Introduction
The 5th Annual Palestine Summer Encounter program!
Palestine Summer Encounter (PSE) is a one, two, or three month service learning and cultural immersion program in Bethlehem, Palestine. Participants study Arabic in and outside of the classroom setting, live with a Palestinian host family, volunteer with one of thirty-seven participating nonprofits and organizations and meet with both Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers.
PSE is a joint project between Middle East Fellowship, a U.S. based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Holy Land Trust, a Palestinian nonproft organization. Holy Land Trust handles the logistics on the ground. Including: matching participants with an appropriate volunteer placement, organizing guest speakers and weekend excursions, working with families for homestay arrangements and other aspects of the program in Palestine. Middle East Fellowship is responsible for pre-trip preparation, promotion, and some logistics. Typically one or two Middle East Fellowship representatives are present at all times during the program to assist with planning and arrangements.
We would love for your to join us this summer in Palestine. You can register for the program at any time. Once you have submitted the online application and sent in your $150 application fee we will begin the process of setting up your volunteer opportunity and working on all other aspects of your summer experience. Please check the dates and prices page for information about application deadlines.
If you have additional questions about the program your first step is to check the frequently asked questions page.
You can also contact us.
We look forward to working with you in Palestine this summer!
Sincerely,
Joshua Keaney
Cultural Connections Director
Middle East Fellowship
Elias Ghareeb
Travel & Encounter Director
Holy Land Trust
The Basics
Basic InformationEveryone 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 a 5-day-a-week intensive Arabic language acquisition program for beginners and intermediate level speakers.
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 will be a total of 8 weekend trips.
Dates & Costs
The cost of the Palestine Summer Encounter program depends on which session you choose (see the table below). We strongly recommend that you participate in the program for two or three months but several one month options are also available.Dates:
| 3 Month Option | A | May 22 — August 14 |
| Two Month Options | |
| B | May 22 — July 17 |
| C | June 19 — August 14 |
| One Month Options | |
| D | May 22 — June 19 |
| E | June 19 — July 17 |
| F | July 17 — August 14 |
| Deadlines: If you want to join us this summer beginning in May, the deadline has been extended to Cinco de Mayo May 5th, 2008. The deadline to submit your full program fees has been extended to May 12th, 2008 for the first session. If you are applying for the 2nd or 3rd session of Palestine Summer Encounter you will have until Memorial Day (May 26th) to submit your registration and full program fees. We strongly recommend that you apply well before the deadline so as to save yourself additional airfare costs and leave you breathing room to prepare for your journey. |
Late Applications:
These are the final deadlines. Any applications received beyond these dates will be accepted on a case-by-case basis only and be charged a minimum $100 late fee.
Costs (without flight):
3 Month Session: $3,375 (Package A)
2 Month Sessions: $2,765 (Packages B and C)
1 Month Sessions: $1,680 (Packages D, E and F)
Price Includes:
Prices do not Include:
Register Now!
Home Rebuilding Option:
Travelers participating in the third session of PSE (July 17th to August 14th) will have the opportunity to participate in the 2008 Home Rebuilding Camp during the last two weeks of their stay (August 1st through the 14th). This means that participants will serve at their regular volunteer opportunity the first two weeks and then switch over to the Home Rebuilding camp for the last two weeks of the session. Participants will also need to be an additional $500 fee to participate in the Home Rebuilding Camp (this fee will be spent on materials and equipment needed to rebuild the home). For more information, please refer to the Home Rebuilding listing on the Middle East Fellowship website:
http://www.middleeastfellowship.org/home_rebuild
Note: if you are participating in this additional program, please make a note of it on your Palestine Summer Encounter application.
Arabic Classes
Palestine Summer Encounter (PSE) is designed to build relationships and the Arabic classroom material will help you communicate and develop relationships with Palestinians.
[Above: Arabic class group photo, 2005].
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. Palestine Summer Encounter will provide 3 levels of Arabic.
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.
