Internship In Palestine (Human Rights, Palestinian Refugees, Law)

Name: Internship In Palestine (Human Rights, Palestinian Refugees, Law)
Brand: The Excellence Center
SKU: 167707
Rating: 4.75 (118 reviews)

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4.75 Rating

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Location

Palestine

Length

4 to 13 weeks

Industry

Advertising Anthropology Archaeology Business Communications Conservation and Preservation Economics Education Environmental Studies Healthcare History Hospitality Human Rights International Business International Relations Journalism Law Media Relations Psychology Public Health Social Work Startups Sustainable Development Technology Tourism +15

General grants/scholarships

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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

Age Min.

Age Max

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

Last Updated: Jan 04, 2024

Last Reviewed: May 04, 2024

Wish List

39 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.

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Impact

Ethical 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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Program Reviews

4.75 Rating

based on 118 reviews

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Rating Spread Intern

5 rating 75.42%
4 rating 24.58%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Growth 4.65
Support 4.75
Fun 4.8
Housing 4.5
Safety 4.85

Good for Students, Solo Travelers, Building your resume

Showing 57 - 64 of 118 reviews

As a Muslim, I have always heard about what has gone on in Palestine and the injustices that Palestinians have suffered. I therefore decided to search for a programme which will enable me to volunteer in Palestine and to immerse myself in the culture.

Being a part of the Excellence Centre has allowed me to get involved dirrectly. Although the time was short, it really has helped me with my personal growth and I was exposed to a community I am not used to being a part of. This opportunity has had such a positive impact on me and I cannot describe the feeling of being a part of a community at the excellence centre and within the community itself.

The hospitality of the host family was next to nothing. They were absolutely amazing and I know I will miss them so much. I already cannot wait to return.

This programme that the Excellence Centre provide is amazing. I have felt like a part of their family here and I wish I was here for longer. Osama and Marwa are truly fantastic and I make dua that they are successful in everything they do.

Pros

Being made to feel like family at the Excellence Centre
Hospitality of the host family
Hospitality of Palestinian family

Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Zoubia,

Your decision to volunteer in Palestine and immerse yourself in the culture is commendable, and I'm glad to hear that your experience at the Excellence Centre has been fulfilling. Despite the short duration, it's evident that the program has had a positive impact on your personal growth and provided you with a deeper understanding of the community you engaged with.
The Excellence Centre's commitment to creating a family-like environment and their dedicated founders, Osama and Marwa, have played a crucial role in making your experience special. Their dedication and passion have fostered a supportive community, and your heartfelt wishes for their success reflect the gratitude and admiration you hold for them.

Thank you for sharing your reflections, and I hope your time at the Excellence Center continues to inspire you in your journey of personal growth and cultural understanding.

Best wishes and hope to see you in Palestine,

By The Excellence Center in Palestine and Europe on June 7, 2023

I had an amazing time with the Excellence Centre. In just two weeks, I have had visits to numerous organisations, including women's organisations, hospitals, schools, law firms and other community projects. This has provided me with an in-depth insight into the human rights situation in Palestine and the challenges that individuals face. The Centre have an excellent teaching program in Arabic, which was useful for me as a beginner. I travelled solo and felt safe walking around Hebron. I enjoyed meeting volunteers from around the world and the staff were always welcoming and supportive. Thank you!

Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Natasha,

We are delighted to hear that your experience with the Excellence Center was amazing. The diverse range of visits to various organizations allowed you to gain a deep understanding of the human rights situation in Palestine and the struggles faced by individuals. The Arabic teaching program provided by the Center proved to be valuable for you as a beginner, enhancing your language skills and facilitating meaningful interactions.

It's wonderful to know that you felt safe and comfortable exploring Hebron on your own. Meeting volunteers from different parts of the world and receiving warm and supportive assistance from the staff added to the overall positive experience. We appreciate your kind words and thank you for choosing the Excellence Center.

See you again in Palestine,

By The Excellence Center in Palestine and Europe on June 11, 2023

The Excellence Center is an excellent place to learn about the occupation in Palestine and to get to know the Palestinian people. I met so many people in my month here, I felt safe and taken care of every step of the way, and I am leaving with a full heart and so much on the ground knowledge of the situation here. The experiences you will have vary widely, and really give you a sense of the scope of the issues. You also have time on your own to wander and engage in the city. After one month here, all of the staff feel like family! I would happily come back again, as I feel there is no end to what I can learn here.

