The Human Rights In The West Bank Program offered at Engage in the West Bank in Hebron, Palestine, is designed to introduce you to Palestinian human rights in a setting that will help you grow personally and professionally. We offer a fantastic opportunity for students to gain experience in international law, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid while developing their intercultural and Arabic language skills. Participants in this program will aim to increase societal awareness about the human rights situation in the West Bank while supporting local communities through education.
Engage in the West Bank offers human rights internships and volunteer programs year-round, for periods of between 1 and 13 weeks, with the choice of start and end dates entirely up to the participant. The program also allows you to study and practice Ammiya (Palestinian Arabic). Furthermore, for each week in which you stay with us, you are eligible for three hours of Arabic instruction from qualified, experienced Palestinian teachers as a volunteer in the Program.
You will interact with Palestinian and international NGOs, staff members, professors of law, students, and human rights activists and join excursions to Palestinian refugee camps and human rights organizations. This will advance your academic work and develop your conversational and classroom Arabic skills.
Intern in Human Rights In The West Bank 2025/2026
Engage in the West Bank is now accepting applications for its Human Rights in the West Bank Program for 2025/2026. This program is designed for individuals passionate about human rights, social justice, and advocacy who wish to gain firsthand experience with the realities faced by Palestinian communities. Participants will engage with local organizations, activists, and legal experts working on issues such as displacement, freedom of movement, and access to essential services in the West Bank, including Masafer Yatta, Susya, Dura, and other rural areas.
Through field visits, discussions, and community-based projects, participants will deepen their understanding of human rights challenges under occupation. They will also be able to work directly with Palestinian children, youth, women, and refugees, supporting grassroots efforts to promote education, empowerment, and legal awareness. Arabic language instruction will be provided to enhance communication and cultural immersion.
This is a unique opportunity to witness human rights work on the ground, contribute to meaningful initiatives, and engage with Palestinian communities striving for justice and dignity.
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, this internship is an ideal opportunity to gain relevant experience while 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 Engage in the West Bank’s Human Rights Program in the West Bank.
Volunteer in Human Rights In The West Bank Program
The Human Rights Internship Program in Palestine is an excellent choice for anybody who is passionate about human rights and wants to work to guarantee that Palestinians have access to their fundamental rights. Volunteering in this Program will provide you with vital experience if you are interested in working for non-profit organizations in a humanitarian or legal framework.
This Program benefits university students since Engage in the West Bank may award academic credit to program participants via its relationship with the Palestinian Ministry of Education. Moreover, this program is a peerless opportunity for recent graduates to draw on hard-won skills and engage at a grass-roots level.
Who Can Participate?
We are committed to equal opportunities. Engage in the West Bank does not discriminate based on nationality, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other grounds. 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!
Human Rights In The West Bank Program Program Structure
The Human Rights Internship Program in Palestine is mostly knowledge-based. It emphasizes 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 Internship
Through our Palestinian Law curriculum, we seek to give a thorough overview of the legislation governing the West Bank and Gaza. We offer internships year-round for periods ranging from one to thirteen weeks. This curriculum suits law, social sciences, human rights students, and anybody interested in the Palestinian legal system.
During the internship, interns will visit local Palestinian lawyers, law faculties, courts, human rights organizations, legal and religious institutions, and clinics. You will see laws being passed, decisions being made, court decisions being taken, legal discussions being conducted, and mediations taking place in various social contexts.
Summer Volunteer and Internship Programs
Additionally, while our human rights internship and Volunteer programs in Hebron are open all year, we also offer summer human rights internships. These are ideal opportunities for students or anyone searching for short-term human rights, law, and politics internships in Palestine, Israel, or the Middle East. Participants will gain experience while making a difference in the lives of others.
We also offer summer programs designed specifically for students looking to travel abroad while gaining university credits. These programs allow you to travel during summertime, gain hands-on experience in your relevant field, and work towards a degree simultaneously. Students will be able to experience a range of academic and practical activities in a field 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 through 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.
