Short-Term Volunteer Projects In Palestine In 2025 (1-13 Weeks)

My time at the Excellence Center was life changing in so many ways. When I first made plans to join the Medicine and Healthcare volunteer program, I only planned to stay for a little over two weeks. As I neared the end of my time, I knew there was still much more I needed to learn from Palestine and its people. I ended up extending my stay by another eight days, and I am so grateful that I did. Every moment I spent in Palestine was so enriching and wonderful. My only regret is that I could not stay even longer.

First and foremost, I am so grateful to the Palestinian people for welcoming me everywhere I went. From Hebron, to Bethlehem, to Jericho, to Al-Fawwar refugee camp, the hospitality and generosity was unmatched. One must be prepared to accept lots of tea, coffee, and sweets from locals! Often I was invited to lunch at people’s homes after meeting them only once. There is a strong sense of community and safety everywhere in Palestine. It is evident that everyone feels a responsibility to take care of one another, especially guests.

Visiting Palestine was both culturally and spiritually enriching. There are so many cultural and historic sites to see across the land. Every region has something - the only problem was deciding which places to visit during my limited time in the country! However, the Excellence Center goes above and beyond when it comes to arranging tours, especially within Hebron. Not only do you get to tour fascinating places, but they also provide lots of background information and opportunities to interact with locals. This is unlike many ultra-curated, “touristy” experiences in the Holy Land, which tend to avoid the realities of the occupation and apartheid and how these systems affect the lives of real people.

As a volunteer with the Medicine and Healthcare program, I also bore witness to the realities of medical apartheid in Palestine. In most areas of the West Bank, Palestinians are not allowed to build hospitals or clinics, even on land that they own. The Excellence Center connected me with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society and the Green Land Society, which have offices based in Hebron and send mobile clinics to areas where there are no medical facilities. I also spoke with many healthcare professionals who told of how, even in areas with medical facilities, resources are limited, including several crucial medications which are blocked from being imported into the West Bank. And yet, Palestinians are among the most resilient and resourceful people, finding ways to take care of each other in spite of all these barriers.

I came to Palestine and the Excellence Center expecting the experience of a lifetime, and yet I could never have been prepared for just how awesome it would be. I already hope to return someday. Everything about the experience - the Arabic lessons, the tours, the volunteer opportunities - was top tier. I gained new stories, friends, and perspectives, but I also gained a new home and family. To anyone with an open mind and adventurous spirit, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Excellence Center. You will never be the same.

I stayed at the Excellence Center in Hebron for 5 days and worked as part of the Health and Medical Program. During my time there, I had the valuable opportunity to learn about the health conditions of refugee families in the region. Visiting the refugee camps and local hospitals was a truly eye-opening and meaningful experience that gave me deeper insight into the challenges faced by these communities.

Communication was very good but communication regarding travel and daily schedules with the volunteers can be improved. More clearer coordination would make the experience smoother and more organized.

Overall, I had a very rewarding experience and would definitely recommend the program to others who are interested in health, humanitarian work, and learning about Palestinian society.

When I first applied to the medicine programme, I did not know what to expect. My perceptions of Palestine were that it was a dangerous place to visit; my friends and family advised me not to go.

Against their advice, I decided to go anyway, I was scared but also excited and curious.

My route into Palestine was not a conventional one; I flew into Jordan and then stayed for a few nights before crossing the border from the south.

I arrived in Jerusalem and from there to Hebron via Bethlehem. Before coming here, I would have thought it would be a place where there was little to no activity, but when I came, I was pleasantly surprised to see how busy it was; it had the hustle and bustle of any major city.

I was welcomed warmly by the Excellence Centre staff and felt right at home straight away.

The rest of the days consisted of visiting hospitals and refugee camps to see the reality of Palestinian life and healthcare. This experience was a bittersweet one as I felt so welcome by the Palestinians but also sorrow at the harsh realities of living here. I can’t thank the excellence centre staff enough for how rewarding they have made my visit here, I felt completely safe and welcomed throughout my time here.

My advice to people who are on the fence about visiting would be to take the leap and experience the reality of Palestinian life first-hand.

I've spent the last three months with the Excellence Center, and it has been without a doubt the best decision of my life.