Intermediate Arabic:
Students must have already taken some Arabic, know the Arabic alphabet, and be able to read and write simple Arabic sentences. This class will use an Arabic book that teaches Modern Standard Arabic using Arabic script. The Arabic teacher will be responsible for adding colloquial Arabic to the class and pointing out differences between Modern Standard and Palestinian Colloquial.
Advanced Arabic:
Students must have already acquired basic reading, writing, and speaking. Although there is no advanced Arabic class for 2007, students at the advanced level will be offered 15 hours of tutoring. Note: Text books and curriculum for the Arabic classes is subject to change
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 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.
Volunteer Opportunities
Every Palestine Summer Encounter participant serves their host community through a volunteer placement at a nonprofit organization, summer camp, municipality, school, hospital, church or community center. Some of the more common volunteer opportunities and assignments include: writing/editing documents in English, teaching/tutoring English as a second language, coaching sports, supervising activities for children or youth at a summer camp, working with the elderly or the disabled, web design and maintenence, art (teaching art/supervising mural projects), manual labor (painting classrooms, etc.), research, and public relations.[Note: the opportunities listed below are based on the 2007 program. Updates will be made in the near future].
Volunteer Placements
Below is a list of 37 partnering organizations in Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Beit Jala where participants will be placed for their volunteer opportunities.
Quick List of Volunteer Placements:
Al Ghad Al Jadid
Location: Beit Sahour. Municipality Street
Contact person: Areej Qasis
Email: ghadjadid@hotmail.com
Telephone Number: 972-2-277-4829 (information about calling Palestine)
Projects/Activities: Educational/ activities for children/ computer training
Number of employees: 1
Types of volunteer opportunities available: teaching English and proposal writing.
Dates Volunteers Needed: May to August 2007.
Al-Ama Charitable Society
Location: Doha City. Bethlehem, Palestine.
Website: www.amalcss.net
Contact Person: Mr. Muayad Abuaker
E-mail: amal_dh@hotmail.com | abuaker@yahoo.com
Telephone Number: 972-2-275-3012
Fax number : 972-2-275-3012 (information about calling Palestine)
Activities/
Projects of organization: Medical clinic, kindergarten, housing projects for the elderly, caring for orphans and the poor, women''s emplyment, traditional Palestinian dance.
Number of employees: 25 employees and 15 volunteers.
Types of volunteer opportunities available: Medical volunteers, volunteers to work on the technical team.
Dates Volunteers Needed: June 1st through August 31st, 2007.
Ansar Center for Children
Location: al-Walajah. Beit Jala, Palestine.
Website: www.ansarvirtualactivism.net
Contact Person: Khader Al Araj
E-mail: waelaraj@yahoo.com
Telephone Number: 972-02-276-0031
Fax number: 972-02-276-0031 (information about calling Palestine)
Activities of the organization: educational activities for children and young adults.
Number of employees: 0 employees. 10 volunteers.
Types of volunteer opportunities available: 2 volunteers needed to help run the summer camp, 1 volunteer needed to teach English/ help write grant proposals.
Dates Volunteers Needed: Summer camp is from July to August. Volunteers accepted throughout the year.
Arab Educational Institute/ AEI-Open Windows
Location: Milk Grotto St. 96. Bethlehem, Palestine.
Website: www.aeicenter.org
Contact Person: Mr. Fuad Giacaman
E-mail: aei@p-ol.com
Telephone Number: 972-2-274-4030
Fax number: 972-2-277-7554 (information about calling Palestine)
Activities of the organization: AEI-Open Windows is an Arab-Palestinian NGO affiliated to Pax Christi International and established in Bethlehem in 1986 by a group of Palestinian educators. Working with youth, women and educators, it is engaged in the field of community education to contribute to the general causes of participation in public life and in peace and justice; the building of a free, democratic and culturally pluralistic Palestine, and the sharing and communication of the daily life reality of Palestine with broader audiences. A few of the projects of the organization include: 1) Activate youth and develop youth leadership skills, 2) raise awareness about values, culture and identity, 3) train individuals in effectively communicating the reality of the Palestinian situation and 4) develop the capacity, sustainability and outreach of the organization.