Program Accommodation
When residing in Hebron, male program participants can either stay with a Palestinian host family (depending on availability) or in a very nice apartment just a 5-minute walk from our center. Both options offer unique advantages.
Staying in the apartment provides extra time to bond with other participants and volunteers, fostering a sense of community. Located near Hebron’s metropolitan center, the apartment offers convenient access to explore the vibrant city with fellow roommates, opening the door to many new and exciting experiences!
The second option available to participants will be to reside with a Palestinian host family. This option will provide participants with an intimate view of Palestinian daily life, customs, and culture, familiarize them with family structures, and allow them to taste some of the delicious Palestinian cuisine. It’s also likely that participants residing with a host family will be invited to family gatherings and cultural events, guaranteeing a culturally immersive experience!
Arabic Culture and Language Immersion
Every week, every international volunteer and intern receives three hours of Arabic instruction from a professional, skilled, attentive teacher. These classes are created so that you may connect with the individuals you are working with on an essential level. Attempting to learn the local language is also considered a sign of respect for their culture and is always appreciated by all parties involved.
You will have plenty of opportunities to practice the Arabic you have been studying in class because you will meet new people daily throughout your time in Palestine. Our instructors teach both Modern Standard Arabic and Colloquial Arabic.
Our staff will also guide participants in the Human Rights Internship in Palestine program on trips to important historical and political locations in Hebron. While these trips will normally include visits to the Old City of Hebron and nearby villages, tours of the local refugee camps in Hebron will also provide participants with a better understanding of Palestine’s current political situation.
Live With a Palestinian Host Family
In addition to learning first-hand about one of the most politically divisive regions in the world, volunteers and interns will be supported in their endeavors throughout their stay. In addition to your specific program objectives, you can be provided with a host family.
Via a stay with a host family during the time in Hebron, you will be given many opportunities to fully immerse yourself in a Palestinian context through many conversations among the local friendly community of Hebron and learn Arabic. You will consequently also have a rare look into Palestinian home life and culture and will take part in family activities, attend Palestinian cultural events, become familiar with daily life in Hebron, and much more!
Educational Workshops
Once you have gained a sufficient theoretical understanding of human rights (with special attention paid to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Convention), you will begin the program’s second stage: putting your knowledge into practice. You will utilize your creativity, knowledge, and abilities to develop innovative and meaningful initiatives for the benefit of the local community by designing and conducting educational programs in collaboration with local organizations.
Previous workshop presentations have included creating documentaries and other visual media, teaching English to Palestinian children, conducting Q&A sessions with local Palestinians, publishing articles and booklets, and designing digital material.
Visits to Local Organizations Working in the Field of Human Rights
Engage in the West Bank will organize visits to various local Palestinian organizations working in the field of human rights in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine. This will enable you to decide what activities to develop and present during your workshops. As a result of your meetings with local organizations, you will better understand the state of human rights in the West Bank.
The program begins with an overview of the Geneva Convention and international law surrounding human rights. It then teaches you how these international accords are being violated.
You will get the chance to visit the United Nations Headquarters in Hebron and other significant institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). You will go to Hebron and the surrounding regions to interviews with municipal authorities, community leaders, legislators, business owners, employees, teachers, and university students to learn more about how violations occur.
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 can 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 of the Human Rights In The West Bank Program
In addition to your program responsibilities, you can embark on sightseeing tours in Hebron managed by Engage in the West Bank. Throughout the week, we organize frequent trips to Hebron and adjacent cities.
In the evenings, we offer a wide range of activities for you to participate in as part of our commitment to showcasing Palestine’s culture. Evenings are typically free, although we will organize occasional optional activities such as food and drink tours or cultural events. We hope you will join us in exploring the city of Hebron and its many restaurants, shops, and historical sites.