I arrived not really knowing what to expect and was quickly swept away by the kindness, the generosity, and the very welcoming nature of the Palestinian people. This is especially so when it comes to the staff at the Center. I felt so looked after, so at home, and so safe in the environment that they have created.

My program was a writing program, and I learned so much about Palestine, the occupation, the history, and the daily resilience of the people through writing about them each week. In addition to this, I was very proactive in travelling a lot across Ramallah, Jerusalem, Jenin, Nablus, Jericho, Tel Aviv and Haifa - so I got to see a lot of the area and meet a lot of interesting people from different walks of life. I was also proactive in organising time in the South Hebron Hills, where I was able to spend time with a wonderful community that really enriched my time here.

The thing that stands out to me most about my time here - more than the amazing food, more than the lovely markets, more than the many historical and religious sites - was the people. You can feel their resilience even in the act of living. I was continually blown away by their hospitality and their determination.

I'm not going to lie, it's heavy here. It's one thing to hear about the occupation, and a completely other thing to see it for yourself - hear the stories of how it impacts the lives of literally everyone here. But the sadness of it all is balanced out by the depth of the people and their love for the land. It's an incredible thing to witness.

If you're looking for a tightly scheduled and structured program, look somewhere in Europe. If you're looking for an immersive experience that lets you see the whole heart of this place and its people, meet incredible individuals, get to know the community, and get unique and direct insights into life under occupation in Palestine, then this is the place for you. Come with an open mind and an idea of what you want to get out of your time here, and you will not be disappointed.

I feel forever changed by this place, and I'm counting down the days until I can return. Huge thanks to everyone here but especially Marwa and Osama for making everyone feel like part of their family.

If you are considering traveling to Palestine I can not recommend signing up with the Excellence Center enough.

Being from Ireland and seeing many similarities between Irish history and current events in Palestine had been thinking about ways to travel and engage with people from Palestine for some time. While I had researched many different ways and different programs once I contacted the Excellence Center I felt very much at ease. Before confirming any travel plans I had a long Zoom call with Rafat who put many of my concerns to rest with advice on traveling to Palestine, the programs they offered, and the accommodation I would have for the duration of my program.

I signed up for Media and Journalism as it is an area that I hope to expand on in the future. During my 10 days in Hebron, I was introduced to different journalists, was taken to refugee camps, given walking tours of the Old City, and got to visit different Mosques in the city. I'm embarrassed to say that as an Irish person, I've been trying to relearn the Irish language on Duolingo for the past year with very little success but after just four Arabic lessons while at the center I have already learned the basics of this beautiful language.

Fridays and Saturdays are “days off” in Palestine so it gave me a chance to also travel to other cities such as Ramallah and Neblus with other volunteers at the center giving us an insight into different areas and also how the occupation makes traveling around so difficult for no reason other than to be an inconvenience and intimidation for the people of Palestine.

The biggest takeaway I leave Palestine with is just how amazing the people of not just the center but of all Palestinians I was lucky enough to meet while there. The other volunteers and the staff at the center gave me a sense of family more than just a school/program. We were invited into people's homes for dinners, and introduced to their families, and seeing just how positive these people remain despite living under occupation was something that will stay with me for life.

Thank you to Osama, Jomanna, and all the staff and volunteers for making this an experience that I will never forget.

My name is Sara, I am 25 years old, and I volunteered at the Excellence Center for three weeks. At home I am a welder, but I have a love for journalism and have been wanting to do work in journalism and human rights. I decided to choose the journalism program to build up some experience and expand my portfolio, while getting to learn about Palestine and see and experience it in person. I also have always wanted to visit the Middle East in general, and learn Arabic, so to me it was a perfect opportunity that ended up being an amazing experience.

Your time in the center is based largely on what you set out to do when you come here, with room for change and flexibility. I came to get experience in my chosen field and to learn Arabic, so my days would start off with Arabic lessons, and then afterwards either a trip to a site, a meeting with a journalist/human rights center/local activist, or touring local areas. The center will set up things in regards to your program, however they are open if you have specific things you want to achieve, and will work that into your program. The staff here, and the teachers, are fantastic. I had Arabic lessons with Duha, and just with three weeks at 1-2 hours a day, I am now able to have (fairly simple) conversation in Arabic with Palestinians here in Hebron.

