The Help Palestinian Refugees in Palestine program, lasting from 1 to 12 weeks, offers an incredibly rewarding experience. By working with Palestinian refugees, you will gain a profound understanding of their challenges and contribute to their efforts to build a better future.

You can volunteer for as short as one week or as long as three months, based on your availability and level of commitment. Throughout your stay, you’ll have the chance to learn Arabic, engage with local Palestinians, and immerse yourself in their culture and customs. Additionally, you might have the opportunity to live with a host family, providing you with an even deeper insight into their daily lives.

As a participant in the “Help Palestinian Refugees in Palestine 2024/2025 ” program, you will have the opportunity to engage in social, educational, and community activities. These activities are focused on supporting youth, children, and women living in the refugee camps. Despite the challenging conditions in these camps, you will find that the residents hold a strong belief in education as their primary means of fighting for their rights.

Understanding Palestinian Refugees

You might think that Palestinian refugees are only those who live outside of Palestine due to the 1948 war, such as those in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. However, there are also Palestinian refugees within the West Bank and Gaza. In the West Bank, there are around 22 camps housing approximately 176,000 refugees, and in Gaza, there are 12 camps with about 478,000 refugees.

Learning and Living Experiences

• Learn Arabic Language During Volunteering: We offer two Arabic classes each week, each lasting 1.5 hours, providing you with 3 hours of immersive language learning. This will help you better understand Arabic culture and communication.
• Live with a Palestinian Host Family: Staying with a Palestinian family offers a unique opportunity to learn the language and understand the culture and daily life of your hosts. You’ll experience their traditions, values, and hospitality, enriching your overall learning experience.

Cultural and Educational Activities

• Improve English Through Friendly Conversations: Our primary goal is to help you speak and understand English better. By having friendly conversations with students of all ages and genders, you can help them improve their English skills, opening up more opportunities for them.
• Explore Refugee Camps on Day Trips: We organize day trips to refugee camps in Hebron and Bethlehem, allowing you to see the lives of refugees up close. These trips provide an eye-opening experience that builds empathy and deepens your understanding of their challenges and resilience.
• City Tours in Hebron: Our program includes day tours in Hebron, where you’ll explore key areas and learn about the city’s history and contemporary life. You’ll visit local factories to understand the local economy and craftsmanship.
• Cook Authentic Palestinian Dishes Together: Participate in preparing authentic Palestinian dishes, offering a culinary adventure that helps you connect with the community and create lasting memories.
• Explore Beyond Hebron: We give you two days off each week to explore other enchanting places in Palestine, such as Bethlehem, Nablus, Ramallah, Jericho, and Jerusalem. These days off allow you to travel, learn, and create memories beyond Hebron, ensuring a well-rounded and enriching experience.

Where will the program be held?

It takes place in the heart of Palestine, in the city of Hebron. Hebron, Al-Khalil in Arabic, is located in the southern part of the West Bank. It is 30 km (19 miles) south of Jerusalem.  The population of Hebron is about 300,000 persons who reside in the city, and about another 500,000 who live in the surrounding villages.

What is included in the Volunteer with Refugees in Palestine Program?

• As a participant of this program, you will participate in the following: teach conversational English to Palestinians–mainly children–who live in the refugee camps. Other activities also include entertainment activities, sports activities, and educational activities (optional).

• Meet Palestinian refugees, listen to their stories, and have the opportunity to ask questions and build friendships.

How long can I join the program?

• Our volunteers can choose to participate in the program for a period of one to 12 weeks.
• Whatever length of time you choose, we will support you so that you have a great and unique experience at our center and in this wonderful city of Hebron.

Why choose GO Palestine?

