Location
  • Palestine
Length
4 to 13 weeks
General grants/scholarships

Program Details

Compensation
Unpaid
Timeframe
Academic Year Fall J-Term Maymester Spring Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Apartment Host Family
Language
Arabic
Weekly Hours
30
Age Min.
18
Age Max
75

Pricing

Starting Price
1250
Price Details
Excellence Center charges a fee of 1250$ per month. The program fees include pre-departure support, accommodation, some meals, full coordination while interning in Palestine, some visits to different sites in the city of Hebron.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Some Meals Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Visa
Jan 04, 2024
Sep 14, 2024
42 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

The Internship in Palestine Program provides internationals with the opportunity to experience the Palestinian culture, daily life, human rights, Palestinian refugee situations, Palestinian laws, legal situation in the West Bank, and politics in Hebron, West Bank, while participating in a highly regarded community program with the Excellence Center.

The Center fosters this cultural experience by organizing visits for interns to different institutions (including both Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and governmental organizations), factories, and refugee camps in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine receiving a firsthand experience of daily life. This exciting experience is delivered through a number of internships at the Center. Furthermore, participants in the internship may study either Modern Standard Arabic or Ammiya (spoken Arabic dialects), gain transferable skills, meet Palestinian people, stay with a Palestinian host family, and learn more about the rich Palestinian culture.

Video and Photos

Impact

With all our Arabic courses and volunteer programs, we aim to make a long term difference for the Palestinian local community through the exchange of ideas and “walking in each other’s shoes”. Our programs and courses foster shared learning, for both our community and you. During your Arabic course, you will get to learn so much more than just the language. You will also get to learn a lot about Palestinian culture and customs and the political situation in Palestine. Additionally, you will have many opportunities while outside the classroom to practice your Arabic in a natural and authentic way while navigating your new life in Hebron. Your time with us in Hebron will also provide you with many opportunities of cultural exchange and mutual learning, both with local Palestinians as well as with our other international participants.

Program Highlights

  • Studying Arabic in Palestine (Modern Standard Arabic, MSA) or Colloquial Palestinian Arabic
  • Learning more and engaging in Palestinian culture and politics
  • Assisting the cause of Palestinian refugees in the West Bank
  • Leading community activities in the city of Hebron
  • Providing educational support for Palestinian children

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Law

The Palestinian Laws & Legal Practices Internship is an ideal program for students of law, social sciences, or human rights, as well as those interested in the Palestinian legal system in the West Bank. Interns can enroll for a period of 1 to 13 weeks year-round. This legal internship program in Palestine aims to provide a full understanding of the legislation applicable to the West Bank and Gaza.

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Internship In The West Bank Program offers international participants the chance to immerse themselves in Palestinian culture and daily life, as well as learn about human rights, refugee situations, and politics in Hebron, West Bank. The program involves participating in a highly respected community development initiative run by Volunteer In Palestine.

Human Rights

The Human Rights Volunteer Internship Program in the city of Hebron, Palestine is designed to introduce the subject of Palestinian human rights in an environment that will help you grow both personally and professionally. This human rights volunteer opportunity in the West Bank, Palestine is a great opportunity for those interested in gaining experience in fields such as humanitarian aid, Palestinian refugees, diplomacy, political science, and international law

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Program Reviews

4.77 Rating
based on 132 reviews
  • 5 rating 77.27%
  • 4 rating 22.73%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.65
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.8
  • Housing 4.55
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 57 - 64 of 132 reviews
Default avatar
Benjamin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life changing experience

I stayed at the center for 1 month through their journalism and media program. The center gave me all the basic connections to be able to hit the ground running and spend my short time in palestine following my passion and exploring the realities of the occupation. If you want to discover the truth in palestine, this program will provide you with a variety of resources to get to work! Although the struggles of Palestinians in Al-Khalil and the west bank are a realilty witnessed daily, never did I feel unsafe in my surroundings. If you come here for a with good intentions and with respect, that will be what you will recieve. Palestinians have been the nicest and most hospitable people I have had the good fortune to meet and I'm thankful for the experiences we've shared.

Pros
  • Connections and friends from the moment you arrive
  • Structured mornings with breakfast
  • Seeing your presence have a positive impact on the community
Cons
  • Security and border control at the airport
  • You must dress conservativly (always pants no shorts)
  • no shared accommodation for females (female dorms)
38 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Greetings Benjamin,

It's great to hear about your positive experience in the journalism and media program at the Excellence Center in Palestine. The center provided you with the necessary resources and connections to pursue your passion and explore the realities of the occupation. It's commendable that you felt safe throughout your time there.

