Volunteer in the West Bank and Study Arabic (1-13 Weeks): In the city of Hebron, we at Engage in the West Bank offer both short-term and long-term volunteer and internship programs. Volunteers 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, organizing workshops in a variety of subjects, and staying in Hebron’s lively, sociable neighborhood while teaching English in the West Bank.

This volunteer opportunity is available for 1–13 weeks. Our volunteer programs in Hebron provide you the chance to work in a fascinating and energetic environment since they are created to be immersive, genuine, and complete.

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

The Volunteer in the West Bank and Study Arabic program is open to both native and non-native English speakers who want to volunteer and learn Arabic in Palestine. This program is for you whether you’re a student, graduate, professional, or retired person searching for volunteer opportunities in the West Bank, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, the Middle East, or the larger Arabic world. 

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”. 

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 the Excellence Center’s impact on the community of travelers around the world. The Excellence Center continues to be a highly rated travel organization across its selection of programs. Check out our many great reviews here:

• +748 Reviews (96.8%) on Gooverseas.com
• +150 Reviews (96%) on Goabroad.com
• Participants’ video testimonials

Arabic Classes For All Of Our Volunteers

All of our international volunteers in Hebron, Palestine, take Palestinian or Levantine Arabic sessions three hours a week from a center-based teacher who is a native of the Arab nation.

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

Arabic Dialects That You Can Learn

During their stay with us and as part of their volunteer placement, all volunteers at our base in Hebron, West Bank, will have the opportunity to learn one of many Arabic dialects. The options we provide 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 also help you choose which Arabic dialect to study if you are unsure.

Areas Of Volunteering

Engage in the West Bank is incredibly accommodating when it comes to what you can do while you are here, so we are ready to help plan and involve you in events you would like to take part in. The following are 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 the center and assisting other instructors with the preparation of their course outlines
• Organizing weekly seminars for the Palestinian community on a variety of topics, such as cultural differences, writing resumes, and formal email writing, are examples of educational and cultural events.
• 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, and photography
• 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.

It is important to find a volunteer program that meets your needs and makes use of your existing talents is also crucial. An overview of all of our volunteer opportunities in the West Bank, Palestine is provided below.

Experience Volunteering In Hebron, West Bank

Our wide choice of flexible volunteer options in Hebron, West Bank, are offered all year long (spring, summer, autumn/fall, and winter) to our international volunteers from throughout 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 Palestine. 
• College, university, or gap year students looking for volunteering opportunities in Israel and Palestine.
• Interested in helping 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.

Numerous Opportunities To Travel Around Palestine

From our base in Hebron, you will have numerous opportunities to travel in your spare time and weekends to other places, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Akko, Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, and Bethlehem.

International tourists may easily and cheaply travel between Palestine and Israel, and our volunteer programs provide participants with lots of free time to explore the region. You can even make some new pals among the Palestinians while you’re there!

Discover A Unique Opportunity For Cultural Exchange

The volunteering opportunities in Palestine are created to challenge you as a person while fully integrating you into Palestinian culture and helping you build lasting relationships. By collaborating with the men, women, and kids of the West Bank in many ways as a volunteer, you will be making significant contributions to the Palestinian community in Hebron. Along with adopting a new way of life, you will also meet a lot of new people, pick up a new language, and collaborate with Palestinians and refugees in and around the West Bank.

We have welcomed hundreds of volunteers from all over the world as Engage in the West Bank strives to achieve a diversified cultural exchange and social conversation through Engage in the West Bank Program, allowing us to have a variety of viewpoints and enriching activities and programs. We promise that you will be immersed in Palestinian life and exposed to many Palestinian points of view in exchange for your skills and experience.

Furthermore, all types of volunteers can participate in one of our many volunteer programs, whether they want 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.

Who Comes To Volunteer In Palestine?

At Engage in the West Bank, we happily accept volunteers and interns from a variety of countries, including the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Europe, the UK, Australia, and Japan. We also eagerly accept volunteers and interns from a broad range of ages, professions, backgrounds, and locations.

Furthermore, we often welcome international volunteers who are 18 years old or older, however, if you are younger than this, please get in touch with us to explore volunteering opportunities. We have activities that are appropriate for everyone as we have accepted 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 area

Even though 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 in 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.

Short-Term Volunteer Programs

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

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

Summer Volunteer Programs

Besides the Volunteer in the West Bank and Study Arabic program, Engage in the West Bank provides excellent volunteer opportunities from June through August for those searching for summer internships or volunteer programs in the West Bank, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, or Israel. For students, native English speakers, those with summer breaks, and anyone wishing to serve abroad for an extended period, these volunteer programs and internships are perfect.

These volunteer summer programs in 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 towns, and community centers in addition to Bedouin regions (Susiya).