• We do not have any hidden or additional fees.
• We organize trips every week to areas in Hebron & Bethlehem.
• We offer 3 hours of Arabic lessons per week – two classes with our best Arabic teachers.
• Our center is located in the heart of the city of Hebron, which makes it easy to reach, whether for our Palestinian students or for our international participants.
• We are very flexible about changing the start and end times of your program.
• We meticulously search for families that our female participants feel comfortable with during their stay in Hebron.
• We organize local visits to get acquainted with the most famous landmarks of the city of Hebron.
• We provide all kinds of assistance to our participants and guide them to make their experience more enjoyable.
• We also have an 8th-floor apartment for our male participants with a great view. It has everything they need in addition to being very close to the center (three minutes’ walking to the center).

What kinds of tasks will I be doing?

Educational activities

• International volunteers will create and organize activities that are aimed at educating Palestinian children as well as adults. These educational activities include English classes that focus on the conversation. As opposed to teaching grammar, conversational skills will be the primary focus of the sessions.

• We would like for the people you work with to learn by doing. For instance, through presentations, games, group work, etc. Additionally, international volunteers will have the opportunity to visit schools within the camp and organize educational activities for Palestinian primary and secondary school students.

Entertainment activities

• Another aspect of the program will be participating/organizing entertainment activities for Palestinian refugees (optional). These activities might include music, drawing, sports, games, and arts and crafts activities.

• If you are worried that you will be alone in organizing these activities, do not worry. You will not be alone. There will be Palestinian volunteers to help you organize the entertainment activities as well.

What are the advantages of volunteering with refugees?

• Experience the hospitality of Palestinians and discover the beauty of the Palestinian culture by interacting with Palestinian families and refugees.
• Daily Palestinian breakfast at the center.
• 3 hours of Arabic lessons per week – Two classes/1,5 hours a class.
• The program provides you with a chance to visit local sites in Hebron and get to know the rich history of the city.
• Accommodation, including either staying with a local host family or at our 8th-floor apartment. Private accommodation is also available with extra fees.
• Day trips to refugee camps in Hebron & Bethlehem and some areas of political importance.
• At the completion of the program, you will get a participation certificate and a recommendation letter.

Learn Arabic while Volunteering in Palestine – Individual Classes

Volunteering in Palestine is a great way to learn the Arabic language and make a difference at the same time. You can choose to learn Modern Standard Arabic or Levantine Arabic, depending on your needs and interests. You will have three weekly hours of Arabic, divided into two classes a week. By volunteering while learning Arabic, you will gain valuable experience while helping out in your community.

What’s your Weekly routine like?

We at GO Palestine are keen to make your weekly schedule diversified, rich, and organized. Thus, it will contain a number of educational, social, and fun activities that will make your experience in Palestine special and unique.

Breakfast starts at 9:30 am

The day at our center starts with a special Palestinian breakfast at 9:30 in the morning and ends at approximately 10:15. Our breakfast contains a number of ingredients, including Palestinian thyme (Zaatar), labneh, tomato and cucumber slices, falafel, hummus, mortadella, olives, yellow cheese, jam, pita bread, boiled or fried eggs, and French fries. The ingredients are changed (among the mentioned ingredients) from time to time to diversify the breakfast.

The Content of the program starts at 10:30

The content of your program begins at 10:30 in the morning and continues until 1:30 or 2:00 in the afternoon. This includes teaching conversational English to Palestinians (school students, university students, and community members). This differs depending on the program you are joining, please read the program’s description.

Lunch Break starts at 2:00 pm

At two o’clock in the afternoon begins the lunch break, which lasts for an entire hour. You can buy lunch from a restaurant next to the center. There are a number of restaurants nearby, which provide meals such as shawarma, falafel, and fried chicken as well as traditional Palestinian meals such as Maqluba, Hebron’s Qidreh, Chicken Mansaf or Lamp Mansaf, and other meals. There are also a number of supermarkets/malls nearby where you can buy what you need and cook yourself in the center.

Arabic Language Classes (MSA and Levantine/Colloquial)

Weekly, you will get two Arabic language classes for an hour and a half each. These classes are taught by one of our skilled/qualified teachers. Arabic language classes are held at different times, either in the morning or, in most cases, in the afternoon. The student can choose whether to study Modern Standard Arabic, Colloquial Arabic (Ammiya), or both.