In addition to your work on the Human Rights Program, you will be taking Arabic lessons, which require some preparation and study. You will have your Arabic class schedule and time to develop lesson ideas for the workshops you will be in charge of. This is in addition to your spare time, during which you can go to other cities.
Impact on the Palestinian Community
This volunteer program strives to create a long-term effect in the local Palestinian community by the premise of “walking in each other’s shoes.” 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.
Overview of the Human Rights In The West Bank Program
| Place of Internship Program | 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 | Place of Internship Program |
| Area of Volunteering | Legal situation in the West Bank Human Rights In The West Bank Program Refugee camps in Palestine |
| Volunteers Age | 18-75 |
| Days of the Week | Sunday-Thursday |
| Weekly Costs | Check Prices Here |
| 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 | Volunteers can freely choose start and end dates year-round |
| Tel Aviv Airport pickup | Available (Additional fees apply) |
| Rating and Reviews | Reviews On Gooverseas.com Reviews On Goabroad.com Participants video testimonials |
Daily Schedule for Volunteers
Volunteering with us at Engage in the West Bank will require commitment and flexibility. You will be expected to work approximately 30 hours a week, from around 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. One of your days off will be Friday and another day of your choice. We are closed on Fridays.
International volunteers start the day with breakfast with our staff and directors every morning. Breakfast typically consists of bread, olive oil, za’atar, hummus, labneh, falafel, cucumber, tomato, and bell pepper—all of the essentials in a traditional Palestinian morning meal.
How to Get to Palestine?
The most convenient method to reach us at Engage in the West Bank is to fly to:
- Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv Airport in Israel. A shared cab from the airport to Hebron takes roughly two and a half hours.
Alternatively:
- Fly to Eilat airport in the south of Israel, then take a shuttle or bus to Jerusalem and finally to Hebron. The travel, however, 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 Engage in the West Bank’s 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 Engage in the West Bank 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?
The majority of our volunteers in Palestine receive a three-month tourist visa when arriving at Israeli airports or crossing from Jordan to the West Bank.
Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans do not require a visa to enter Palestine, but they should refer to the visa exemption agreement for further information. Upon your arrival at the Israeli Airports in Tel Aviv or Eilat, you will acquire a tourist visa that is valid for 90 days. This is sufficient for participation in Engage in the West Bank’s programs and easy travel around 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 also involve themselves 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 for the Human Rights In The West Bank Program?
To register your interest, please email Engage in the West Bank 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:
- Age between 18 and 75 years (although exceptions are possible 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!
Reviews, Awards, And Recognition
Engage in Palestine has been honored with several prestigious Community Awards and recognized as the Best Language School and Top Volunteer and Internship Program Provider for 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. For more details, please visit our profiles on GoOverseas.com and GoAbroad.com.
- +850 reviews (96%) on gooverseas.com
- +175 reviews (96%) on goabroad.com
- Internship in Palestine participants’ video testimonials
Join Our Family in Palestine
Engage in the West Bank’s volunteer programs and internships is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to advancing universal human rights. As volunteers and interns, you will work closely with local Palestinian organizations, such as human rights organizations, law firms, charities, and activists. Participants will engage with local Palestinians in dialogue about their rights and liberties as declared in the Geneva Convention and the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Volunteering in Palestine is a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about one of the most politically divisive regions in the world and to make a difference in the lives of others, especially Palestinian children, refugees, youth, and community members. The program will also help you become better informed about human rights issues. Additionally, all participants will be able to immerse themselves in the Arabic language and culture as they visit local Palestinian historical sites, areas of political significance, cultural festivals, and more.
You should consider visiting and volunteering in the West Bank, Palestine, whether you are planning to go to Palestine for fun, to learn the language or any other subjects, or even for religious reasons. You will benefit immensely from joining our programs. Our Engage in the West Bank team will assist you every step of the way before and throughout your stay. We emphasize the importance of the exchange of information and learning and are happy to address all of your questions about your stay, how to get to and from Hebron, the cost of living, and any other logistical questions. We hope to meet you soon.
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