Law & Human Rights Internship in Palestine (1-12 Weeks)

I’m a 65 year old woman, who traveled solo in April, 2024 to Hebron in the middle of an unjust war. And I had the most incredible experience of my life with “Go Palestine.” I only wish I could have stayed longer than a week…which I will definitely do the next time. I felt safer in Hebron than in my hometown of Chicago. (But be careful crossing the street here!) Every day was packed with activities from visiting cultural and humanitarian organizations, to learning Arabic, to teaching English, to group cooking a local dish. My favorite part was visiting the nearby refugee camp. But that was because of the people. And I have never met a more welcoming people than the Palestinians. From my arrival day, when I got lost (but it’s in my nature to get lost.) A group of teen boys came up to me and helped me lug my two suitcases to the Center. And when I tried to give them a little money for helping me, they were aghast and refused! (What teenage boy wouldn’t like a little money for a soda or ice cream?) Super respectful men, women and children were always asking if I needed help, or wanting to practice their English with me. And the wonderful local family that I stayed with, were always watching out for me. Everyone who was working or volunteering at the center were amazing. Even though I was the oldest one there, they made me feel very welcome, and a part of the group. I highly recommend it to anyone of any age, gender, religion or nationality. It’s affordable and I learned more in my one week of immersion education, than I would have learned in a year of online research. It’s still difficult to truly know what’s it like to live as an everyday Palestinian, but I imagine that it would not have been much different from life in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942. Except that now the oppressed, is the oppressor. And the worst part…is that in 1942 the world had “an excuse” for not knowing.…but in 2024…there’s no excuse.

I'm Alex from Australia, and my time in Palestine, particularly Hebron, has been nothing short of incredible. Every day brought a new adventure, from exploring the beautiful country to experiencing the warmth and hospitality of its people despite the ongoing war in Gaza.

The Go Palestine center holds countless cherished memories for me. It was a hub of new friendships and eye-opening experiences, offering a unique window into Palestinian life. Throughout the Law internship program, I had the privilege of delving into the intricacies of the Palestinian legal system, visiting courtrooms, and meeting with lawyers. Additionally, my visits to various human rights NGOs provided valuable insights into their crucial work with the Palestinian community.

What struck me most during my stay was the rich tapestry of Palestinian culture and the genuine kindness of its people. From delving into the nation's history to immersing myself in its vibrant traditions, Palestine continually surprised and enchanted me.

Contrary to common misconceptions and the current situation, Palestine is a remarkably safe and welcoming destination. Throughout my time here, I felt entirely at ease, surrounded by stability and warmth, debunking stereotypes perpetuated by the media.

I wholeheartedly recommend experiencing Palestine firsthand, regardless of your background or location. Its beauty, culture, and hospitality are unparalleled. Participating in programs like the one offered by the Go Palestine center offers a unique and enriching perspective on this remarkable country and its people.

At first, I didn't intentionally choose to come to Palestine. I thought it was a very dangerous place, but it's actually quite different from what I imagined. Not only is it very safe here, but the people are also very friendly. I even celebrated an unforgettable birthday here. The two weeks I've spent here have been very fulfilling. Through conversations with locals, I've gained a deeper understanding of the real situation in this country and the lives of the local people. I believe this experience will be of great help to me in both my personal life and work.

During my time at the centre I completed a six week programme which focused on law and human rights.
During my time here we have visited several different refugee camps and we have met with loads of amazing people from many different human rights organisations and many locals who have shared their experiences growing up in Palestine. It has been such an eye opening experience which I will never forget.
The atmosphere at the centre is also amazing, it really does feel like a family. I'm so grateful to everyone that I have met during my stay here.
On my days off I was able to explore other cities like Jerusalem, ramallah and Jerico. Which you can get to really easily from hebron.
I also have felt extremely safe during my whole time here and everyone you meet on the streets and in shops are so polite and welcoming.
I would absolutely recommend this center and the law and human rights internship.

During my month-long internship in Hebron, Palestine, about Law and Human Rights, I had an enriching experience that left a lasting impact. The opportunity to visit various human rights organizations, interact with activists, lawyers, and journalists provided me with a well-rounded perspective on the complexities of the region.

One of the standout aspects of the internship was the chance to study Arabic and immerse myself in the local culture. This allowed me to form meaningful connections with the locals. Learning about the conflict firsthand and hearing diverse viewpoints from individuals directly affected by it was eye-opening and invaluable to my understanding.

I must highlight the feeling of safety throughout my stay in Hebron, which was reassuring and allowed me to fully engage with the experience. Overall, I am immensely pleased with the knowledge I gained, the connections I established, and the insights I obtained into the field of law and human rights within this unique context.

Thanks to this internship I was able to gain a first-hand experience in the field of Human Rights and I was able to learn a lot about the life in Palestine. If you want to discover Palestine, understand the ongoing conflict, learn about how regular people and organisations deal with different difficulties you should definitely come to volunteer with GoPalestine, because their offer is very interesting and the staff is super nice and helpful. The center is also very conveniently located, on the main street in the city center. The apartment I was staying at was not even 10 minutes away, which was also very convenient!

Hi, my name is Marco, I'm 21 years old, I'm an History student at the Florence university in Italy and I'm about to graduate.
My experience in Hebron, in particular at the Palestinian Center, was very very beautiful, we do a lot of things, from visit the local Expo to visit the entire old city with all of this important sites like the Ibrahimi Mosque or the market.
We met a lot of human rights associations and so we met a great amount of beautiful people, workers, students, employee.
We make a lot of friends in Hebron, from the Cultural Symposium to simple shop's owner.
The main tasks that we have in the center is to teach English to other people's and try to learn arabic trough lesson and very good teacher's.
We also went to Aida camp( suburbs of Bethlehem now) and little village called Fawwar (after 1948 used to be a tent camp) in south of Hebron.
There was a very strong but important experience. I recommend to all the people.
I liked a lot the palestinian culture, the food and traditional clothes above all.
I'm felt very safe in Palestine and in Hebron too, when we go around with the people of the center or with the friends that we make, we felt like at home, i think that the major danger came from the occupants,they carry a lot of weapons, they do a lot of control and check so this make me felt unsecure.
I recommend this type of journey, of experience ,at the people from all over the world, here In Palestine and in with the people of Palestinian center too.
Is a very good way to try the palestinian life, culture, way of life.
Is a perfect experience to learn about a far culture(for me that I'm italian) like this.

Being short: people are very friendly (as a very shy person I didn't struggle making new friends), the Center is very good and the internship is good for everything (networking, studying arabic, university...) and the personnell is great (thanks Manar!). Also don't be scared by the safety issue: my internship was during both Kippur and Intifada anniversary but we NEVER felt uncomfortable or at risk. Both soldiers and palestinians are friendly with strangers and Palestine will become a new home!!!