Human Rights Program Review

My name is Alice and I’m from Switzerland. I participated in the Human Rights Internship
for six weeks. Before I travelled to Palestine, my family and I were concerned about security and safety on the ground. When I arrived here, I immediately realised how different the situation is from what is reported in the media. The only people I could be afraid of would be Israeli soldiers patrolling and demonstrating their power. Palestinians on the other hand, are the most welcoming people I have ever met. The Center provided useful information, for example how to travel from one place to another. I was travelling every weekend to different places all over the Westbank such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho, the Dead Sea, Nablus and even Jordan. The proximity of all the cities in the Westbank and the ease of public transport makes travelling very easy. I usually travelled with some friends I met at the Center, but because Palestinians are so helpful, you can easily travel on your own.
Being a tourist in Palestine is different from volunteering at the Center. As a volunteer, you
can not only travel, but also experience everyday life in Palestine, meet people, get to know the culture, and participate in events. You will be able to live with a host family, and thus participate in their daily routine and you will eventually be invited to weddings or other events. You will experience mainly cultural differences but if you meet them with openness, you will enjoy your stay. The Center was like a second home where I spent a lot of time during the day. The environment at the Center is very welcoming, nice and pleasant. During the day it can become very busy, especially during summer. The staff and teachers are caring and helpful and you will engage with students from different backgrounds. In the morning the Center prepares breakfast and, depending on your program, your schedule for the day is either very regular or rather spontaneous. The Excellence Center also organises some events independent from your program such as hikes, dinners, or concerts. In my first week, I attended intensive Arabic classes which taught me the basics and were very helpful for daily life in Hebron. For the rest of my stay, I took part in the Human Rights Program which included visits in the city of Hebron and the surrounding area on the topic of human rights, but also cultural tours. I went to refugee camps where we were able to talk to social workers and camp residents and spend some time with children. You will experience first-hand what life is like in a refugee camp and the difficulties they face. A resident of a refugee camp in Hebron told us about his two-year-old daughter who was injured and could not be rescued because medical care in the camp was inadequate and Israeli Defense Forces prevented the ambulance from entering and then leaving the camp. Her father feels he cannot protect his family, and he is one of many Palestinians who share a similar story of loss. Everywhere I went, all people I met, there was a story waiting to be told. The Human Rights program included a visit to an art exhibition related to the importance of history, the appropriation of historical sites by Israel and the justification of Israel’s colonization through
history. During tours in the old city of Hebron I learned about the exceptional case of Hebron. I learnt about the impact of Israeli settlements inside the city and the complexity of the division between H1 and H2 in addition to the zones A, B and C. I visited Palestinian families living in H2 area (Israeli controlled). I was at the Polytechnic University in Hebron as well as at the Ministry of Education, and a Blind School. This allowed me to look at the issue from different angles and to hear from different people with different perspectives. The Center organized a lecture held by a university professor, lawyer, and advocate for Palestinian rights as well as history lessons by a teacher working at the Center. I went to the keffiyeh factory, learning about the culture and the handicraft. I was also able to go to the largest settlement in the Westbank and see with my own eyes how two different worlds meet. The Center arranged a tour at a hospital as well as a tour with a Human Rights activist in Hebron city. For me personally, the most impressive and lasting encounter in Palestine was the visit to Masafer Yatta, a territory in the south of Hebron, situated in zone C and therefore under Israeli control. I met some of the remaining Palestinian residents who keep resisting Israeli occupation. They
live under the harshest conditions. Confiscation of their land and frequent demolition of their houses leave them with nothing more than tents. Electricity and water supply is controlled by Israel and healthcare is restricted. Although they face daily attacks from settlers and Israeli Defense Forces, their determination to non-violent resistance is strong.
There is one lasting impression about Palestine and its people I would like to share with you. After I was told so many stories, it is hard to imagine how Palestinians can keep living under this system of apartheid and colonization. But they are not given a choice. I admire the resilience of the people. I admire their strength and the determination to live peacefully. I admire their joy no matter what burden they carry. I admire their belief in a better future. And I admire their love for their country, that they never give up fighting for it.
Even though you won’t have a direct impact when volunteering in Palestine, you will
contribute by telling their stories and by convincing people about the reality on site. Whilst
living in Palestine, the feeling of being unable to help can sometimes turn into anger.
Nevertheless, you will have an indirect impact. The more people know about Israeli’s system of apartheid and their colonization project, the more likely they will be forced to make a change. The Excellence Center enables exchange with Palestinians and makes it possible to get to know the reality. I’m very grateful that I was able to volunteer here.