Number of employees: 5 full-time, 9 part-time.
Types of volunteer opportunities available: 1) teaching English, 2) training youth women and educators in peacebuilding, nonviolence and English communication skills, 3) Helping work on the website www.palestine-family.net
, 4) Help in the activities of the Summer School of Communication entitled "Arts of Sumud" (Sumud = steadfastness), 5) Music and Choir, 6) Drama.
Dates Volunteers Needed: May 27th to August 20th, 2007
Arab Women''s Union, Al-Basma Center
Location: Harone Street. Beit Sahour, Palestine.
Contact Person: Basma Giacaman
E-mail: arwomenunion@yahoo.com
Telephone Number: 972-2-277 2022
Mobile Phone Number: 972-52-232 2633
Fax number: 972-2-277 5507 (information about calling Palestine)
Activities/Focus of the Organization: Special education center for mentally handicapped youth and young adults.
Projects: olive wood ornaments, recycling paper, weaving.
Number of employees: 6
Types of volunteer opportunities available: working with the handicapped, writing/editing for proposals and documents.
Dates Volunteers Needed: May 27th to July 27th, 2007.
Beit Sahour Municipality
Location: Beit Sahour, Palestine.
Website: www.beitsahourmunicipality.com
Contact Person: Maha Atrash
E-mail: bsmuni@p-ol.com
Telephone Number: 972-2 277 4007
Fax number: 972-2 277 3520 (information about calling Palestine)
Activities of the organization: Helps residents of Beit Sahour in all aspects of life.Submits proposals for various programs for funding.
Number of employees: 29
Types of volunteer opportunities available: Editing articles, documents and press releases in English.
Dates Volunteers Needed: May to August, 2007.
Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation Specialized Rehabilitation and Surgery Hospital
Location: P.O.Box 100, Bethlehem | Cremisan Street, Beit Jala.
Website: www.basr.org
Contact Person: Mary G. Matta (Personnel Officer)
E-mail: mary@basr.org | basr@basr.org
Telephone Number: 972-2-274 4049 / 50 /1 /2
Fax number: 972-2-274 4053 (information about calling Palestine)
Activities of the organization: BASR is a national referral and resource medical zzrehabilitation centre that provides the Palestinian population with quality comprehensive services at all levels of service delivery (the national, the intermediate and the grassroots level), complimented by surgery and other support services.
Number of employees: 169.
Types of volunteer opportunities available: Opportunities available for doctors, nurses, radiologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists. Opportunities also available in maintenance and Internet Technical support.
Dates Volunteers Needed: Year round.
Bethlehem Bible College
Location: Bethlehem. (Mailing
Address: P.O Box 17166, Jerusalem 91190)
Website: www.bethlehembiblecollege.edu
Contact Person: Joanna Kahvedjian
E-mail:
Telephone Number:
Fax number:
Activities of the organization:
Number of employees: 4 to 6
Types of volunteer opportunities available: Painting offices and classrooms.
Dates Volunteers Needed: from July to August
Bethlehem Municipality
Address: Manger Square, P.O.Box 48, Bethlehem
Telephone number: 972-2-274 1323/4/5
Fax: 972-2-274 1327 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: bethlehemcit@p-ol.com
Website: www.bethlehem-city.org
Contact Person: Mr. Tony Marcos, Director General
Number of employees: 185
Types of Volunteer Opportunities Available: Public Relations, Writing Proposals, GIS unit
Dates Volunteers Needed: June 1st to July 31st, 2007.
