Program Reviews

I’m Nikka Marie Dominique and I am currently a university student studying psychology in California, United States. I served as a Human Rights intern for Go Palestine for five weeks.

I’m extremely passionate and dedicated in learning about the wellness of people, specifically youth, in environments riddled with extreme trauma. I have more than five years of field experience working with young people in America on their mental and emotional stresses, yet realized that I did not have a satisfactory amount of knowledge on the state of children’s emotional health in places other than the United States. In the end, I chose to come to Palestine because I wanted to expand my understanding on human and children behavior in trauma and knew Palestine would have a lot to learn from.

Al Khalil (Hebron) is a completely different society and environment than any of the ones that I’ve known. It’s an area that is riddled with stereotypes and misconceptions, and I rather understand the reality of the situation for myself. By choosing to come to Palestine, I knew that I would have a completely novel learning experience that would enhance my knowledge in ways that I couldn’t if I were to just simply to stay at home and do research on the topic.

Palestine, in general, is safe. Every day as I manage the city by myself, I am majorly confident about my safety. I am comfortable being alone and taking taxis, walking several kilometers, being out at dark, being at cafes or restaurants, and more. Being an outsider, I definitely notice the army guarding specific and limited places in the city, but unfortunately understand that my foreign citizenship makes soldiers more likely to negatively interact with locals instead of me. As a young foreign woman, the only moments that I felt threatened was by men on the streets, and even then, the street harassment I have experienced here in the city is comparable to the street harassment I experience at home in America as a woman. In total, I feel fairly secure in Palestine.

Go Palestine has been excellent in supporting me and ensuring that I have relevant activities to my program. I have conducted interviews with various Palestinian non profit organizations and have gone on visits to areas that are especially demonstrative of the human rights violations in Palestine. I have highly valued most, if not all, events that my program coordinator has organized to facilitate my learning.

Being able to live with a host family in Hebron city has been one of the most prominent highlights of my stay in Palestine. From what I’ve heard from other participants at the excellence center, experiences can vary. I believe that the host family situation can depend on what the intern decides- if the intern hopes to be out more, then the family can be a safe and respectful place to stay, but if the intern, like myself, hopes to interact with the family more, then the family can grow to be a lasting and meaningful relationship. I am so happy to say that I now consider my host family just my family and all of us plan to stay in contact even after my departure from Palestine.

I was interested in visiting Palestine and found the Palestinian Centre whilst searching for relevant programmes.

The programme includes visits to the Old City, to Al-Fawwah camp, to various human rights organisations, to the court, and meetings with lawyers and human rights activists. We organised a workshop and facilitated a group discussion with law undergraduates from Hebron University.

The Palestinian legal system is complex and fascinating. Under occupation and in the absence of a legislative council, the resilience and innovativeness of legal practitioners is commendable. I was fortunate to meet people with bright ideas for improving Palestinian society.

Hebronite society is close-knit and welcoming, so it is easy to feel at home. I will have fond memories of many people, the streets and the food.

Generally, I found Hebron to be safe. There is some level of street harassment especially if you are a foreign female, but it is limited. The locals are very helpful, so if you encounter difficulties, don’t hesitate to check in with somebody.

Hebron is a really interesting city!

I would recommend you to visit Palestine, and particularly Hebron, to see for yourself how the society here works :)

My name is Oume and I'm from Cambridge, England. I took part in the 2 week ‘Lawyers in Palestine’ program here in Hebron, Palestine.

My experience in Palestine and specifically Hebron, has been amazing. The people are kind and full of hospitality, the country is beautiful and has so much to see, everyday was a new adventure!

The Go Palestine center was full of great memories, meeting new people and experiencing a fantastic insight into the Palestinian life! During my time here with the program, I got to visit lawyers and the courtrooms and see how different and unique the Palestinian legal system is. As well as this, I also had the opportunity to visit many human rights NGOs to learn about their work with the Palestinian people. This was especially insightful as it linked well with the 'Lawyers in Palestine' program and broadened my knowledge.

One thing I loved the most about my stay in Palestine was the culture and people. From learning about their history to learning about their traditions, Palestine is a country full of surprises and adventure. What makes me adore Palestine the most is its iconic sights that cant be missed and the unbeatable hospitality.

Safety in Palestine is one of the many things I was most amazed by. There is a misconception about this and I am glad I could experience first hand how safe and welcoming Palestine actually is. During my stay I always felt at ease and in no danger, there was stability and its nothing like whats often stereotyped in the media.

I would definitely recommend visiting Palestine no matter who and where you are! It is a country full of beauty and is so rich in culture, its one you can't miss. I'm glad I was able to take part in the program here at the Go Palestine center and would also recommend this to anyone who wants to experience this country in a unique way, whether its by learning about the different aspects of Palestine itself or the people and all the hard work that goes into making Palestine, Palestine.

My name is Sophie, I’m 20 years old and I came to Palestine from Russia for three incredible weeks. I study standard Arabic language and history of Arabic countries in my university so my trip to Palestine was an opportunity to practice my language skills and increase my knowledge about Palestinian history.

My experience in Hebron and at the Palestine Centre was interesting and fascinating. I really enjoyed working in a center with children because they are always so happy to see foreigners from another countries, to speak with them in English and to ask some questions about their traditions and culture. The children are really engaged in the studying and learning.

During my volunteering period we visited an Old City of Hebron, some historical places of Hebron, factories and refugees camp. We’ve seen how live Palestinians people under Israel’s occupation and talked with people who suffer from it. In factories we observed the process of making glass, pottery and tissue. Also we have English classes in beautiful Palestinian villages and I personally felt in love with some of local villages (Surif is one of my favorite places in the world now!).

What I like most in the Palestinian culture it’s the people. They are really hospitable, friendly and welcoming. They always invited me in their houses, talked with me about their cultures and lavished me with traditional Palestinian meals.

As for me, Palestine is safe. I feel myself safety all the time I was here. I am absolutely not scared to walk alone or riding in a taxi or just sitting in public places.

I would recommend other people to visit Palestine and to meet local people and to admire their open-mindedness and hospitality (and to try traditional maqluba!). I am grateful to the program to the opportunity to feel real Arabic culture, to live with lovely host-family and know more about Palestine just the way it really is.

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!