Pros

Gained valuable knowledge about Palestine
Made many new friends and colleagues/connections
Learned the basics of Arabic

Cons

Sometimes a little chaotic and very spontaneous
Really cold in winter! Bring warm clothes
Prepare for the emotional impact of witnessing the experiences of the Palestinians

Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Maya,

The Excellence Center in Palestine offers a unique opportunity to learn about the occupation and connect with the Palestinian people. In just one month, you had the privilege of engaging with various individuals and gaining invaluable on-the-ground knowledge. The supportive and welcoming environment ensured your safety and well-being throughout your stay.

The diverse experiences provided a comprehensive understanding of the issues, and the freedom to explore independently added to the richness of your journey. The strong bond formed with the staff made it feel like a second family. Your time at the Excellence Center was truly transformative, and you remain open to returning for further learning experiences in the future.

Best of luck from Palestine,

By The Excellence Center in Palestine and Europe on June 12, 2023

Studying Human Rights at The Excellence Center was a fantastic experience, lead by thoughtful, dedicated and organized people. I found Palestine safe, stimulating and educational, and the center itself to be accommodating, with well thought out programming and excellent teachers. Osama and Marwa have created an incredible environment, and went out of their way to ensure that I and everybody had their needs met. And the food is something I miss daily! I look forward to going back! 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I lived for 4 weeks with a host family. It was really nice to learn from their daily life. It was really nice to have breakfast everyday with the other volunteers, because you learn a lot from spending time with people from all over the world.

The thing i liked the most was that every trip we did in and outside Hebron,we learned a lot about the political situation. Very eye opening.

Teaching at the refugeecamp was a good experience, because you really get to know the local people. We went everywhere with the shared taxi. They are very quick and take you thru every little villiage. Traveling here felt safe, also because the nice local people. They help you find your way thru the country.

Pros

Housing with Host family, very nice experience
Breakfast with other volunteers

Cons

A little planning for everyweek would be nice

Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Lopke,

Living with a host family for four weeks sounds like an enriching experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in their daily life and learn from their perspectives. Having breakfast with other volunteers from around the world must have been a fantastic opportunity for cultural exchange and expanding your horizons.

It's wonderful to hear that the trips you took in and outside of Hebron provided valuable insights into the political situation. Such experiences can be truly eye-opening and deepen your understanding of the local context. Teaching at the refugee camp and getting to know the local people must have been a meaningful experience, especially with the shared taxi rides that allowed you to explore various villages. The kindness and helpfulness of the local people also contributed to a sense of safety and ease while traveling. Thank you for sharing these highlights from your journey.

Greetings from Palestine,

By The Excellence Center in Palestine and Europe on June 12, 2023

The thing i liked the most was that every trip we did in and outside Hebron,we learned a lot about the political situation. Very eye opening.

Pros

Housing provided by the Center
Wonderful people (staff, people in Hebron, students from the center)

Cons

Sometimes a little chaotic and very spontaneous
Distant from housing to center

Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Mats,

Living with a host family for four weeks sounds like a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in their daily life and gain valuable insights into their culture. Having breakfast with fellow volunteers from around the world must have been a fantastic way to foster connections and learn from diverse perspectives.

It's great to hear that the trips you took in and outside of Hebron provided a deeper understanding of the political situation. These experiences can be eye-opening and contribute to a broader awareness of the local context. Teaching at the refugee camp must have been a rewarding experience, allowing you to connect with the local people and make a positive impact. The shared taxi rides and the helpfulness of the locals made traveling feel safe and facilitated exploration of different villages. Thank you for sharing these highlights of your journey.

Best wishes from Palestine,

By The Excellence Center in Palestine and Europe on June 12, 2023

It was a very unique expierence because we got to see a totally different country than we would have as tourists. We spend a lot of time talking with Palestinians which was really interesting to hear the stories from the people themselves in stead of in the media. I enjoyed the Arabic lessons so we are able to make smalltalk with other people our age in this country.
The Excellence Center gave us a totally different picture of Palestine than I am used to see in the media. They also gave us a lot of chances to see a lot of the country which was really great.
I met a lot of very nice international people here and I hope to come back soon to Palestine.

Pros

Meeting a lot of interesting people
Learning another language

Cons

Time goes very different here, 14.00 does not mean 14.00
A lot of Hebronites don't speak English which made doing groceries quite hard

This was my first experience in both Palestine as a whole and the first city to visit in Al Khalil. I joined the law and human rights programme with the Excellence Centre for a week and it was truly eye opening and insightful. What we see in the media is only a small glimpse of the reality here on the ground. I was able to talk to legal professionals and their lives here in Hebron and I was able to talk to locals and understand their struggles living under occupation and segregation. I feel more inspired to do more to promote human rights now and can't wait to be back in Al Khalil again!

Hebron is also quite safe, even walking at night, there are many women and even when we travelled to Bethlehem, the locals made sure to help us get an affordable ride back to Hebron.

