancing their intercultural and Arabic language skills. Participants will raise awareness about human rights in the West Bank and support local communities through education.
Study in Palestine offers human rights internships and volunteer programs year-round for 1 to 13 weeks, with flexible start and end dates. Participants can learn Ammiya (Palestinian Arabic) and receive three hours of Arabic instruction weekly from qualified teachers. You’ll engage with Palestinian and international NGOs, professors, students, and human rights activists, and participate in excursions to refugee camps and organizations, enhancing your academic work and Arabic skills.
Table of Contents
The Human Rights Internship Program in Palestine is open to:
- students of all levels
- native and non-native English speakers
- graduate and undergraduate students of Middle Eastern studies, Arabic studies, political sciences
- scholars conducting case studies on Palestine and Israel
- human aid workers
- professionals, researchers, retirees, and indeed anyone who would like to help and contribute meaningfully to the Palestinian community in the West Bank.
If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities in the Middle East and are interested in Israeli-Palestinian relations, then you will find this internship an ideal opportunity to gain relevant experience whilst learning or improving your Arabic language skills.
The Current Situation in the West Bank, Palestine
Since 1967, Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and East Jerusalem have faced “severe and discriminatory limitations on their human rights,” according to Human Rights Watch. Because of the region’s continuous military occupation, respect for international law has been restricted.
There have been widespread violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to a report released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The report was published on 5 March 2015 and relates to the period from 26 May 2013 to 31 October 2014.
You will better grasp the condition of human rights in the West Bank from your participation in Study in Palestine’s Human Rights Program in the West Bank.
Volunteering for Peace & Human Rights in the West Bank
The Human Rights Internship Program in Palestine is ideal for those passionate about human rights and advocating for Palestinian access to their rights. Volunteering in this Program offers vital experience for future non-profit work in humanitarian or legal fields. University students can benefit as Study in Palestine may award academic credit through its partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education. This program also provides recent graduates a unique chance to apply their skills at the grassroots level.
Who Can Participate?
We are committed to equal opportunities. Study in Palestine does not discriminate on any grounds based on nationality, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other. We have a long tradition of accepting individuals from all over the world, and volunteers have come from many walks of life, backgrounds, and identities. Everyone is invited to engage!
Program Structure
The Human Rights Internship Program in Palestine is mostly knowledge-based, emphasizing increasing participants’ understanding of human rights and legal breaches within Palestine and raising awareness.
You will collaborate with international organizations, local activists, and international law specialists during the internship. The Human Rights Program is organized into four areas to assist in this endeavor:
- Increase your understanding of human rights and the political context
- Create a unique program in collaboration with local activists
- Study Arabic and become acquainted with Palestinian culture and daily life
- Organize workshops for Palestinian youth, teach English to Palestinian children and refugees, and write articles.
Law and Human Rights Internships in Palestine
Our Palestinian Law curriculum provides an overview of legislation in the West Bank and Gaza. We offer internships year-round for one to thirteen weeks, suitable for law, social sciences, and human rights students, as well as anyone interested in the Palestinian legal system.
Interns will visit local lawyers, law schools, courts, human rights organizations, and clinics, observing lawmaking, legal decisions, and mediations in various social contexts.
Summer Volunteer and Internship Programs in Palestine
Our human rights internship and volunteer programs in Hebron are available year-round, including summer internships ideal for students seeking short-term opportunities in human rights, law, and politics in Palestine, Israel, or the Middle East. Participants gain experience while making a difference.
We also provide summer programs for students wishing to travel abroad and earn university credits. These programs allow students to gain hands-on experience in their field while working towards a degree and engaging in various academic and practical activities relevant to their interests.
Program Details and Additional Activities in Palestine
Volunteers in the Human Rights Program based in Hebron, West Bank, will receive the following benefits. More details are given below. These include:
- Arabic lessons are three hours weekly with native speakers in the Palestinian dialect, and MSA is offered if desired. Our teachers are well-qualified and attentive, each with a solid educational background, ready and willing to assist you.
- Visits to Palestinian refugee camps and arranging activities for Palestinian children
- Work with non-profit organizations, humanitarian/human rights law firms, NGOs, and other charitable organizations to gain expertise
- Similarly, you will work cooperatively with organizations based in Hebron and Ramallah to provide workshops to Palestinian students on the subject of human rights. As part of these workshops, you will be encouraged to share what you have learned, your particular knowledge, and your personal experience.
