Volunteer In the West Bank: Come join us at Study in Palestine, and choose from our variety of volunteer and internship programs! Any program you choose will have a plethora of people needing support, and your influence on the Palestinian communities will be unforgettable. The kind people of Palestine make the opportunity a fantastic and welcoming experience.
Come take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to meet Palestinian people, experience their daily life, learn Arabic, and gain a unique perspective of the Israel-Palestinian conflict firsthand! Your role as an international volunteer or intern may help improve the prospects of Palestinians in so many ways, whether you are teaching English, organizing community activities, raising awareness, or simply informing the world that Palestine is not what mainstream media sources commonly portray.
Because of the occupation, Palestinians have not always have the opportunity to offer the world an authentic portrayal of their culture, and are all keen to share their expertise and encourage international visitors to participate in Palestinian culture. Your experience with us will be fulfilling and gratifying! We offer opportunities throughout the year, and offer durations ranging from one week to three months, in all seasons and months!
Who can volunteer in Palestine?
We provide inclusive and cost-effective volunteering programs and internships in Hebron to individuals, both native and non-native English speakers, who are enthusiastic about supporting the Palestinian community. Our diverse range of opportunities includes teaching English as a foreign language and gaining insights into human rights and the legal situation in the West Bank.
We extend a warm welcome to all volunteers, whether you are a student, graduate, professional, retiree, or simply someone interested in volunteering in the Arab world. We have a track record of hosting volunteers from various countries, including the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan, and across Europe. With over a decade of experience in hosting international volunteers, we are here to assist you right from the initial stages.
- University students who wish to experience and learn about Palestine and Israel
- 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
Are There any Requirements for volunteers?
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.
Whilst 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)
What can I do in the West Bank?
We invite volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds, and can accommodate a wide skillset. You will certainly find a program or project where you will excel and make a real impact on a Palestinian community. Whether it’s in law, the arts, education, environmentalism, or even sports!
What Kind Of Activities Can I Do While Volunteering?
Study in Palestine is incredibly accommodating when it comes to what you want to do while you are here with us; we are ready to organise, plan, and involve you in any events that you wish to take part in! Here are just a few examples of tasks we have organised for our volunteers:
- 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.
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 Study in Palestine. These activities include visits to the old city, visits to Palestinian families’ homes, and tours of nearby businesses and Palestinian 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.
Discover a Unique Personal Opportunity for Cultural Exchange!
Our volunteering opportunities in the West Bank empower not only the local community, but also empower you as an individual. Your meaningful contributions to the community in Hebron will foster enduring relationships, and you will have the unique opportunity to be fully immersed in Palestinian culture.
We have welcomed hundreds and hundreds of volunteers from around the glove, and through this, have achieved a rich cultural exchange and vibrant social dialogue through the Volunteer in Palestine program. The skills, confidence, and knowledge that volunteers leave with after their program is always heartwarming. The cultural interaction here is a truly global education.
As mentioned, our programs are designed to cater for all – whether you want to be hands-on working with Palestinian refugees, or whether simply enjoy a cup of tea while learning about the Palestinian culture. It’s no wonder that so many of our volunteers return year after year; some to continue the same program or some to try a completely different plan!
As well as personal growth, volunteering at Study in Palestine also brings the additional benefit of Arabic classes! Thanks to our partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, we also offer university credit!
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.
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.
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.
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!
As well, time can be spent visiting local institutions, such as Palestinian universities, or cultural nights in Hebron’s social hubs! Entertainment and activities are never far away in Hebron.
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 Study 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.
When Can I Start and End My Volunteering Program?
Volunteers in the West Bank, Palestine are needed all year round by Study in Palestine. We’ll set everything up, and you pick when you would like to begin!
Summer Volunteer Programs In The West Bank
Study 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).
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. 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”.
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 Study in Palestine has had on the global travel community. Across its range of programs, Study 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
- +150 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
| Location of Volunteer Program | Hebron, West Bank |
| Area of Volunteering | Teach English in Palestine Volunteer with Palestinian Children Volunteer Palestinian Refugees Law and Human Rights |
| Program Language | English/Arabic |
| Volunteering Duration | 1-13 weeks |
| Starting/ Ending Dates | Volunteers can freely choose their starting and ending dates and we offer volunteer programs in Palestine year-round |
| Timeframe | Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round |
| Travel Type | Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women |
| Weekly Costs | 250 Euro a week |
| Homestay in Hebron | Palestinian host family Male dorm Private (additional fees apply) |
| Educational Degree | Not Required |
| University Credit | Available |
| Application Deadline | No Deadline |
| Reviews and Ratings | Reviews On Gooverseas.com Reviews On Goabroad.com Participants video testimonials |
| Tel Aviv Airport Pickup | Available (Fee applies) |
Brief Information About Costs:
We charge a cost of 250 Euro per week depending on how long you stay, since Study in Palestine does not receive funding from any governmental or non-governmental organizations. These costs include:
- Community breakfast at the center each morning
- Accommodation
- Pre-departure and in-country support
- Arabic classes
- Certificate of completion
- Visits to various locations within the city of Hebron, such as the old city, glass and ceramic factories, local businesses, Palestinian refugee camps, public parks, and local universities like the Palestine Polytechnic University and Hebron University
Volunteering As A Woman In The West Bank
Understandably, women may have some concerns about coming alone to volunteer in Palestine, especially those who have never experienced Middle Eastern culture before!
However, there is nothing to worry about – we have welcomed many female students and volunteers at Study in Palestine, and we have heard over and over that they felt safe and welcomed. In fact, since our establishment in 2011, the majority of our volunteers have been women. Our female volunteers stay with a host family, who they may enjoy spending time with in the evenings and mealtimes!
Hebron is, of course, more conservative than many places, and as such, international visitors of all genders are expected to dress appropriately. Female volunteers aren’t expected or required to wear the hijab, but modesty is still important to respect the local culture and also to limit any unwanted attention. Our staff and your host family are more than happy to help in any way, and address any concerns you may have!
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 Study 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 Study in Palestine and we are located in the center of Hebron city, which is under Palestinian control. Tensions tend to fluctuate more in areas close to the borders between Palestinian and Israeli control, and Study in Palestine is nowhere near these areas.
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 Study in Palestine’s activities and to move around 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, Palestine has no airports – but this isn’t a major roadbloack for international volunteers, who can fly into Israeli airports and cross the border to Palestine from Jerusalem. For Palestinians, they have to travel to Jordan or Egypt by land, and fly from airports there.
The quickest routes, in our opinion, to reach Study in Palestine in Hebron are:
- To fly 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 Study 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, and then down to Hebron, however this method takes much longer and is more expensive.
Traveling To And From Hebron, the 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 Study 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 Study 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
Find us online
Whatsapp:+972 599 479 880
Website: https://ecpalestine.org/
EC Website: https://excellencenter.org/
Volunteer in Palestine: https://volunteerinpalestine.org/
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