Bethlehem Peace Center
Address: P.O Box 1166, Manger Square
Telephone number: 972-2-276 6677
Fax: 972-2-274 1057 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: info@peacenter.org
Website: www.peacenter.org
Contact Person: Mr. Michael Nasser
Number of employees: 20
Types of Volunteer Opportunities: Help with events and activities
Dates Volunteers Needed: year round, flexible
Catholic Action Institute
Address: P.O.Box 1042 King David Street Bethlehem, Palestine
Telephone number: 972-2- 2743372
Fax: 972-2-2742939 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: info@ca-b.org
Website: www.ca-b.org
Contact Person: Victor Bandak
Activities/Focus of the Organization: Sports, Cultural, Social
Types of volunteer opportunities: Sports Trainers for swimming, basketball, table tennis, life guards, Aerobics
Dates Volunteers Needed: June 1st to August 20th
East Jerusalem YMCA - Advocacy Desk
Address: YMCA, Beit Sahour
Telephone number: 972-2-277 4540
Fax: 972-2-277 4540 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: ihannouneh@ej-ymca.org | advocacy@ej-ymca.org
Website: www.jai-pal.org
Contact Person: Ibrahim Hannouneh Types of Activities/Orgnization Focus: Advocacy, lobbing, campaigning, publications, networking, advocacy tour groups
Number of employees: 200 (YMCA) and 7 (YMCA Advocacy)
Volunteer Activities/Assignments: Organizing children''s activities, organizing summer camps, editing/writing reports and proposals, photography and web design.
Dates Volunteers Needed: May 27th to August 20th.
Comments: Long term volunteers are preferable. Also, volunteers who can speak Arabic or has some basic Arabic speaking skills are preferable.
Environmental Education Center
Address: Talitha Kumi School Campus. Beit Jala, Palestine
Telephone number: 972-2-276 5574
Fax: 972-2-276 5574 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: eec@p-ol.com, sija9@yahoo.com
Website: www.eecp.org
Contact Person: Simon Awad
Activities/Focus of the Organization: Raising public awareness among all socio groups towards their environment, building capacity via training sessions, workshops and meetings, voluntary campaigns including cleaning up, harvesting olives, painting streets and planting, doing scientific researches, organizing national festivals, special activities for our environmental clubs such as summer camps, celebrations, lectures and field trips, implementing environmental pilot projects regarding water harvesting and solid waste management in addition to many other activities.
Projects: Acting in defense of the Palestinian Environment and Integrated Water Resources Management.
Number of the organization employees: 4
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Writing and editing reports and the annual activity report, exceptional skills in proposal writing and webpage designing
Dates Volunteers Needed: from June to August
Family Development Charitable Society Club for Elderly People
Address: Beit Sahour.
Telephone number: 972-2-277 4446
Fax: 972-2-277 4449 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: elen@tanas.org
Contact Person: Elen Al Qasiss
Activities/Focus of Organization: Elderly Club. Daily work with the elderly people: from cooking to cleaning and ironing.
Number of employees: 8
Volunteer opportunities available: Writing email and correspondents. Helping with PR and especially with the English Language. Helping with daily work as mentioned above.
The Future Vision Society for Development of the Abilities (AREEN)
Address: Dheisheh Camp. Bethlehem, Palestine
Telephone number: 972-2-274 3513
Fax: 972-2-274 3513 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: Future_vision12@hotmail.com
Website: www.3reen.org
Contact Person: Manal Al Azrak
Activities/Focus of the Organization: Child development, women, youth, provision of job opportunities, summer camps, training courses, etc.
Number of employees: 25 Volunteer Opportunities Available: Working on the website and assisting with any activities at the center (summer camps, workshops, training courses, etc.)
Dates Volunteers Needed: from May 27th to August 20th
Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society
Address: Shepherd's Field, Beit Sahour
Telephone number: 972-2-277-3087
Fax: 972-2-277-3088 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: hlcs@p-ol.com
Website: www.holyland-handicraft.org
Contact Person: Suzan Sahori
Activities/Focus of Organization: Marketing and creating new products for international sales. Working with international contacts promoting Fair Trade of local Palestinian products and crafts (olive wood products, mother of pearl and embroidery). Number of the organization employees: 10 Volunteer opportunities: "We need volunteers who are experienced in customer service, have excellent English writing skills and can help us to market and promote our organization, improve our website, etc."
Dates Volunteers Needed: June 2007 through August 2007 if possible.
