Program Reviews

My name is Martha and I am a 20 year old Politics and International Relations student, studying at the University of Birmingham. I came to Hebron for a week-long Human Rights course in August 2019, during a month-long trip to Palestine.

My week in Hebron has been fantastic. My friend and I stayed with Marwa, who provided everything we could have wanted and was so warm and funny. It was great to meet her enormous family too and practice our Arabic with them, as we began to learn it at the centre. Osama, Mahmoud, Mohammad, Mutaz, Rafat and everyone else who works at the centre were friendly, helpful and very well informed.

During the week, we did many activities, leaving the centre to visit people or sites every day. I thought that our course would mostly be in classrooms, learning through lectures and so on. However, almost everything we learnt was through meeting Palestinians, human rights activists and through tours by fantastic guides (especially Mahmoud). We visited the closed down Shuhada Street, the Ibrahimi mosque and a family who live surrounded by three checkpoints. We also did fascinating things which were cultural and apolitical, such as visiting a glass-blowing factory, a keffiyeh factory and the Old Town market stalls.

We got to know a lot about Palestinian culture. We learnt some (limited!) Arabic, ate lots of fantastic food (especially knafa and kufta) and spoke to as many Palestinians as were willing to speak to annoying foreigners! The thing which has amazed me the most about Palestinian culture is the openness and friendliness of Palestinian people. We have got used to hearing “welcome to Hebron!” shouted at us on the street, and when we got lost people were always willing to help us as much as they could. The culture of chattiness and friendliness has been such a fantastic discovery on our trip here.

We have always felt safe. My friend and I (both female) have walked home almost every night, mostly quite late, and never felt unsafe during the long walk. People were by and large friendly and helpful, I never felt at risk while we were exploring the city. I felt uncomfortable when we were in military-controlled areas as I’m not used to being around police/soldiers with guns etc, but we never witnessed any incidents whilst on our trips.

I would recommend this programme highly. I have learnt so much about the situation for Hebronite Palestinians, met so many interesting people and had lots of interesting discussions. If anyone is interested in the difficult life that has been created for Palestinians here, or the ever-changing and complex military oppression, then this course is brilliant. Mahmoud was the perfect guide and provided lots of local insights and translated for us tirelessly. I would love to come back.

Hello, my name is Natalia Macias and I’m 23 years old. I am Mexican American and I’m currently living in Asheville, NC.
Choosing Go Palestine was probably one of the best decisions I could have made. Not only is everyone friendly and welcoming, but everything you do in the center is purposeful and makes you feel as if you’re truly reaching your highest potential. In Hebron, it’s not very common to see foreigners around, so when the Palestinian people see you they try their hardest to speak English to make sure you’re welcomed here! It was truly an amazing experience.
During my stay here, I volunteered in the Teaching English as a Volunteer program. My day to day schedule varied quite a bit but it was fun because it kept me on my toes. I was able to assist in the old center with three of the English teachers who are amazing at everything they do. I also was able to teach English in the villages nearby such as Beit Ommar, Sureef, and Sair. Apart from teaching I was also able to see the beautiful Old City of Hebron along with Akka and a few other cities. Learning Arabic 3 hours a week was also something I was able to do. I had an amazing teacher who truly helped me understand the language.
All the volunteers and those who work at the center make sure you have an unforgettable time here.
Being able to see the Palestinian culture first hand was honestly something so indescribable and extremely pleasant to see. In the Palestinian community I was able to see how no one is homeless here. If you don’t have food, your neighbors will supply. If you don’t have something, your neighbor is sure to help you with the biggest smile. Everyone is kind to each other. I think the most surprising thing I saw while being here was how the Palestinian people are able to rise up even under an occupation. They don’t sit around waiting for change to happen, they make the change happen. There are amazing activists we were able to meet that were leading these changes. The Palestinians keep rising even when they are restricted from so many things.
I can say I have felt safe or even safer here in Hebron than I ever have in America. It’s very important to not be discouraged by western media saying that Hebron is conflicted. Once you’re here, you’ll see that this place is probably one of the safest places you’ll be. Everyone is kind and protective of one another even if you’re a foreigner. There’s nothing to be afraid of when coming to Palestine. It’s safe and if you get lost, there’s surely someone who is willing to help you.
I would recommend 10 out of 10 to come volunteer at the center through Go Palestine. For me it was a life change and eye opening experience that I will talk about positively for the rest of my life. Hebron has even shaped the way I think now. You’ll get the chance to help around the community while making new friendships that will last a lifetime.

