Program Reviews

Go Palestine

My name is Shadi Abdelaziz. I am a 20 years old boy from Palestine and Italy, currently studying Internationally Relation in my second year of university in Birmingham, in the United Kingdom.

Although I have been to Palestine every summer to visit my relatives in Nablus, I have never been in Hebron. Hebron is a beautiful city full of humble and friendly people. In fact, during my first couple of days in Hebron, I made several friends and they were kind enough to show me a tour of old city as well as the best restaurants to buy Falafel and Shawerma. I had to wait to try them, though, because I was lucky enough to arrive in the middle of the month of Ramadan, the Islamic month dedicated to sacrifice and fasting. It has been amazing how people took care of us volunteers, always inviting us for iftar, the meal that breaks the fast, and allows us to live the real culture, atmosphere, and warmth of the Ramadan evenings.

During my three week volunteering period, I have been teaching children in the Go Palestine Center as well as going several times with other volunteers in the same program to teach refugee kids at Fawaar Refugee Camp. Apart from teaching, I was given three hours of Arabic lesson every week and given the opportunity to tour the Old City, Ibrahimi Mosque and Al Shouhada Street.

As half Palestinian, being in Palestine is already a blessing. As I am currently studying in UK, I have completely forgotten how welcoming and how friendly the Palestinian Culture really is. I was amazed and proud at the way the Palestinians love foreigners and this is shown by the amount of greetings and little and big gestures of kindness my fellow volunteers and I have been getting every day.

I heard dozens of stories of how unsafe Hebron was, but upon living here for 3 weeks, I can say that it is bit exaggerated. Everyone I have met or confronted have been extremely friendly to us. Sheikh Hijazi who has been taking care of us at our accommodation, has been nothing but welcoming. During Ramadan, he even invited us for iftar at his house several times.

I would definitely recommend the Go Palestine Center in Palestine to anyone who would love to contribute and help Palestinian children with building up a bit of their future teaching them English. It is also a great opportunity, for whom decides to come, to get to know several unique cities such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, etc. and to get to know a wonderful, strong and kind people.

My name is Victor Hugo Calero, I am 20 years old and I am from Ecuador. Actually I am studying Law at Universidad de las Américas in Quito, thats why I choosed the Lawyers in Palestine Program organized by the Palestinian center (Go Palestine) for engage with the Palestinian legal system and be able to expand my knowledge while learning another language and a different culture. At the Palestinian Center I was able to experience the palestinian languague, history, food, culture and friendship with all the members of the center that help me in everything I need.
During my internship I met Palestinian lawyers that explained me the way laws work in Palestine and the limitations and challenges they faced with the israeli ocupation. Also I was able to visit Hebron University and the Law College, there the teachers explained me the unique history of Palestinian laws since the otoman periodo until the Palestinian Authorithy laws.
They exposed me the difficulties with the ones Palestinian universities have to deal with, specially the law students and teachers that come to hebron. After the College I visited the court in Hebron were a lawyer explained me how the procederes work, then we went to a Law firm for learn about the difficulties and human rights violations palestinians have to face, specially moving around Palestine. Finally I went to a NGO that help women defend their rights, then I went to a refugee camp near Hebron were I learned about the refugee situation and how the Un help improving their situation. I also received arabic clases were I learned the Palestinian dialect and pronunciation.
The Palestinian culture surprises you since the moment you arrived, they are friendly with anyone and would help you in everything they can. In my opinión Palestine is safer than many latinamerican countries. In Hebron I didnt experience any violence and I feel safer than in Israel.
I recomend visit Palestine and join the programs at the Palestinian center for be able to understand the reality of palestinians and engage with this amazing culture.

Palestine is a place that I dreamed to visit and discover, I was seeing Palestine through the TV or on YouTube, but it wasn't as I thought it would be. Palestine was for me all about conflict, tensions and riots and there is no one inch is safe. However, yesterday I came back from this unbelievable experience in Palestine. I have joined Teach English in Palestine program for one month and I would say it was an AMAZING experience ever. Palestine is so beautiful, people are very nice, food is delicious and the atmosphere all in all was amazing. I think the country is misunderstood by many people in the world, including me!

The program was very good, I taught English to adults who are 17-21 years old. The connection between me and the students was indescribable, the students were very eager to learn English and interact with all topics we have discussed during the class. The Palestinian center's staff were very cooperative especially Ms. Ahlam who helped me a lot during teaching English at the center. The center is very cozy place where I met internationals from many countries in the world and I got to meet locals who are interested to know more about other cultures. Arabic was also part of this great experience, I have learned many things in the language and I would sure continue learning it! Thank you so much for this great experience and hope to see you all in the future!