Holy Land Trust
Address: #529 Manger Street, P. O. Box 737
Telephone number: 972-2-2765930
Fax: 972-2-2765931 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: palestine@holylandtrust.org
Website: www.holylandtrust.org
Contact Person: Awni Jubran
Activities/Focus of Organization: Holy Land Trust (HLT) is a Palestinian NGO that was established in 1998 with the aim of strengthening the Palestinian community for the future.
Projects include HLT Nonviolence Programs, Travel & Encounter and Palestine News Network (www.pnn.ps).
Number of employees: 19 Volunteer opportunities: Assisting with HLT Nonviolence Programs.
Dates Volunteers Needed: June to July 2007
House of Hope
Address: P.O Box 11526 Gilo- 91114 Jerusalem- Israel
Telephone number: 972-2-274 2325
Fax: 972-2-274 0928 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: houseofhopemd@palnet.com
Website: www.houseofhopemd.org
Contact Person: Rhoda David, Director Activities/Focus of Organization: House of Hope serves blind and disabled children and adults through a boarding house. Currently the "House of Hope" is being remodeled.
Number of employees: 20 (approximately) Volunteer Opportunities: "Once we receive an estimate of the work, we will need help moving furniture, possibly rewiring or remodeling certain areas, painting/ etc. in short, the desks/ Shelves, etc. from our offices will need to be moved to the current school and the school desks and boards and items will need to be moved to the residence section. " Dates Volunteers Needed: anytime between May and August 2007
Jemima, a Home for Handicapped Children
Address: Beit Jala/ Al- Sider Street 117
Telephone number: 972-2-275 0044
Fax: 972-2-277 7922 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: rikko@beitjemima.org | cc@beitjemima.org
Website: http://www.jemima.nl/eng/
Contact Person: Rikko Lawers/ Nisreen Sarras
Activities/Focus of Organization: Working with children and young grown up with mental and physical restrictions, and need assistance in custodial care.
Number of employees: 42 Volunteer Opportunities: Helping with activities and care for the children. Dates Volunteers Needed: Volunteer needed from 6 months to a year
Lajee Center
Address: Aida Camp- Bethlehem
Telephone number: 972-2-275 0789
Fax: 972-2-277 6446 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: info@lajee.org
Website: www.lajee.org
Contact Person: Salah Al Ajarma
Activities/Focus of Organization: Arts (storytelling, painting), Languages and child care
Number of employees: 2
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Taking care of the library and computer lab and preparing lessons for the children.
Dates Volunteers Needed: June 1st to July 30th
Medical Charitable Society
Address: Bethlehem-Taqua-City Center
Telephone number: 972-2-276 3386
Fax: 972-2-276 3445 (information about calling Palestine)
Contact Person: Ibrahim Jibrin
Activities/Focus of Organization: Our mission is humanitarian and health services.
Number of the organization employees: 10
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: We need doctors as volunteers in all specializations, nurses, health education specialists and women''s health experts. Volunteers will help in the work of health services and will help with lectures on health education for the public.
Dates Volunteers Needed: June to 5th to August, 2007
Comments: our institute serving the citizens in the eastern rural area where there are high rates of illiteracy and poverty.
Medical Relief society
Address: Bethlehem
Telephone number: 972-2-276 5576
Fax: 972-2-276 0074
Email: lubnabandak@gmail.com Contact person: Lubna Bandak or Amal Banoura
Activities/Focus of Organization: training in gender issues, human rights and other related fields to development, computer skills, English language proficiency as well as training in other languages when possible. Summer camps, training courses, and field activities like awareness campaign for our Health clubs in villages and cities. Number of the organization employees: 3
Dates Volunteers Needed: from May to August if possible
The National Charitable Society
Address: Dheisheh Refugee Camp. Bethlehem, Palestine. Telephone: 972-2-274 0304
Fax : 972-2-275 3749
Email : Mizher_6@hotmail.com
Contact Person: Abed al hamed mizher
Activities/Focus of Organization: 1. Health Center project: The health center includes a number of departments and medical clinics, including: specialized clinics, the emergency clinic, x-ray, the dental clinic, a pharmacy, and a medical laboratory. 2. Cultural Center project: includes classrooms and lecture hall for workshops and lectures in methodology. 3. Charitable social projects: includes relief projects, food parcels, holiday clothing distribution and the school bag project.