Day Trips to Refugee Camps in Bethlehem & Hebron

Once every week, a day trip is organized to the refugee camps in Hebron and Bethlehem, as well as to areas of political importance whenever the opportunity arises. These trips will give you the opportunity to learn about the conditions of the Palestinian refugees, talk to them and learn their stories. These trips depart at 10:45 am from the center and end approx. at 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon.

Local Visits to Learn about the Landmarks of the city of Hebron

Once every two weeks, local visits are organized to the historical and economic landmarks of the city of Hebron. This includes a visit to the Ibrahimi Mosque, the Old City, and Al-Shuhada Street as well as visiting a number of factories in the city, such as keffiyeh, glass, and ceramic factories.

Prepare & Cook a Traditional Palestinian Dish

Once every two or three weeks, all our volunteers, interns, and Arabic language’ students join together to prepare and cook a traditional Palestinian dish. This includes preparing appetizers, frying vegetables, cooking rice, chopping chicken or meat, and stuffing some vegetables depending on the dish to be cooked that day.

Free Time starts at 16:00 or at 16:30

After your time in the center is over, you have free time when you can hang out with other international participants and/or locals you met during your stay in Hebron by going to a café or coffee shop or going to a park and enjoying your time in the evening. There are many cafés and parks not far from the center, as the center is located on one of the most lively streets in the city.

Who can apply to the volunteer with refugees in Palestine program?

• The Palestinian Center has hosted people who have come from a myriad of countries, such as the USA, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Colombia, France, Japan, China, Chile, Switzerland, Russia, Germany, and many more. 
• The Volunteer with Refugees in Palestine program is open to all who are between 18 – 75 years old. All people from all countries and majors are welcome to join this program.
• Those who are younger than 18 years old can also apply but with one condition. One of your parents has to fill out and sign a parental consent form

When will I be able to apply to the Program?

• The Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees program has no deadline, which means that you can apply to the program year-round.
• You are allowed to choose when you want to start and end the program.
• The minimum period of participation in volunteering with refugees in Palestine is one week and the maximum amount of time you can volunteer is four weeks/one month.

Volunteer with Refugees in Palestine Program’s Fees

270$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 3 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

520$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 6 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

655$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 9 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

770$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 12 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

945$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 15 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

1190$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 18 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

1355$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 21 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

1610$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 24 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

1810$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 27 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

2010$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 30 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

2210$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 33 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

2450$

American Dollar

This package includes accommodation, city tours, 36 hours of Arabic classes, daily Palestinian breakfast, day trips, transportation to refugee camps, and a certificate of participation.

What does the Participation Fee include?

Do I need to know how to speak Arabic?

No, volunteers are not obligated to know Arabic. The center will provide you with 3 hours of Arabic lessons each week with one of our teachers. The participant can choose either to study Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha) or Spoken Arabic Language (known as Ammyia) once they start their program. 

Can I add more Arabic hours to my hours in the program?

Certainly, volunteers have the option to include supplementary Arabic language instruction hours at an additional charge of $20.00 per hour. Kindly make sure to indicate this in your application.

Is it possible to combine this program with another Program?

Yes, this program can be combined with one or more of the other internship or volunteer programs that the center offers. For example, you may choose one week or more to complete this program, and combine this with another week or more of another program.

Things to know before visiting Palestine!

Can I extend the term of my study while I’m there?

Yes, volunteers are allowed to extend their participation period. In this case, volunteers must inform the center coordinator at least one week before the end of the current program.

What is the procedure for applying?

The Documents you’ll receive from us!

How do I register or obtain more information?

Please email Mr.Tamimi, at info@govolunteerinpalestine.org. Please type “Help Palestinan Refugees in Palestine Program”  in the subject line. In the body of the email, tell us of your interest, ask any questions you may have, and request an application. Very shortly, we will reply to you.

Important Articles to READ – Please Click to Read

Chat With US!

WhatsApp or Signal : +972-598172071

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• WhatsApp
• Telegram
• Google
• Skype
• TikTok

We’d be very happy to have you in Palestine!