It's a testament to the hospitality and kindness of the Palestinian people. Building relationships and sharing experiences with them must have been truly rewarding. Thank you for highlighting the importance of coming with good intentions and respect, as it creates a positive and meaningful experience.

Much love from Palestine,

Default avatar
Sarah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Human Rights Internship

My name is Sarah Anderson. I am currently finishing my bachelors degree in International and Global Studies at the Univeristy of Central Florida. This summer I decided to do a human rights internship in Hebron, Palestine with the Excellence Center. It has been an immersive and expansive experience. We did activities such as visiting the old city & important religious sites such as the Ibrahimi Mosque, visiting the refugee camps, & speaking with local educators, business owners and artists in the city of Hebron.
My Arabic lessons were very helpful and my teacher was very patient. I learned a lot in the time that I was here. During my trip I decided to stay with a Palestinian host family. They were so sweet and kind. They showed me around the city and local cafes. We also took a trip to Bethlehem. I felt right at home with my host family.
Before coming to Palestine I was very concerned about my safety, however after living here for a month those preconceived notions no longer exist. I felt extremely safe walking throughout Hebron during day and at night.
It’s one thing to the read and hear about Palestine but another to actually experience it.
From the history, to the people, to the land, weather and the food… I loved it all.
Palestine is truly a beautiful country filled with an immense amount of life, beauty, strength, and courage.
This experience will live in my heart forever and I intend to return to Palestine.
I highly recommend anyone who desires to experience & learn more about Palestine to join the Excellence Center.

41 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Sarah,

It's wonderful to hear about your immersive and expansive experience during your human rights internship with the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine. The activities you participated in, such as visiting the old city, religious sites, refugee camps, and engaging with local educators, business owners, and artists, provided you with a deep understanding of the region. Your Arabic lessons were helpful, and your patient teacher made the learning process enjoyable. Staying with a Palestinian host family added to your sense of belonging and allowed you to explore the city and neighboring areas.

It's heartening to hear that your concerns about safety were alleviated, and you felt safe throughout your stay in Hebron. Your love for Palestine shines through your words, and your intention to return speaks volumes. Thank you for recommending the Excellence Center to others who wish to experience and learn more about Palestine.

Much love from Palestine,

Default avatar
Moritz
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Human Rights Program Review

I recently had the privilege of embarking on a one-month internship at the Excellence Centre in Palestine, and I cannot emphasize enough how profoundly positive and enriching this experience was for me. From the moment I arrived, I was embraced by a warm and supportive community, and every aspect of my internship surpassed my expectations.
First and foremost, my time at the Excellence Centre helped me get my Palestinian Colloquial Arabic to a much higher. The highly qualified instructors at the centre and especially professor Rasha demonstrated an exceptional commitment to teaching, making every class engaging, interactive, and tailored to my individual learning needs. Her expertise, combined with their genuine passion for sharing the Arabic language motivated and inspired me to push my language skills to new heights.
Secondly, as part of the program, I was honoured to join the centre and other participants on excursions to several human rights groups and refugee camps where we learned much about the difficulties Palestinians face.
The Excellence Centre's dedication to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment was evident in every interaction. The staff members were not only highly knowledgeable and skilled professionals but also caring and compassionate individuals. They went above and beyond to ensure that my stay was comfortable, offering guidance, support, and a genuine sense of friendship that made me feel like part of their extended family.
In summary, my one-month internship at the Excellence Centre in Palestine was an extraordinary experience that exceeded all expectations. It provided me with a comprehensive linguistic education, invaluable teaching opportunities, and eye-opening encounters with human rights groups. The supportive and caring atmosphere, along with the warmth and hospitality of the staff, made me feel like part of a close-knit community. I leave with a transformed perspective, cherished memories, and lifelong connections. Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend the Excellence Centre to anyone seeking an unforgettable and impactful internship experience and will definitely coming back as soon as possible.

Pros
  • Excellent teaching
  • Wonderful people (staff, people in Hebron, students from the center)
  • Experience Palestinian culture
Cons
  • Sometimes a little chaotic and very spontaneous
38 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Greetings Moritz,

I'm delighted to hear about your incredible experience at the Excellence Centre in Palestine! It's wonderful to know that your internship surpassed your expectations and left a profound impact on you. The commitment of the instructors, especially Professor Rasha, in providing engaging and tailored Arabic language classes is commendable. It's great that you were able to elevate your language skills under their guidance. Moreover, the opportunity to visit human rights groups and refugee camps provided you with invaluable insights into the challenges faced by Palestinians. The inclusive and nurturing environment created by the Excellence Centre's staff made you feel like part of a close-knit family.