- Visits to diverse human rights organizations in Palestine, including Human Rights Defenders, Youth Against the Settlements, and Christian Peacemaker Teams Palestine, allowing you to put what you have learned into practice.
- Meetings with human rights activists, laborers, law professors, students, and NGOs
- Exposure to everyday life in Hebron, as well as Palestinian culture and society, including the chance to experience traditional Palestinian dishes and desserts
- Accommodation arranged through a Palestinian host family or our all-male dormitory
- Palestinian cultural nights with entertainment and activities
- Opportunities to visit unique tourist attractions with the benefit of a native point of view, including Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah, Jenin, and the Dead Sea in Jericho.
- The option to visit nearby cities as well as cities located in Israel, including Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Nazareth
- And finally, a certificate upon completion.
Arabic Culture and Language Immersion
Every week, our international volunteers receive three hours of Arabic instruction from a skilled teacher. These classes help you connect with the people you’re working with and show respect for their culture through language. You will practice your Arabic daily while meeting new people in Palestine. Our instructors teach both Modern Standard and Colloquial Arabic.
Participants in the Human Rights Internship program will also visit important historical and political sites in Hebron, guided by our staff. These trips usually include the Old City of Hebron, nearby villages, and local refugee camps, enhancing understanding of Palestine’s current political situation.
Educational Workshops
Once you gain a theoretical understanding of human rights, particularly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Convention, you will enter the program’s second stage: applying your knowledge. You will use your creativity and skills to develop meaningful initiatives for the local community by designing educational programs with local organizations. Previous workshops included creating documentaries, teaching English to Palestinian children, holding Q&A sessions, publishing articles and booklets, and designing digital materials.
Visits to Local Organizations Working in the Field of Human Rights
Study in Palestine will organize visits to local Palestinian human rights organizations in Hebron. These meetings will help you decide on activities for your workshops and understand human rights conditions in the West Bank. The program begins with an overview of the Geneva Convention and international human rights law, highlighting violations. You’ll visit the United Nations Headquarters in Hebron and other key institutions and NGOs. Additionally, you will interview municipal authorities, community leaders, business owners, and students to learn about these violations.
Volunteers will be able to participate in a variety of training and mentorship programs on the subject of human rights. The courses will be tailored to your specific knowledge, interests, fields of expertise, and degree of experience. Because we are adaptable, we will be able to design your syllabus and schedule together with you according to your needs and skills. These courses can include:
- Educating Palestinian school and university students about basic rights
- Engaging in community activities
- Visiting UN buildings and Human Rights NGO Headquarters
- Visiting Palestinian refugee camps in and around Hebron.
- Writing human rights essays with an emphasis on Palestine and Israel
- Studying International Human Rights laws
- Creating a catalog of NGOs describing and analyzing their impact on human rights violations across the world
- Collaboration with journalist project students to create a short documentary
- Other activities (We happily encourage suggestions)
Additional Activities for Volunteers
Alongside your program duties, you can join sightseeing tours in Hebron organized by Study in Palestine. We arrange frequent trips to Hebron and nearby cities throughout the week. In the evenings, you can participate in various activities highlighting Palestine’s culture. Evenings are usually free, but we occasionally offer optional activities like food tours or cultural events. We encourage you to explore Hebron’s restaurants, shops, and historical sites.
In addition to your work on the Human Rights Program, you will take Arabic lessons that require some preparation. You’ll have your own class schedule and time to create workshop lesson ideas. You can also visit other cities during your free time.
Impact on the Palestinian Community
Through the premise of “walking in each other’s shoes,” this volunteer program strives to create a long-term effect in the local Palestinian community. Volunteering here will not only change your life, but it will also change the lives of Palestinian children, refugees, and other members of the community.
The Human Rights Internship in Palestine is suitable for anyone wishing to gain insight into the daily lives of Palestinians under the current political and military boundaries. Ultimately, by exchanging ideas between Palestinians and international volunteers, we aim to create a long-term effect in the lives of refugees, Palestinian children, youth, and the general population.