In the West Bank there are so many wonderful places to visit. There are site tours with the center in places like Old City Hebron and Al Fawwar Refugee Camp, where you meet and learn from the locals who live in these places about their history, their struggle under Israeli occupation, and their day-to-day life. There are also days off on the weekend to spend as you please, which I spent visiting places such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, Jericho, and a small village called Battir. The people you meet and talk to in these places are all so friendly and happy to have you as a guest, and to tell you their story and their experience as a Palestinian over a nice cup of coffee or tea. With the friendliness and hospitality of the people, the beauty of the land, the unique and ancient culture, I can say that I well and truly love it here and have enjoyed my time living in Hebron.

Speaking of living here, there comes the question of safety. As an American, I have been inundated for years with nothing but images of war, hatred, and suffering in the Middle East. My family was terrified for me, because they thought I would be in grave danger just by being here. However, the reality is very different. Hebron is an incredibly safe and friendly city, and Palestine in general is very safe as an international coming to the country. There has never been a time where I felt like I was actually in danger, and the people here do everything they can to make you feel at home and welcome. From being invited into random shops and places for coffee and conversation, talking with strangers on the street as we practiced each others language on each other, there is a culture of hospitality here in Palestine and I have never felt as strong a strong sense of community as I have here.

Overall, I have had a truly special time here in Hebron, and in Palestine as a whole. Whether it was packing five of us into a car and driving down to the Dead Sea, meeting a man in Bethlehem who took me to see the mountainside village of Battir, or getting to meet people who do incredible work in activism and journalism, I have made some truly unforgettable memories. I have met so many amazing people and made some great friends, who I will cherish for a long time. I also feel that I have gained a great experience in the program I chose, getting to interview people here, learning about the struggle under Israeli apartheid and documenting the reality of the situation on the ground in real-time, as well as making connections with great journalists who are more than happy to work with and help someone bring their story back home to America. If you want to come to Palestine and experience life here while learning about everything I mentioned, I would highly recommend the Excellence Center in Hebron. I would happily do it again in the future.

My name is Jessica, I'm Belgian, I have a degree in Communications and work in the field of financial inclusion.

During my three-week stay at the center, I had the chance to assist English language teacher courses for teenagers, and to conduct individual interviews with young university students.

Living in Palestine could not be done this time (it's not my first stay in Palestine) without learning the language. Saja, my teacher, has taught me so much, being both, exigent and cool at the same time. By the way, I've decided to continue my lessons online before my next stay here.

Icing on the cake was the kindness, availability and generosity of the staff, each of them ! And what can I say about the students ... endless smiles.

Living in Hebron is a bit like living in a family cocoon on a large scale! You feel surrounded and safe at all times. Being able to go out for tea in the evening without having to close the car door (something unimaginable in Europe).

My hosts, Marwa, Ossama, Myse and Karim, reminded me of what a family was like, so much so that I felt part of this beautiful family myself.

I had the opportunity to revisit Jericho and Jerusalem (great emotional moment at Al Aqsa on a Friday for Dhur ...). I also visited Ramallah and Nablus. The latter combines tradition and modernity. Mohamad went out of his way to introduce me to a historian ... even though I'd just asked him a question about the origins of the old town.

I’m grateful for everything and look forward to seeing my second home (Palestine) and Family very soon.

Salam, I’m Rebekah from New York! I came to volunteer in Hebron October 2024. I’ve always been interested in Palestinian culture and the complicated history of the area, and I was looking for an opportunity to not only visit, but also volunteer in the community. It has been such a meaningful experience hearing from those actively living under the Israeli occupation and better understanding the Palestinian way of life in the West Bank. Hebron has been a wonderful home; Palestinians are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and despite the situation in Gaza and the regional tensions, Hebron feels very, very safe. The accommodations are so nice and conveniently located. The center feels like a family, eating meals together and going on excursions. There are many guides to show you around the area and teach you about the history and current state of the city. Everyone is eager to help you with everything, from giving cafe recommendations to practicing your Arabic. And the Arabic classes are so helpful! The teachers are wonderful. I would recommend working with the Excellence Center to anyone interested in volunteering in Palestine.