Murhaba (Hi)! My name is Rayyan; I am 20 years old and I am from a city named Birmingham in Great Britain. For me, the reasons for which I decided to come to Palestine are plentiful. Firstly, as a Law student – I have just finished my first year at the University of Oxford – the Lawyers in Palestine program has propelled me into the heart of key legal issues: I have had the opportunity to meet with local lawyers, activists and government officials to hear, first-hand, their experiences of the occupation in both legal and non-legal contexts. This has, in turn, formed the backbone of my time in Al-Khalil (Hebron).
However, more importantly, the cultural immersion into Palestinian life has, above all, been
extremely formative. I have been lucky enough to live with a host family (the Murads) during my two weeks in Hebron. Although, at first, I was quite anxious to do so, the Murads
welcomed me into their family as their own! As a city, I have found Hebron to be great place to stay. Along my daily walk to the centre, King Faisal Street served as a microcosm of life in Palestine: each day and night, I was exposed to the various foods (so much Falafel!),
produce, stools, and people, many of whom often greeting me and welcoming me to
Palestine – not forgetting the occasional Shisha in the evenings! In our free time, I have
traveled to Palestine and Israel. In turn, this has allowed me to view contrasts between
the different ways of life in different Palestinian cities, as well as serving as a great means to try (and maybe fail at) speaking my newly learned Arabic! Above all, my short time at the Palestinian Centre has been beyond profound. I have met a diverse range of people from all around the world – and with some, I have formed friendships that will last a lifetime. The memories I have gained here I will forever cherish and will shape the way in which I grow as a person. Shukran!

Marhaba!
My name is Francesco and I am a Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Derby, England. I decided to come to Palestine and Hebron particularly because I am interested in the politics of the place as well as the Arabic language. I had also visited Palestine on previous occasions and I was impressed by its friendly people and beautiful cities. Despite the negative stereotypes you might have heard about Palestine and Hebron in particular, it is a really safe place and an ideal environment to study Levantine Dialect.
My experience at the Palestinian centre has been very positive. I have taken the Intensive Arabic Course and I have seen great improvements in my language skills. I have spent only 2 weeks in Palestine this summer, but I would like to return later on for a longer period. The centre organizes interesting activities every day, so the programmes are also a great chance to learn more about the people of Hebron, Palestinian-Israeli relations and life under occupation. As someone that works in education, I am convinced that Go Palestine and the Excellence Centre offer a great formative experience for those interested in the Arabic language and in the culture, politics and history of Palestine

I had an amazing experience with the GoPalestine media program, I visited a refugee camp, radio station, met journalists, tours of the area, got first hand experience of the situation in The West Bank, learned a lot about the conflict and also had a lot of free time to visit the wonderful sites and places of interest to see in Palestine. The people are super friendly and welcoming and the food is great. It is very safe and I never seen any crime. The weather was fabulous and you will get to see some beautiful places. I was able to write articles about my experience in Palestine and it will help a lot towards my future career. I would highly recommend this program for any students or graduates or anyone of any age interested in the West Bank

My name is Jasmine and I am Italian, but I live in London and I am studying International Relations. My studies specialise in the Middle East and U.S. relations with Israel and the Middle East, so I was very motivated to come to Hebron to learn more about Israeli human rights abuses and how the occupation is affecting Palestinians.

I also wanted to learn more about the Israel-Palestinian conflict as well as human rights issues in Palestine from my own perspective. Hebron in particular, is a very important city to understand more about the conflict as Hebron is completely divided into two part: H1 and H2. H1 being controlled by the Palestinians and H2 being controlled by the Israelis.

In your own time, I would recommend visiting H2 to see what life is like inside an Israeli settlement. It is a very eerie environment, filled with a disproportionate amount of heavily armed soldiers for the settlers and you can use your time there to learn about life for the remaining Palestinians living in H2 and how they deal with harassment from the Israelis.

So far I have visited NGOs, refugee camps, universities and Palestinians living in H1 who shared their stories about living under the occupation and allowed us to ask more questions. The stories shared were incredibly moving and showed the resilience of the Palestinians, yet it was difficult to understand how Israeli human rights abuses can continue unchecked.

People in Palestine are laid back and enjoy spending their time connecting with one another. It is not uncommon for a shop owner to see you walk past and invite you into his store for tea or coffee. From when I arrived in Hebron trying to find the Centre, to looking for the nearest ATM or trying to travel to other Palestinian cities - people were always quick to help.

Do not let the media discourage you from visiting Hebron or other Palestinian cities. Generally, Palestinians are very generous and welcoming people, especially to tourists. The cities in Palestine are full of life and always safe to visit.

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.