Palestinian Law, Human Rights, & Palestinian Refugees Internships

I am Hannah, from Singapore, and I recently finished a degree in history. I participated in the ‘Volunteering with Palestinian Refugees’ programme, mainly because I am interested in researching refugees for my higher education degree.

I found my Arabic lessons really fruitful and engaging. My goal is to be able to communicate basic ideas in Arabic, so learning colloquial Levantine Arabic is most important to me. This was achieved during my time here, although the hours were short given my brief time here, I gained a stronger foundation to continue learning the language by myself. For now at least, I am able to greet, introduce myself, discuss the weather and my day when I meet shopkeepers and taxi drivers.

I am very grateful to my Arabic teachers, who enthusiastically and warmly encouraged me to learn and practise my ability to speak and read. The other international volunteers are also really eager to learn, so the environment here is very, very supportive.

During the few weeks I was here, I did a lot of site visits with other volunteers from various programmes. I went to Fawwar Camp a few times, and I got the chance to speak to community leaders, social workers, and the young children living in the camp. It was very eye-opening, especially since I assumed that refugee camps are filled with tents, but Fawwar Camp (like many other Palestinian refugee camps) has buildings gradually erected by the refugees themselves.

I also visited the checkpoints separating H1 from H2 in Hebron, as well as the shops and houses near those checkpoints. These are the hotspots of clashes between Palestinians, the IDF soldiers and settlers. Speaking to locals who live near these precarious locations also showed me the layers of pain and suffering of life under the occupation.

I felt safe during my time in Hebron, sometimes even safer than in other cities I have lived in (such as London) because there is no anxiety about my stuff being stolen. There was definitely a period of time during my initial days here, when I had to adjust to the social and religious culture here, such as being careful about the way I interact with the men here as a solo travelling woman.

During my first week here, the bustling city of Hebron had a general strike in solidarity for Jenin, and a group of volunteers went to observe how the busy old city changed for the strike. We definitely noticed the potential danger of being caught in between protestors and the IDF soldiers in the old city and the checkpoint areas, but it was such an indescribably important experience to see how the Palestinian people express their anger and sorrow in various ways.

Everytime we made a site visit - the Bedouin villages, a Palestinian art exhibit, Hebron streets emptied after eruptions of violence, human rights groups - we spoke to so many different people with similar stories of anxiety, loss, fear, and even resilience and hope for a better future. The Palestinians I spoke to during my time here are so highly aware of the history of the occupation, and they show empathy towards the reasons for why European Jews migrated to this land. However, they are frustrated by the systematically violent and militant mode of which the occupation continues til this day I personally hope the dream of living peacefully and equally between Israelis and Palestinian people can be achieved one day.

Although I only visited for one week I learnt and saw so much. My host family and other Palestinians were so hospitable and welcoming. I felt safer in Hebron than I do in London. I was able to learn basic Arabic and to meet with a lawyer who discussed and taught me about the local judicial system. I had the opportunity to visit local refugee camps and to meet with incredible activists. I also had travel advice from the centre and was able to visit the Dead Sea and Bethlehem. Please do not let what you see on the media put you off of visiting. Palestine and it's citizens are wonderful.

I only stayed for a week, but I feel like I really got to see life in Hebron firsthand. Every day was filled with meetings with human rights activists, discussions women's advocates and medical center directors, and tours of Hebron and the nearby al-Fawar refugee camp. My host family was incredibly welcoming (as was everyone else in Hebron), made us amazing Palestinian food, took us to meet all of their friends, and showed us their favorite cafes to hang out at. I was provided with a basic Arabic lesson so I could somewhat communicate with the residents of Hebron and my horribly accented Arabic was always met with excitement. Though I wish there were more opportunities to actually engage in volunteer work in Hebron, I was given the chance to teach an English lesson to teens which was extremely rewarding and gave me the opportunity to get the kids' perspectives on life in Hebron.

I began my time at the Excellence Center with a month of intensive Arabic classes, then began visiting local businesses and organizations and teaching English at the Center and in the villages surrounding Hebron. I had an outstanding Arabic teacher for my classes, and found that class time was spent productively. Because of this, as well as my engagement with the Khalili community, I made significant progress in learning the language.

The environment at the Center is warm and welcoming. Although in summer it became a bit hectic with the amount of international volunteers in attendance, the staff and teachers never failed in making me feel comfortable. The same goes for my host family. They made sure I was always provided for and never hungry. Although I lived a bit far from the Center, the family graciously provided daily transportation.

In my free time, I was also able to visit many places outside of Hebron, such as Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jericho, and Nablus. My experiences in all these places were great, transportation to and from was fairly simple and well-priced, and I always felt safe… but to be honest, I was always happy to return to Hebron.

The best part of Palestine is the hospitality and genuine kindness of the people. Despite the obvious and less-than-ideal circumstances of the occupation, I have yet to meet a Palestinian who isn’t welcoming, honest, strong-willed and incredibly good-hearted. This is certainly the impression of Palestine I will take with me back home. I would definitely recommend spending time in Palestine, especially in al-Khalil, if you have the chance!

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.

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.

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.

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.