Number of employees: 12 Volunteer Opportunities available: writing and formulating project proposals in English, contacting and building relations with donor institutions, opening channels of communication with international and local organizations and preperation of correspondence with representatives of international and local institutions.
Number of volunteers needed: 2
Dates Volunteers Needed: 2 months to 6 months
Comments: Please note that all tools and equipment needed for your volunteer placement will be provided by the organization. We prefer volunteers with experience in the tasks listed above and who also have experience in the health field, especially doctors.
Open Bethlehem
Address: Manger Square. Bethlehem, Palestine.
Telephone number: 970-22-777993
Fax: 970-22-740139
Email: admin@openbethlehem.org
Website: www.openbethlehem.org
Contact Person: Nida Rishmawi
Activities/Focus of the Organization: Media operation, Documentation, research, tours, Events promotion. All projects combine political and tourism aspects.
Number of employees: 3 Volunteer Opportunities Available: Writing/research, IT, graphic design. Looking for volunteers with skills in these areas.
Dates Volunteers Needed: as long as possible
Comments: Open Bethlehem would like the chance to interview the volunteers beforehand as we are currently unable to absorb interns. We are looking for highly skilled people.
Paidia International Development
Address: Beit Sahour, Suteih Street
Telephone number: 972-2-274 8698
Fax: 972-2-274 8698 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: gina@pidev.org
Website: www.pidev.org
Contact Person: Gina Sahouri
Activities/Focus of Organization: PID provides adventures recreational programs for children and young adults use these programs to offer vital educational opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Help in building the playground area, working with kids, teaching, bids high rapes courses
Dates Volunteers Needed: from May to August
The Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People
Address: Schools street, P.O Box 24. Beit Sahour, Palestine.
Telephone number: 972-2-277 2018
Fax: 972-2-277 4602
Email: info@pcr.ps
Website: www.pcr.ps
// www.imemc.org
Contact Person: George Rishmawi
Activities/Focus of Organization: Advocacy, Training, Media, Nonviolent Resistance
Projects: 1) International Middle East Media Center. (IMEMC.ORG) and 2) Youth Advocates Program (YAP) Number of employees: 4 Volunteer Opportunities Available: Reading News reports for audio production, editing news reports and writing proposals (if possible)
Dates Volunteers Needed: from June 1st until the end of August
Comments: If any of the volunteers has a background in Arabic, and speaks Arabic with some media skills, it will be PERFECT
Palestine News Network
Address: Bethlehem
Telephone number: 972-2-276 6067
Fax: 972-2-276 5931 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: info@pnn.ps
Website: www.pnn.ps
Contact Person: Fadi Abu Sada
Activities/Focus of Organization: Media news agency in four languages.
Number of employees: 20
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Translators and journalists
Dates Volunteers Needed: from 1 month to 2 months
Palestine Wildlife Society
Address: PO Box 89, Beit Sahour
Telephone number: 972-2-277 4750
Fax: 972-2-277 4750 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: pwls@wildlife-pal.org | wildlife@palnet.com
Website: http://www.wildlife-pal.org http://www.wildlife-pal.org/portal/index.php
Activities/Focus of Organization: 1) Monitoring of wildlife, especially bird ringing and bird watching. We operate the Jericho Wildlife Monitoring Station. Jericho is a very active in terms of bird migration. 2) Environmental Education among the schools in Palestine. 3) Promoting Eco-Tourism within Palestinian Society and 4) Combating Desertification (accredited status with the UNCCD)
Number of employees: 10
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Fundraising, Multi Media, International Public Relations Dates Volunteers Needed: Year round.
