The Palestinian Center - Go Palestine

this experience in Palestine was not just a trip, a "volunteering experience" to add to a resume. It was real, human, and deeply transformative. I don't return home with the feeling of "having helped", but with somnething much deeper. A new prospective, genuine human connections, and the awareness that even a small gesture, when truly lived, can leave something good behind. This is not an experience you simply go through. It goes through you. And it stays.

I volunteered for two weeks with Go Palestine, teaching English to local students helping them strengthen communication and speaking skills. I was also given Arabic lessons with a focus on local communication. The volunteer program included visits to refugee camps which offered first-hand insight into the resilience and daily challenges faced by displaced families. We visited the University of Hebron and spent an hour talking to students in an Applied English class, and visited the University Art and Book fair. A visit to the Palestinian Family Planning Centre highlighted vital community support services, broadening awareness of social development efforts. Another highlight was a day visiting Ramallah, and the Yasser Arafat museum which showcases the history of the Palestinian people. The entire experience has been incredible, I have learned so much and met amazing people, I'm already planning my next visit!

The camps were extremely eye opening to the daily life of refugees and the history of the area. Each camp was unique and had a stories that they shared with us. We were able to see the schools in the camps and hand out toys to the children. I recommend the program to anyone that is interested in learning more about the history, culture, or daily life of the Palestinian people.