Teaching volunteers Palestine | Childcare volunteers Palestine

Latest British Foreign Office advice: Security has improved significantly in the West Bank, and general travel from various Governments says travel to the West Bank is safe. Travellers should be aware that the situation remains fragile and could deteriorate at short notice, but should also remember that over 100,000 tourists visit Palestine each year.

Love Volunteers offers short term as well as long term programs in the Palestinian Territories' West Bank, in association with our local NGO partner. Bordered by Israel on one side and by the Jordan River on the other, and close to the Dead Sea, the Occupied Territories form part of the most ancient civilisations in the world. Volunteers have a number of opportunities in Palestine, including working with children, teaching English, supporting Palestinian community groups and working on a permaculture farm.

The Palestinian National Authority has widespread international support and is actively encouraging travellers to visit the area in the hope of integrating Palestinians with the rest of the world and to highlight the conditions in the region. Naturally, it is wise to do thorough research and learn some of the areas troubled history. For some, this region is “the cradle of civilisation”, and has an almost mystical pull. There is a wealth of history here, which is interwoven directly into today’s modern society.

Volunteers in Palestine find there is a buzz from knowing that their efforts are of immediate value and that their presence here is actually making a difference. The work is Palestinians whose contact with the outside world can be life changing.

Also, by volunteering in Palestine, you meet a diverse range of people under challenging and intense circumstances. To quote the old cliché, the experience “broadens your horizons”, but in a very palpable way as you start to examine your own values and pre-conceived ideas. Powerful emotions may be experienced, yet you'll find the days fly by and are filled with distinct impressions and memorable moments.

For more information about the region take a look at Lonely Planet's chapter on the West Bank.

Volunteer Palestine

Start and Duration

Volunteers in Palestine can choose to stay from one week to over six months. Placements in the Palestinian Territories have flexible commencement dates, but weekend arrivals would be helpful for local staff. Due to the checkpoints we ask volunteers to make their own way from the airport. Our local team can arrange a taxi for about USD 85, or a shuttle can be taken for USD 25. Volunteers whose flights arrive in the evening are asked to stay in Tel Aviv and make their way to the checkpoint the following morning. We can offer advice and help with this to make it as smooth as possible. Please note that the teaching and children programs in the Palestinian Territories are closed from 20 December until 20 January.

Volunteer Requirements

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old at the start of the placement (unless accompanied by an adult). It is important that volunteers remain flexible, as working in a developing country doesn't always go to plan. In some cases, you may be moved to other programs or asked to undertake tasks not mentioned in the project descriptions. You will get the most out of your program by being open to different opportunities.

A good command of English is required. Arabic is, of course, a bonus, but certainly not essential. In any case we recommend volunteers take the inexpensive Arabic lesson provided by our local partner. See the language section below for more details. Apply Now!

Project Descriptions for the Palestinian Territories

Community Programs

With an absence of safe places to play due to damage and neglect caused by the unrest in their country, children in the Palestinian Territories really need the assistance of our partner's volunteer programs. By joining the team, you can help on a great many levels to make life more fun for these children. Giving the youngsters life skills through leadership and teamwork activities can go a long way to making them better able to cope, while also letting off steam.

Depending on the time of year, volunteers in Palestine may find that they are working on a one-to-one basis or in group situations in a variety of settings. For example, they may help out at an open-air climbing tower, within local schools, at refugee camps and even on treks into the desert.

Volunteers should be aware that not all aspects of the project will involve working with children. There is often construction and gardening projects that need to be undertaken and volunteers should be flexible about the duties they expect. There are also many administrative tasks that can be extremely helpful to our local team.

Giving young people from different religious backgrounds the chance to look to the future, to learn to look after the environment and to develop skills for resolving conflict is a rewarding experience and volunteers in Palestine for this work are badly needed.

Teaching English

Native English speaking volunteers are needed for English teaching programs in the Palestinian Territories. These volunteers may work in a variety of venues and with different student profiles. They may be working with adults in business who need a greater command of English in order to develop and to employ more local people, or to children in local schools.

Alongside teaching English, you may also be deployed to deliver a wider range of life skills. Equally, volunteers in Palestine may be asked to spend time doing vital office work as a contribution to maintaining the projects.

Permaculture

Our partner's purpose is to provide a model for experimental sustainable living in the West Bank. They strive to re-purpose all the rubbish they create, to develop and use alternate forms of energy, and to live using only the resources which are available to them. Living conditions might seem “uncomfortable” to the western world because emphasis is put on living sustainably rather than living luxuriously.

For example, only compost toilets (not western style flush toilets) are used. There is no TV, fridge, washing machine, or dishwasher on site. There is no central heat/air conditioning system. Another issue to consider is water. Because of water shortages inside Palestine due to the occupation, there is not a reliable source of water. Volunteers (as well as local staff!) will not be able to shower daily. During the summer months, a weekly shower might be more usual. We know this sounds tough, but this is quite normal for local people who struggle with about one-third of the daily water allowance that the UN recommends.

Instead of attempting to gain more access to water, our local partner strives to re-examine how much water they use, why they use it, and how to better conserve it. The idea of better resource-use is central to the local teams mission.