Palestinian Friendship Association
Address: Wadi Ma’ly – Nazlet Al-ain
Telephone number: 972-2-2760411
Fax: 972-2-2760411 (information about calling Palestine)
Contact Person: Ashraf Shaheen
Activities/Focus of Organization: Media, Children’s Rights, Film Making, Cinema, Media
Website. Types of projects include film making with young people, reports about Palestinian children, research about the situation of children in Palestine, Cinema, and workshops for children and young people.
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Writing reports, preparing website, giving workshops, organizing workshops and activities.
Palestinian Women''s Association for Development
Address: Beit Sahour- City Center
Telephone number: 972-2-277 5154
Fax: 972-2-277 5154 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: info@pwad.net
Website: www.pwad.net
Contact Person: Maha Abdalmaseeh
Activities/Focus of Organization: Palestinian Women''s Association for Development is a Palestinian, non governmental non profit organization committed to empower the Palestinian women at all levels in society.
Number of employees: 3 Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Making contacts/ Marketing/ public relations
Dates Volunteers Needed: from May to September
Radio ISIS
Address: Beit Sahour- Municipality Street
Telephone number: 972-2-277 5506 | 972-2-277 5504
Fax: 972-2-277 5504 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: isis@radioisis.net
Website: www.radioisis.net
Contact Person: Shumou3 Ghareeb
Activities/Focus of Organization: Secretary and managers of programs
Number of employees: 10 Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Research, correspondence, proposal wriitng, editing and communications
Dates Volunteers Needed: May 2007 to August 2007
Saint Nicolas Home Charitable Society for the Elderly (SNHCSE)
Address: Beit Jala- West Bank- Palestine
Telephone number: 972-2-274 0893
Fax: 972-2-274 0893 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: stnicolashome@yahoo.com
Website: www.saintnicolashome.org
Contact Person: Dr. Mario Hadweh (Chairman) Activities/Focus of the Organization: Caring for the elderly so they can live with respect and dignity.
Number of employees: 7 Volunteer Assignments/Activities: helping the elderly
Dates Volunteers Needed: from July 1st to August 1st, 2007
Senior Citizen`s Society
Address: Beit Jala, P.O Box 252
Telephone number: 972-2-276 6370
Fax: 972-2-276 6371 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: info@bjscs.org.ps
Website: www.bjscs.org.ps
Contact Person: George Tareh Activities/Focus of Organization: Caring for seniors. Current projects include: painting murals for the building and secretary administration
Number of employees: 3
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Painting murals and Secretary/Administration
Dates Volunteers Needed: from 30 May to 20 June 2007
Shepherds Field Hospital
Address: Beit Sahour Telephone number: 972-2-277-5092
Fax: 972-2-277-5091 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: s-f-hospital@yahoo.com
Contact Person: Dr. Rishmawi Rafiq
Activities/Focus of Organization: Hospital, day care center, maternity work, clinics.
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Nurses, staff midways
Laborers Association for Studies and Development / SHIRAA
Address 1 : Bethlehem – Al-Dehisheh
Address 2 : Bethlehem Alqasem Building
Telephone number: 972-2-275 0436 | 972-2-276 0264 | 972-52-229 1790 |972-59-908 9790 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: shiraaorg@yahoo.com
Website: http://shiraa.org/
Contact Person: Hussein Al-Hroub (Abu Rabee)
Activities/Focus of the Organization: The Laborers’ Association for Studies and Development, known by its acronym Shiraa, is an independent Palestinian non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families in the Bethlehem area, it works to protect and enable Palestinian workers and labor activists. Shiraa is concerned that human, political, and economic rights are respected, and that just legislation and labor laws are enacted in Palestine. Shiraa works to protect basic human rights, improve working and living conditions and create more employment opportunities Its work is based on the principles of sustainable development democracy, respect for human rights, and the right to self determination. Some current projects include: 1) Educational exchange Project. 2) Embroidery project. 3) Shiraa Center for training and Courses.