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

Brief Information Program’s Costs:

We charge a cost of 750 Euro a month or 250 Euro per week depending on how long you stay since Engage in the West Bank 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

Flexible Booking

At Engage in the West Bank, we understand that things change. As such, our programs are incredibly flexible in case you need to alter travel plans or just simply have a change of heart. As volunteer programs begin at the center year-round (with flexible start and end dates), you decide your arrival.

Furthermore, you’re able to change your start date entirely free of charge if requested at least two weeks beforehand.

Participate In Many Extracurricular Activities

All of our international volunteers take part in a variety of educational, cultural, and social activities throughout their time in the program, which are organized by Engage in the West Bank.

These activities include visits to the old city, visits to Palestinian families’ homes, and tours of nearby businesses. 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.

Make A Contribution To The Palestinian 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.

Volunteers in Palestine may also play an essential role in helping to the well-being of the Palestinian local community and in creating bridges of understanding. As we welcome volunteers to meet with locals and Palestinian refugees in the refugee camps, a wide range of volunteer projects to support education and community development are offered.

Anyone who wishes to learn more about daily Palestinian legal matters and human rights 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. 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.

Are You A Qualified Teacher?

We encourage you to consider being a part of our Teach For Palestine Program if you have a degree in English since it is especially appropriate for persons 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 to volunteer to teach English at Engage in the West Bank. 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 Engage in the West Bank

Since 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 frequently not necessary. If you meet the criteria listed below, you are welcome here:

• 18+ (although further restrictions may depend on the 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 to take part in the Volunteer in the West Bank and Study Arabic Program 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)

Benefits Of Volunteering In Palestine

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

Benefits Of Participating in The Volunteer in the West Bank and Study Arabic Program:

• 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

When Can I Start and End the Volunteer in the West Bank and Study Arabic Program?

Volunteers in the West Bank, Palestine are needed all year round (spring, summer, autumn (or fall), and winter) by Engage in the West Bank. We’ll set everything up, and you pick when you would like to begin.

Flying Into Palestine

Sadly, there are no airports in Palestine (West Bank or Gaza), making it difficult to travel straight into the West Bank at the moment. International volunteers and interns can fly to Israeli airports and then fly across the border to Palestine, although Palestinians often fly via Jordanian or Egyptian airports to visit abroad.

The quickest routes, in our opinion, to reach Engage in the West Bank in Hebron are:

• To take a plane to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv (Israel). From the airport, a shared cab will transport you to Engage in the West Bank in Hebron in around 2.5 hours.
• To fly into Eilat Airport in Israel and then take a van or shuttle to Jerusalem and ultimately 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 longer and costs more.

Traveling To And From Hebron, West Bank

We understand that many volunteers and interns in our programs, especially those visiting the Israel/Palestine region for the first time, may naturally have questions about subjects like:

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

These four pages should provide all the information you need to know about how to go to Hebron, Palestine, and Engage in the West Bank (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.

Volunteering As A Woman In Palestine

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

We have had numerous female volunteers and students learning Arabic at Engage in the West Bank. Since our establishment in 2011, the majority of our volunteers at Engage in the West Bank have been women, and our female volunteers and Arabic students stay with a host family, where they normally spend the nights and eat meals.

While you’re in Hebron, your Palestinian host family will look after you and assist you, and our staff and other international volunteers will also be on hand to provide a hand when needed. In addition, your host family in Palestine will take care of you during your visit. For further details, please see the article titled Traveling as a Woman to Palestine.

Safety Of Our Volunteers And Interns

The Palestinian territory has not been stable over the past few decades; there is constant turmoil and violence, and it fluctuates between being tranquil and being more dangerous. Nevertheless, 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 the West Bank was founded in 2011. For a few weeks or months, these travelers resided and worked in Hebron, and overall they experienced no threats or feelings of insecurity while there or elsewhere in the West Bank.

Our Palestinian host families and the male dorms are close to Engage in the West Bank because we are located in a part of Hebron that is under Palestinian control and in the center of the city.

How To Get A Volunteer Visa For Palestine

When people travel into Israeli airports or pass into the West Bank from Jordan, the majority of our overseas participants receive a tourist visa valid for three months.

Americans, Canadians, 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. You will be given a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days when you arrive at one of the Israeli airports in Tel Aviv or Eilat. This is adequate for you to take part in Engage in the West Bank’s activities and to move about Palestine and Israel without difficulty.

How To Apply For the Volunteer in the West Bank and Study Arabic

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

Come To Hebron!

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

Volunteering in 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 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 condition. 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. 

Palestinians Are Eager To Share Their Experiences With Others

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 during the Volunteer in the West Bank and Study Arabic Program 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. We encourage you to share your volunteer experience and raise awareness of the situation in Palestine, 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.

We are confident that you will have a delightful and unforgettable time in Palestine.

Related Volunteer Programs

How To Get Further Information 

For more information, please visit our website: Engage in the West Bank

Whatsapp:+972599479880

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