Volunteers will do everything from gardening, irrigation, construction, learning and teaching permaculture techniques, working with local Palestinian communities, as well as cooking and cleaning alongside local staff. In summer months volunteers can choose to sleep in the guest house or in a nearby cave.

Please note that volunteers will need to find their own way to the farm. This can be organised by way of a taxi, which will cost about USD 85 from the airport to the farm. Or by shuttle followed by a 10 minute walk and a 10 minute taxi, which will cost about USD 30 in total.

Language Courses

We recommend that volunteers take advantage of the inexpensive Arabic classes available. Volunteers in Palestine will have a far more rewarding time in their placement if they acquire a basic grasp of Arabic. It is also of immense help when interacting with the local population in general. Arabic lessons cost US$15 (€12) per class but the cost can be shared among up to four volunteers, if numbers on the project permit.

Program Costs

Love Volunteers has not-for-profit program fees. Its role is to provide one of the most affordable ways to help out in a developing country while being immersed in the local culture.

Fees for volunteer programs in the West Bank start at US$265 (€197) for one week, which includes accommodation, food, a walking tour of Bethlehem and Jerusalem, orientation and in-country support on call 24/7.

The flexibility exists for volunteers in Palestine to start their program on any day of the week, but a weekend arrival is preferable, when staff will be free to meet and greet. It allows time for settling in prior to volunteering.

Volunteer period [weeks]	1	2	3	4	6
Teaching English	US$265	US$525	US$790	US$1050	US$1575
Working with Children and Community Development	US$265	US$525	US$790	US$1050	US$1575
Permaculture	US$150	US$300	US$450	US$600	US$900

Volunteer period [weeks]	8	12	16	20	24
Teaching English	US$2100	US$3150	US$4200	US$5250	US$6300
Working with Children and Community Development	US$2100	US$3150	US$4200	US$5250	US$6300
Permaculture	US$1200	US$1800	US$2400	US$3000	US$3600

Other volunteers periods available. Please, contact LoveVolunteers for pricing of other periods.

A Love Volunteers registration fee of US$235 (approximately €170) is charged in addition to the program fees and covers any placements you undertake for twelve months from the start of your first placement. The fee is refundable if you choose not to volunteer more than three months prior to the start of your initial placement. This fee ensures 24/7 pre- and post-placement support from Love Volunteers, checking and vetting of local organisations, a comprehensive information pack, as well as administration and marketing costs. Given Love Volunteers is a not-for-profit organisation we also ask volunteers to cover any bank charges incurred by international money transfers.

Food and Accomodation

Accommodation for volunteers is self-catering in the form of a fully furnished apartment with either two or three bedrooms. Typically, no more than two occupants are assigned to one room. Ample breakfast ingredients are supplied, including cereal and eggs. Other meals are provided as follows: sandwiches for lunch accompanied by hummus, as well as other traditional dips or falafel. For longer term volunteers, on at least one occasion a traditional Palestinian evening meal will be provided. Otherwise, more familiar dishes such as pasta are eaten with the local team.

Be aware that due to water scarcity, volunteers in Palestine are expected to ration their water consumption for showers. A quick shower is 1-2 minutes, not 5-10 minutes, and in summer months should not be taken every day.

Orientation

Upon your arrival in the Palestinian Territories, ideally during a weekend, you will spend time with staff being settled in and finding out about your volunteering in Palestine, local surroundings and fellow volunteers. Representatives will fill you in on local customs, safety, rules and recommendations and, of course, what to expect from your volunteering experience.

A Typical Week

The structure of the week varies for different projects, but we aim to be flexible. Provided some notice is given we will try to accommodate your plans. That said, a typical week volunteering in Palestine looks something like this:

Weekdays: Between 7am and 8am you will get up and have breakfast with fellow volunteers. By 8-8.30am you will be at the placement, depending on distance. Project staff there will be responsible for planning your day, including building in a suitable number of breaks. Depending on whether you have an Arabic class to attend, your day could finish in the middle or late afternoon. You can then relax, socialise with fellow volunteers and perhaps visit a café. In the evening, you will eat with staff, or possibly accompany friends to a local restaurant.

Weekends: You can choose to volunteer in Palestine at the weekend if you want, or you might instead visit Jerusalem and Bethlehem or take the cable-car to Jericho. You may just want to relax at home or in a café. Long weekends may be possible, to enable trips further afield (for example, to bustling Ramallah, or to Hebron, thought by many to be the longest-running place on earth to have had continual human habitation).

About the Country

The world’s three major monotheistic religions all have their origins in fascinating Palestine. Christian, Islamic and Judaic sites are therefore top of the list of locations to visit. There are live archaeological projects too.

Markets and bazaars are a huge part of the scene in Arabic countries, including the West Bank. Tradespeople selling their wares are continuing an ancient tradition here. Among the must-visit markets is the Jericho Bazaar. Café culture is a feature of Palestinian daily life and the smoking of an argela or water pipe is a customary activity.

Sampling the cuisine of a country is always an eye-opener; some of the dishes of the region include maqluba (lamb or beef and aubergines), muhammara (a dip made from spicy red peppers) and djej mahshi (chicken stuffed with an aromatic rice). Palestinian cooking often uses chickpeas and yoghurt is the base for many accompaniments. The region specialises in very sweet confections, such as knafeh and baklawa.

Apply now! Or check out the FAQ or contact page for more information.

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