Practical Information
| Volunteers can freely choose start and end dates year-round | Hebron, West Bank, Palestine |
| Program Language | English |
| Duration of program | 1 -13 Weeks |
| Arabic Hours per Month | 3 hours a week |
| Number of Volunteers/interns in the program | 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 in Palestine Refugee camps in Palestine |
| Volunteers Age | 18-75 |
| Days of the Week | Sunday-Thursday |
| Weekly Costs | 250€ a week |
| Homestay in Hebron | Palestinian host family, Male dormitory, 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 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 |
Reviews And Community Awards
Study in Palestine has welcomed individuals from all over the world since 2011. While we continuously develop our programs to provide the best possible learning experience, the center’s fundamental mission remains to connect, teach, and develop individuals within the local and international community.
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. Study in Palestine 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”.
We continue to strive towards “excellence”: In 2021 we were rated one of the top three programs worldwide in offering volunteer opportunities. We received the community choice awards by Go Overseas in the categories “best language school”, and voted best on “fun” and “instruction.”
In 2019, we received our first “Go Overseas Community Choice Awards” to acknowledge Study in Palestine’s impact on the community of travelers around the world. Our center continues to be a highly rated travel organization across its selection of programs
Furthermore, Study in Palestine’s programs, including the human rights internships in Hebron, have more than:
- +845 reviews (94%) on gooverseas.com
- +170 reviews (96%) on goabroad.com
- Participants video testimonials
Daily Schedule for Volunteers
Volunteering with Study In Palestine requires commitment and flexibility. Expect to work about 30 hours weekly, from 9 am to 5 pm., with Fridays and one day of your choice off. Each morning, international volunteers enjoy breakfast with our staff and directors, featuring bread, olive oil and za’atar, hummus, labneh, falafel, cucumber, tomato, and bell pepper—traditional Palestinian staples.
How to Get to Palestine?
The most convenient method to reach us at Study In Palestine is to fly to:
- Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv Airport in Israel. It takes roughly two and a half hours to get there by shared cab from the airport to Hebron.
Alternatively:
- I flew to Eilat airport in the south of Israel and then took a shuttle or bus to Jerusalem and finally to Hebron. The travel, on the other hand, can last between six and seven hours.
- Flying to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, and then crossing the border into Palestine. This, however, takes more time and is more expensive.
Traveling to and from Hebron, West Bank
All of the Study in Palestine volunteers travel to and from Hebron using single or shared taxis that pass through checkpoints.
You will find all the necessary information about how to get to Hebron and Study in Palestine with relevant contact information in these four articles:
- 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
How Do I Get a Visa to Visit Palestine?
Most volunteers in Palestine receive a three-month tourist visa upon arrival at Israeli airports or crossing from Jordan to the West Bank. Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans do not need a visa to enter Palestine but can check the visa exemption agreement for details. When arriving in Tel Aviv or Eilat, you will get a tourist visa valid for 90 days, allowing participation in Palestine’s study programs and travel within Palestine and Israel.
Traveling to Palestine On Your Own?
No worries, you’ve come to the right place!
You will meet many participants from overseas who are also involved in our volunteer abroad programs, university students, and a community of people with various interests. Palestinians in Hebron, in particular, love to meet new people from different cultures and exchange ideas and experiences.
For everyone here, it is like belonging to one family, and there are always activities to do together in Hebron’s fantastic social scene.
How to Apply?
To register your interest, please email Study in Palestine at Info@ecpalestine.org, with Volunteer in Human Rights Project in Palestine as the subject line to register your interest. From there, we will then email you an application form.
Criteria for Participants in the Human Rights Program:
Required:
- Aged between 18 and 75 years (although exceptions can be made in special circumstances)
- Ability to converse fluently in English or Arabic
- Willing to meet and interact with a diverse spectrum of Palestinian people
- A desire to learn and a positive attitude
Not Required:
- Arabic fluency
- Travel experience
- Teaching experience or an equivalent educational degree
- Being an English native speaker
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at Info@ecpalestine.org or Whatsapp:+972-599-479 880. We look forward to hearing from you!
Summary: Join Our Family in Palestine
Studying in Palestine’s volunteer programs offers excellent opportunities to advance human rights. Volunteers work with local organizations in the West Bank, engaging in dialogue about rights outlined in the Geneva Convention and the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This experience provides insight into one of the most politically divisive regions and allows you to impact the lives of Palestinian children, refugees, and community members.
Participants become more informed about human rights issues and immerse themselves in the Arabic language and culture via visits to historical sites and cultural festivals. There are many reasons to volunteer in the West Bank, whether for leisure, language learning, or spiritual purposes. Our team at Study in Palestine supports you throughout your stay, addressing any logistical questions. We look forward to meeting you soon.
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