The Basics

Basic Information

Everyone is Welcome! Palestine Summer Encounter is a program for men and women of all ages and nationalities!

Live with a local Family Participants live and share meals with a local Arabic-speaking family in Bethlehem or neighboring cities Beit Sahour and Beit Jala.

Study Arabic The summer encounter includes an intensive Arabic language acquisition program for beginners as well as other academic programs.

Volunteer Each participant will utilize their unique skills and talents to serve as a volunteer at a local nonprofit, children''s summer camp or humanitarian organization.

Be a Witness for Peace Participants will be exposed to daily life in Palestine and will meet with dozens of Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations and peace activists.

See the Sites Every weekend, participants will have the opportunity to visit different sites of historical, religious and political importance. Some sites may include: the old city of Jerusalem, Haifa, Nazareth, Ramallah, Hebron, Qalqilya, the Dome of the Rock, the Nativity Church, etc., etc. There is normally a total of 8 weekend trips.

Dates & Costs

Dates

The program is divided into three sessions:

Session One: May 17th—June 13th, 2012
Session Two: June 14th—July 11th, 2012
Session Three: July 12th—August 8th, 2012

Participants are welcome to join us for one, two or three months but are encouraged to join the program for at least two months if possible to fully take advantage of the opportunities the program has to offer.

The first listed day of each session is the day which participants should plan to arrive. Activities will begin the following day. The last listed day of each session is the day participants should plan to leave (unless they are staying on for the following session). So, for example, if you are just participating in the first session your flight should arrive on May 17th. The orientation will take place the following day, May 18th. Likewise, if you are only participating in that first session, your departing flight should be for June 13th if possible. The last event in that session will take place on June 12th.

Please be aware that the prearranged weekend trips and classes from the first session are repeated in the third session. Those joining us for all three months are encouraged to utilize more of their time during the third and final session focusing more intensely on other aspects of their experience (time with their host families, personal projects, volunteer opportunities, etc.) [This only has an impact on participants registering for all three months].

Costs

The cost of the program is dependent on the length of your trip:

One Month: $2,060 USD
Two Months: $3,360 USD
Three Months: $4,130 USD

(Outside the U.S.? Use our currency conversion tool).

This price includes:

Breakfast and dinner
Housing with families
Arabic course and lecture series
Transportation from Jerusalem
Weekend excursions
Tips for drivers and tour guides
Arabic text book (if needed for class)
$150 registration fee
Preparatory Materials
International Cell Phone for participant use (returned at end of program)
Basic medical travel insurance

The price does NOT include:

      - Airfare
      - City transportation (taxi, bus)
      - Lunches
      - Visa and departure tax

Register:

To register, please use the 2012 online application form.

Payments:

More information about payment options are available at the payments page.

Deadlines

The deadline to apply for the program is April 13th, 2012. Applications received after this date will be considered on a case by case basis. We encourage you to apply well before the deadline to ensure your spot in the program (the sooner you apply, the better)!

The final payment deadline for the program is April 20th, 2012. This is the date by which all program payments must be submitted. If, for financial reasons, you have difficulty meeting this deadline we can likely be flexible—but please do let us know in advance to ensure your spot in the program.

Questions?

Please contact us.

Academics

Palestine Summer Encounter (PSE) is designed to build relationships and the Arabic classroom material will help you communicate and develop relationships with Palestinians. We will provide a beginner's Arabic class focusing on the Palestinian colloquial dialect. Intermediate level classes are also available. To take full advantage of your time, however, we encourage you to think of the classes as just one small component of your Arabic study—even more important is the time you spend practicing what you learn in real life situations (with your host family, at your volunteer opportunity, etc.)

In addition to Arabic study, we are offering a number of other academic tracks, including: Nonviolence in Palestine, Regional Politics, Theology and the Land, Comparative Religions and the history of Zionism.

As an example, your scheduling options will look something like this:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Morning	Volunteer Positions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Afternoon/Evening	Arabic	Class A	Arabic	Class B	Arabic
Evening					Class C

As a participant you will be eligible for at least two of the tracks.

Beginner Arabic:
Colloquial Arabic for beginners using Omar Othman''s book "Yalla Nihki Arabi" which uses transliteration to teach Jerusalem dialect Arabic. Students will also be taught the Arabic alphabet which is a required foundation for further study of Arabic.

Private tutors will be available for those who are ready to study Arabic at a higher level.

You will have plenty of opportunities to practice what you are learning in the classroom with your host family and fellow employees at your volunteer placement. We encourage every participant to do so as this is the best way to improve your Arabic fluency. It is important to come with fair expectations and a good attitude. You will not become fluent or a master of Arabic in one or even three months; it can take years to master a language.

As with most language programs, if you don't study you won't learn and for those PSE participants who simply rely upon class, they will not learn much Arabic. The structure of the program is designed to try and balance volunteering, Arabic class, learning and building relationships. Participants have a great deal of control over their learning environment and can shift the balance by focusing on different aspects of the program. This is part of the beauty of PSE: your experience is greatly determined by your initiative and what you find most important.

Other Options Available (Subject to Change)

Nonviolence
Participants will study nonviolence as a practical means of opposing injustice.

Comparative Religions [Islam]
Learn about the Islamic faith.

Theology of the Land
Christian perspectives on the Holy Land.

Politics of the Region
A broader study of the political situation of the Middle East.

Home Stays

Living in Palestine

While in Palestine, Summer Encounter participants will live with a Palestinian host family and will have the opportunity to learn from their day-to-day lives and experiences. Holy Land Trust has a wide range of contacts among Palestinian families living in Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Beit Jala. Additionally, we have contacts with families in three refugee camps in the Bethlehem area: Aida, Dehaisheh and Azza.

Host families provide all of their guests with a place to sleep, breakfast, dinner and, when possible or appropriate, access to laundry services (normally a washer and dryer). Anyone who has special needs or request in relation to their home-stays should contact us about it least two months before their departure date.

Bethlehem

Information about Bethlehem and its sister cities, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour. Palestine Summer Encounter participants will be living, volunteering and studying in this part of the West Bank.All participants will be living in Bethlehem or one of its two neighboring cities: Beit Jala or Beit Sahour. Below is some brief information about each of these population centers:

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Bethlehem Quick Facts:

Population of approximately 27,000.

65% Muslim and 35% Christian.

Located approximately 5 miles from Jerusalem.

Birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Location of Rachel''s Tomb.

Tourism industry employs 20% of pop.

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Beit Sahour Quick Facts:

Population of approximately 12,000.

Unemployment rate is 60%.

Highest % of university grads. in Palestine.

75% of residents are Christian.

Industries: chemicals, stone work, textiles, crafts, tourism.

Location of "Shepherd''s Field" where angels announced the birth of Jesus in the Biblical story.

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Beit Jala Quick Facts:

Population of over 12,000 people.

Name, in Aramaic, means "grass carpet."

Highest point located 900 meters above sea level.

Main agriculture: olives, grapes, apricots, apples and plums.

Land threatened by 3 settlements: Gilo, Har Gilo, Giv''at Hamatos.

Population by religious affiliation: 7,000 Greek Orthodox, 2,500 Roman Catholics, 2,000 Muslims and 500 Protestants.

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Sources: Bethlehem Municipality Website: http://www.bethlehem-city.org/
Beit Sahour Municipality Website: http://www.beitsahourmunicipality.com/
Beit Jala Municipality Website: http://www.beit-jala.org/
Palestine & the Palestinians, Alternative Tourism Group.