My name is Livia and I work for an International Foundation based in New York City. I first visited Palestine in March 2018 for a work trip and this was my second visit to the West Bank. I have a personal interest in the MENA region and Palestine in particular and was very happy to have the chance to meet local Hebron residents and learn more about Palestinian culture.
During this most recent trip volunteering with Go Palestine, I taught a few English classes to school girls aged 11-12, which was a wonderful experience as I found them very eager to learn and excited to have a new teacher, even if for just a few days. I also had the chance to take a couple of Arabic lessons and really liked my teacher Asma. The program also included a visit to the old city of Hebron and the Hirbawi factory, which is the last factory making traditional Palestinian Keffiyeh.
During my stay I was hosted by a local family which gave me a further glimpse of daily life in Hebron. It was overall a good experience and my only regret is that my stay was too short, though I hope to return for a longer period next time around. What I find most amazing about Palestine is the fact that people are so welcoming to foreigners even though they experience serious daily challenges due to the political situation there, some of which are caused directly or indirectly by foreign governments.
Despite this, as long as you express interest in discovering the region and having discussions, no one will hold this against you and Palestine is overall a very safe place to travel. Palestinians will welcome you into their homes and share their culture, delicious food and other traditions with anyone interested in learning more about their country. While Hebron does experience more tension than other parts of Palestine, I still felt completely safe while I was there.
I recommend to anyone interested in the region and looking for a powerful learning experience to join one of the volunteer opportunities in Hebron. It is an experience that will have long-term benefits and will provide lasting memories to all parties involved.
Here to check out all our volunteer, internship and Study Intensive Arabic (MSA or Levantine)
How to apply or ask for additional information?
To apply to any of our programs: Please send an email to Mr. Tamimi at info@gopalestine.org. Please type the name of the chosen program in the subject line. We will then contact you back!