Overall, your one-month internship was transformative, offering comprehensive linguistic education, teaching opportunities, and meaningful connections. I appreciate your recommendation of the Excellence Centre for those seeking an impactful internship, and I'm glad to hear that you plan on returning in the future.

Best wishes from Palestine,

Default avatar
SALMA
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Human Rights Internship

The excellence center provided great insight on the lives of Palestinians through guided tours around homes, villages, and holy sites. I was also provided with thorough and comprehensive arabic lessons each day for my first week here which really helped me navigate and communicate with my colleagues, host family, and locals. The enevrioment was super welcoming, warm, friendly and it felt like I was at home. I loved my host family so much. They felt like a second family. Hospitality was outstanding and I felt safe at all times.

Pros
  • Learn arabic
  • Explore Holy Sites like the Ibrahimi Mosque and Al-Aqsa
  • Experience Palestinian culture and build a sense of community with the other volunteers
Cons
  • Security and border control at the airport
  • Israeli soliders guarding the ibrahimi mosque
  • emotional impact after the numerous heart wrenching stories from the locals
45 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Salma,

I'm glad to hear that your experience at the Excellence Center was so positive! It's great that the guided tours gave you a deeper understanding of Palestinian life and culture. The comprehensive Arabic lessons must have been very helpful in improving your communication with locals and immersing yourself in the community. It's wonderful to hear that the environment was welcoming and that you felt at home. Having a supportive and hospitable host family can make a significant difference in one's experience abroad. Thank you for sharing your feedback, and I'm glad you felt safe and had such a memorable time!

Best wishes from Palestine,

Default avatar
Grantley
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Research fieldwork programme

I stayed with the Excellence Centre for one month from mid-May to mid-June 2023 and I can honestly say it's been one of the best month's ever! The centre helped me facilitate my master's degree disseration research in Hebron, while at the same time, I also enrolled on an Arabic class and began teaching some English with local children at the centre. The staff are incredibly helpful and there is a really strong community vibe in the centre. I would strongly recommend the Excellence Centre!!!!!!!!

Pros
  • Really strong social vibe amongst the staff and volunteers, lots of opportunities to make friends
  • Lovely and flexible staff willing to flex to accomodate your needs - also amazing teachers!
  • Hebron people are amongst the friendliest I've met anywhere, I feel much safer here than in London where I usually live
Cons
  • Some of the organisation of the centre is a little ad hoc/last minute, but this can be remedied with strong communication of your needs to the staff
  • Some of the boys accomodation is a little far and without WiFi, but the walk is nice and you should buy a Palestinian sim to get internet access (4G), which is quite cheap
47 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Grantly,

I'm thrilled to hear that your month-long stay at the Excellence Centre in Hebron has been such a positive and fulfilling experience! It's fantastic that the centre was able to assist you in conducting your master's dissertation research, providing you with valuable support and resources. Additionally, enrolling in an Arabic class and teaching English to local children demonstrates your commitment to both personal and community growth.

The helpfulness of the staff and the strong sense of community at the center are testaments to their dedication and commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment. Your recommendation of the Excellence Center further highlights the positive impact it has had on your academic, cultural, and personal journey. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback, and I wish you continued success in your academic pursuits and future endeavors!

