Frequently Asked Questions - Dates & Costs

Yes. There are several ways to do this. Your friends and family, of course, can give you money directly to use toward the cost of your program participation. These gifts, because they are given to you and not to a 501(C)(3) nonprofit, are likely NOT tax deductible. We encourage you to thank your friends and family for their support in person or in writing and then make your payment in full for the program.

If your donors would like to make a tax deductible donation to the generalized scholarship fund for Palestine Summer Encounter participants they are free to do so. Checks can be made out to "Middle East Fellowship." Please also have donors write "Palestine Summer Encounter" in the memo of the check. In a letter or e-mail included with the check or payment, the donor should indicate that they want their donation to be designated for the Palestine Summer Encounter Scholarship Fund. Additionally, they can recommend that the funds be used on behalf of a specific participant whom they would like to support. Although the dispersement of these funds is under the prerogative of Middle East Fellowship, we will carefully track these donations and give full consideration to all donor requests and specifications. Please understand that, by handling donations in this manner, we are merely adhering to IRS rules and regulations. If you have additional questions about how this process works, please contact us.

If a parent, guardian or other friend or relative is making a direct payment for your program, and the tax deductibility of their gift is not an issue, they should just make clear that their payment is being made to cover your program fees. They need not (and should not) designate their payment as a gift toward the scholarship fund.

We strongly encourage donors on your behalf to consult with a tax advisor as laws are subject to change.

Please refer to the Dates and Costs section of the website.

This is a question best asked in consultation with a financial or tax advisor. We encourage you to save all of your receipts, including correspondence and receipting from us and receipts from your purchase of airline tickets, expenses on the ground, etc. Bring a manilla envelope to safely store receipts in during your trip–and don't lose it!

It is possible for U.S. participants that at least a portion of your trip would be tax deductible because this is a volunteer program. Laws on tax deductions can change. It is ultimately the responsibility of each participant to determine for themselves to what extent their experience is tax deductible. We should be able to offer an itemized breakdown of how your payments were used at the end of the program upon request. Again we recommend: a) keeping all of your receipts and b) when tax season comes up, consult a tax advisor.

Palestine Summer Encounter is a relatively inexpensive program. Unfortunately, it simply is not possible to offer the program at no charge (otherwise we would!) Some of the many expenses include: salaries of the Arabic instructors; weekend excursions (tour guides, buses, hotels, etc.); compensation for host family expenses (room and board); and staff time (to set up volunteer opportunities, lead the orientation, help participants prepare for their trip, etc.) In spite of the many necessary expenses incurred, we make every effort to keep the program as affordable as possible.

For your time in Israel and Palestine you will be responsible for exchanging your own money. The currency generally used in both Israel and Palestine is the New Israeli Shekel. It's best to exchange at least some money at the airport so that you will have it to spend as needed in your first couple of days (on food, transportation, etc.). For currency conversions, try our currency converter widget or, if your prefer, refer to a respected online currency converter, such as http://www.xe.com/ucc/

It's really hard to say. Your main expenses outside of your flight and the costs of the program itself will be lunches and local transportation (taxis and services) which are both offered relatively cheaply in the Bethlehem area. On the other hand, a number of participants do go out to fancier restaurants on a regular basis, ordering large meals or maybe coffee and hookah, and also spend a considerable amount of money on souvenirs to bring back home. Shipping packages back home can also get pricey, so you if you plan to do this you might want to consider this expense in advance.

All things considered, previous delegates have found that $10-15 per day is more than sufficient to cover the cost of daily expenses including lunch and transportation. You could easily get by on less than this. You should probably bring some additional money for tips and if you plan to buy souvenirs and gifts. Cash and your credit card (Visa is the most accepted at ATM machines) usually work best. Please bring small bills (5s and 1s). It is very difficult to cash travelers checks in most of the places we will go so don't bother with them.

Yes. There is some flexibility. Please contact us for more details. We do, however, STRONGLY encourage participants to work within the dates already provided, which are already highly flexible, if at all possible. If you miss the orientation session at the beginning of each session, you may have a harder time adjusting to the culture as well as your volunteer placement and Arabic class. Any special travel arrangements, including early or late start dates, must be communicated to Middle East Fellowship at least two months in advance of your departure.

No. There are no fellowships available at this time. We do encourage all participants to fundraise for their trip.