Number of employees: 2
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: website development, Fundraising, English lecturer and Circus Trainer
Dates Volunteers Needed: from May 2007 to August 2007
SOS Children Village
Address: Bethlehem- El karkafa Street
Telephone number: 972-2-274 2267
Fax: 972-2-274 5179 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: socialworker@sos-palestine.org
Website: www.sos-palestine.org
Contact Person: Nabil Elhilo
Projects: Children`s Village Volunteer Opportunities/Activities: Teaching English, Translating, helping in activities.
Dates Volunteers Needed: Year round.
Comments: The volunteer needs to be able to work well with children.
Students' Forum
Address: Al-Qateami Building-basement. University Street, Bethlehem.
Telephone number: 972-2-2751882
Fax: 972-2-2751882 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: info@students-forum.org
Website: www.students-forum.org
Contact Person: Ramzi Odah Activities/Focus of Organization: Concerned with students'' affairs and raising the educational and academic levels in the Palestinian society.
Number of employees: 4
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Teach English/French
Dates Volunteers Needed: from 1/6/2007 to 30/8/2007
Tent of Nations' People Building Bridges
Address: office in Bethlehem: Atan Street 17, P.O.Box 28, Bethlehem
Telephone number: 972-2-274 30 71
Fax: 972-2-276 74 46 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: tnations@p-ol.com
Website: www.tentofnations.org
Contact Person: Daoud Nassar
Activities/Focus of Organization: "The Tent of Nations is a land and youth project that seeks to bring people from different cultures and backgrounds together to build bridges of understanding, reconciliation and peace. The nature of our work includes: organizing activities and summer camps for youth and children, developing land and helping Palestinians stay connected to their land. For more details, please check out our website." Some current projects include: summer camps for youth and children.
Number of employees: 3 employees and a number of volunteers Volunteer Opportunities: Office work, youth work and helping in organizing activities, summer camps and workshops for children and young people. Also we are running a women''s project in the village of Nahalin, volunteers could help in teaching English to women, helping facilitate art projects for women, etc.
Dates Volunteers Needed: from June to October
Comments: "All our activities and camps are organized at the campsite of the Tent of Nations, located on Daherâ's Vineyard near the village of Nahalin, ca. 9 km south of Bethlehem on the way to Hebron. Through these activities, we want to connect people with their land. Land and people are our concern."
The Public Committee Services for Palestinian Refugees
Address: Azzeh Camp Bethlehem Palestine
Telephone number: 972-2-276 0360
Fax: 972-2-276 0360 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: al_wamak@hotmail.com or azzeh_camp@yahoo.com
Contact Person: Ahmad Al’azzeh Activities/Focus of Organization: Grassroots organizing, rehabilitation, raising awareness, employability and vocational. One current project is the "Palestinian Refugees Identity Development Enterprise" which is funded by the E.U.
Number of employees: 0 employees, just volunteers.
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Basic English training, volunteer in the Camp's kindergarten. Dates Volunteers Needed: Year round.
Women Child Care Society
Address: Beit Jala
Telephone number: 972-2-274 2507
Fax: 972-2-274 2507 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: wccs@palnet.com
Contact Person: Lydis Araj
Activities/Focus of Organization: Social activities for women and children, embroidery, summer camps. There are two programs within the summer camp, one for children ages 6 to 12 and another for children ages 12 to 16.
Number of employees: 6 Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: Helping in Summer Camps
Dates Volunteers Needed: period needed from 6 months to a year
Comments: Volunteers that speak both English and Arabic preferred
YMCA/ Youth & Sport Center
Address: YMCA Street, Beit Sahour
Telephone number: 972-2-277 2185 | 972-2-277 2713
Fax: 972-2-277 5146 (information about calling Palestine)
Email: ycenter@ej-ymca.org
Website: www.ej-ymca.org
Contact Person: Anton Jaraysah
Activities/Focus of the Organization: Youth and Sports Center
Projects include: Summer Camp, After school out-door activities.
Number of employees: 12
Volunteer Opportunities/Assignments: 1. Fundraising and reports` writing 2. Gym and/ or Swim trainer 3. Working on activities for children and youth.
Dates Volunteers Needed: from June 1st to August 15th
Bethlehem
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: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.
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.
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.
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.