Pros

Homestay with local Palestinian family
Safe city to walk around
Rich history

Cons

Could be a little chaotic at times
Some days are short or activities are limited
The weather is a bit more dusty so just be careful so as not to fall ill

Response from The Excellence Center

Hello Shayamaa,

It's wonderful to hear about your first experience in Palestine, particularly in Al Khalil (Hebron), and how it was eye-opening and insightful for you. Experiencing the reality on the ground often differs greatly from what we see in the media. Engaging with legal professionals and hearing firsthand accounts from locals allows for a deeper understanding of the challenges they face under occupation and segregation.

It's inspiring to know that this experience has fueled your motivation to promote human rights, and I can sense your anticipation to return to Al Khalil. Regarding safety, it's reassuring that you found Hebron to be safe, even at night, and that locals were helpful in ensuring affordable transportation. We would love to have you again!

Best of luck from Palestine,

By The Excellence Center in Palestine and Europe on June 12, 2023

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Many people who come to the Excellence Center with the goal of volunteering to teach English are curious about the teachers.

We thought it would be a good idea to sit down with one of the English teachers at the Excellence Center and ask him a little bit about himself, in order to give those thinking about studying at the Excellence Center a chance to learn a little bit more about the teachers they will encounter and work with in Hebron.

Meet Ibrahim Zahda, who started teaching at the Excellence Center as an English teacher 3 years ago.

What’s your daily routine like?

I split my time between the Excellence Center and a local public school. I’m an English teacher at both locations. Once I finish at the public school, then I head over to the Excellence Center.

View Entire Interview

How do you like working with Palestinian students?

I really like working with them. These kids have something to tell the world. I want to give them the tools they need to deliver our message to the world. That message is simply that we are here and we believe in nonviolent resistance to the Israeli occupation.

How about foreign volunteers?

They help me a lot as teaching assistants. The help they provide basically falls under several levels. First, they empower the idea of volunteering to the students. Second, they help the students with their pronunciation and expose them to the way English is spoken by native speakers.

The cultural aspect of their presence is also important. Volunteers come from all over the world and bring new ideas and concepts to us. It helps the students learn about the ways other people think about problems and give them new perspectives with which to face their challenges. It’s not just the students, teachers also learn in this way from the volunteers.

What’s it like working with Marwa, Khitam, and the other staff members?

The working relationships at the Excellence Center are really great, everyone is kind and everyone is eager to help each other out. The people I work with feel more like family than coworkers.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

You'll mostly find me playing football and computer games, I’m actually addicted to computer games (laughter).

What do you wish foreign volunteers knew before coming to Hebron?

I think the administration has provided a lot of good information for future and potential volunteers on their website. I would urge them (the volunteers) to learn about the center and its mission.

Most of the volunteers I’ve worked with have had a good idea of that part. Learning about the Palestinian culture beforehand would also be helpful.

What do you think are the biggest challenges for Palestinians trying to learn English?

There is this stereotype that English is an impossible language to learn. That really puts the students at a disadvantage so I try to break that stereotype and tell them that English is just like any other language. It is fun and can be learned.

Another challenge is that public schools in Palestine tend to focus on traditional teaching methods. In fact, newer methods which teach English in a practical way are needed. This is what the center is for, it emphasizes the students' speaking and listening abilities so that they can use English in the real world.

About The Excellence Center

The Excellence Center/Engage in Palestine was established in June 2011 to provide educational, cultural, social, and community services to its diverse group of international students, interns, and volunteers, as well as to Palestinian children, refugees, women and youth in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine. The ongoing success of the center has pushed...

Program Details

Pricing

Ethical Impact

Program Highlights

Palestine and Israel Internship 

Palestinian Laws & Legal Practices Internship 

Internship In The West Bank Program 

The Human Rights Internship Program 

Media & Journalism Internship in Palestine (1-12 Weeks)

Intern in Asia with Omprakash

1/2 Arabic Classes + 1/2 Internship in Palestine

Response from The Excellence Center

Response from The Excellence Center

Response from The Excellence Center

Response from The Excellence Center

Response from The Excellence Center

Response from The Excellence Center

Staff Interviews

Ibrahim Zahda

What’s your daily routine like?

How do you like working with Palestinian students?

How about foreign volunteers?

What’s it like working with Marwa, Khitam, and the other staff members?

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

What do you wish foreign volunteers knew before coming to Hebron?

What do you think are the biggest challenges for Palestinians trying to learn English?

Media & Journalism Internship in Palestine (1-12 Weeks)

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

Intern in Asia with Omprakash

Palestine and Israel Internship

Palestinian Laws & Legal Practices Internship

Internship In The West Bank Program

The Human Rights Internship Program