Much love from Palestine,

Default avatar
Reiko
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

One month internship in Palestine

My name is Leiko and I am from Japan. I did the program teaching English and learning Arabic at the Excellence Center for one month. I joined this program during my summer vacation of master's study.
At excellence center, besides Arabic lesson, I usually joined English club. There are two types of English club: for beginner and for advanced person. The center offers two days and three days a week respectively and while giving students informal English lesson with other volunteers, I could learn how to teach English effectively with fun. I also joined informal English lesson at Al-Arroud refugee camp. Al-Arroud refugee camp located between Hebron and Bethlehem. At the camp, I taught English with other volunteer twice a week to about 50 students at a local community centre, replacing a school that had closed due to a strike.
As part of my learning Arabic, I took Arabic lessons three hours a week, and my class had
usually two people, so it was based on our level and curiosity which was very helpful. All
teachers in here are so nice and kind, they teach and talk to participants during and outside of the class.
The environment is very good in terms of people, opportunities, and location. Not only the
people at the centre, but also the people of Hebron are very kind and welcoming. They help all the time, and they treat us as one part of their family. The location of center was also nice which is in a main street and the street has plenty of place to eat, cafes, stationaries, supermarkets, ATM, and so on.
The center offers us many short trips. I visited old city and went to historical mosque called Al-Ibrahimi Mosque, traditional Kufiya factory, and glass factory. Also, with other volunteers in the center, I’ve visited other cities in Palestine like Jericho and went to Dead Sea and Red Sea.
Host family which center arranged to us were also very nice. I live in a house 15 minutes’ walk from center which was nice location and host families and neighbors were so kind. They sometimes offer me traditional food and they showed me their job place and shared me with Arabic culture.
Before I came here, I was a little scary of safety because of many terrible news and severe political situation. However, Hebron is quite safe and peaceful town and there was no problem even I walked alone after 21 or 22 o’clock. During one month in Hebron, I’ve never felt fear or heard threaten situation from other volunteers as well.
The hospitality of the Palestinian people is what we like most about Palestine. They often
approached us on the street, and at small local shops they served us tea and coffee and told us many stories. It is a precious memory that not only on the street, but they invited us straight to their houses and served us food and tea.
My experience at the Excellence Centre made me realise how important it is to examine the current state of education in Palestine and the extent to which what is reported in the news is presenting the current situation. I highly recommend visiting the excellence centre, as there are many things you can't understand unless you are there.

Pros
  • Excellent teaching
  • Wonderful people (staff, people in Hebron, students from the center)
  • Welcoming community
54 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Leiko!

I'm so pleased to hear how much you enjoyed your stay at the Excellence Center in Palestine, and have such a passion for teaching. Your enthusiasm effects everyone around you and creates a fun atmosphere for everyone.

I glad you also enjoyed your Arabic classes and your willingness to learn really shows. I hope your passion to learn Arabic continues so you can continue communicate with the friends you made there. I know that you were concerned about the safety, but you persevered and still went on many trips, like to Jericho and the Dead Sea, and you didn't let anything stop you from experiencing Palestine.

I hope we see you again soon, your presence and passion to learn, teach, and explore brought a great energy to The Excellence Center that we look forward to having again.

Greetings from Palestine

Default avatar
Defne Mercan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Human Rights Program Review

I came to Hebron from Turkey to do the Human Rights Intenship Program. During my time here, I got to get a sense of the life in Palestine. I met with Palestinian famiies living in the town or the villages, had interviews with professionals such as lawyers and teachers, and did field trips to see significant places for the city. I also learned Arabic to a level that I can form dialgoues now. The staff, including my Arabic teachers, were super nice, and helped me have a smooth and productive time. Because I had some free time during the week, I visited Bethlehem, Jericho, and the Dead Sea, which were not only beuatiful places to visit, but also helpful to get a better idea of how life in Palestine actually is. In addition, my host family was very nice, and helped me improve my Arabic a lot.

Pros
  • Excellent teaching
  • Wonderful people (staff, people in Hebron, students from the center)
  • Local culture
Cons
  • Accommodation 35 minute walk
  • Some days are short or activities are limited
  • Prepare for the emotional impact of witnessing the experiences of the Palestinians
57 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Defne,

Thank you for coming to Palestine to study in our human rights program and see how life is here. We really appreciate the time that you spent with us here. And your willingness to learn Arabic and practice with your host family and being comfortable to speak with others in Palestine. We are also happy that you were able to see such beautiful places Jerusalem, Nablus, Ramallah, Tel Aviv, and Eilat

We were so happy to have you with us and we know you've made some great new memories that will stay with you for a long time. Please try to see us in the future very soon so you can come an visit even more places.

See you in Palestine

Default avatar
Dena
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Unforgettable Experience in Hebron with the Excellence Center

Hello, my name is Dena and I spent one week at the Excellence Center volunteering with the refugee program. I am a Palestinian American and it has always been a dream of mine to visit my home land. When I came across the Excellence Center, I found it was the perfect fit for me. I had the opprotunity to visit numerous refugee camps to learn more about the life in the camps. I met with many Palestinian people who welcomed me into their homes to tell me their stories. The arabic lessons the center provided made it easier to communicate with the people. I have learned so much during my time in Palestine. I visited many beautiful places such as Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Jerusalem. I felt very safe during my trip to Palestine and I am very excited to return.

63 people found this review helpful.
Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Dena,

We really appreciate the time you spent with us in Palestine! I'm so glad you felt safe and that you could finally see your home land! I'm proud that you were able to were able to see some of the refuge camps and look into the lives of the people, and your passion to learn Arabic helps you connect with the people of Palestine.

It was great to have you with us, and we hope you come back so you can see even more of Palestine! See you again soon.

Greetings from Palestine.

Questions & Answers