The Nablus Program
We are excited to announce the reopening of our programs and to welcome volunteers back into the community.
This initiative enables local children and youth—who make up the majority of our students—to receive completely free tuition. Volunteers work alongside local teachers to provide Palestinian children and young people with educational opportunities essential for their growth and development. Our main areas of focus include languages, arts, technology, music, and sports.
Class sizes are intentionally kept small to create a positive and encouraging learning environment. Lessons take place across a variety of settings such as community centers, libraries, private schools, and refugee camps. Volunteers may teach in any combination of these locations, or at the two-story English Center located across from the volunteer accommodation. The English center includes several classrooms, a computer lab, and a lecture hall. Developing English (or French) language skills significantly increases students’ future employment prospects and strengthens their chances of pursuing higher education.
As the situation in the region remains unpredictable, the wellbeing of our volunteers and local partners is our highest priority.
To support everyone’s safety, all volunteers will check in with the local team each morning for updates and guidance. These briefings ensure that everyone is informed about current conditions and any precautions needed for the day. We also ask volunteers to remain mindful and exercise caution when moving around outside of their assigned project locations.
By staying connected with the local team and following their guidance, volunteers can continue contributing meaningfully while supporting a safe and responsible environment for all.
Goals of this Project:
- Provide free English or French language classes to the disadvantaged people of Palestine
- Improve the future prospects of the people of Palestine
- Expose non-English/French speakers to native English/French speakers in order to improve pronunciation and conversational skills
- Enable inter-cultural exchange which benefits both students and international volunteers alike.
How You Can Help
Volunteers play an integral role in achieving the goals of this project, greatly assisting students to learn the English or French language. Volunteers from many different backgrounds and skill sets are welcome on this program, though some experience in teaching or working with groups of children is required. Volunteers will be expected to teach one of the core languages (English or French), but in addition volunteers are encouraged to share whatever skills they may have –- whether in the arts, athletics, music or IT. This will be an extremely rewarding project for international volunteers, who get to assist some of the most disadvantaged people in the world, in one of the most culturally significant places on earth.
Volunteers will contribute in a number of ways and can expect to undertake the following tasks:
- Converse in and teach basic English/French to the students
- Help deliver lessons across a variety of subjects/hobbies including music
- Interact with students in a variety of ways – enabling intercultural exchange
Requirements
Love Volunteers welcomes all those 18 years and over who wish to help create a brighter future for children through the power of education. This project best suits those with experience and/or qualifications in the field of childhood development and education, though volunteers who simply wish to explore an interest in this field are also welcomed as there are many ways you can assist in the classroom. Whist not mandatory, completing a TEFL course prior to joining this project would prove to be highly beneficial. Ideally, volunteers on this project will have at least a basic knowledge of the local language in order to communicate effectively with staff and students, though this is not a pre-requisite. Importantly, all applicants must first and foremost have a genuine willingness to help, show drive and initiative, and bring a positive 'can-do' attitude. If this sounds like you, we want you on the team!
Additionally, volunteers applying to join this program will be required to supply to following documentation:
- Emergency contact
- Passport
- Resume
Project Location
Volunteers often describe Nablus as welcoming, flavorful, and full of character—from the aromatic souks and traditional olive-oil soap workshops to the friendly conversations with neighbors and shopkeepers. It is a place where cultural exchange happens naturally and daily connections become some of the most memorable parts of the experience.
The Palestinian village of Sebastia lies some 12 kilometres north of Nablus. Other major Palestinian cities such as Jenin, Tulkarem and Qalqilya are also near Nablus in the north of the country.
Because of ongoing conflict in this area of the world, travelers should take notice of travel advisories issued by various embassies before undertaking travel here. Relatively large numbers of international tourists and volunteers visit the West Bank without any incident. However, the situation has the potential to deteriorate. We recommend you consult travel advice regularly.
Start Dates & Duration
This project is available year-round and programs start every SATURDAY. Volunteers can choose to participate for periods ranging from 4 weeks to 12 weeks. Longer stays can be arranged directly with the local team, but will be subject to availability and individual visa conditions.
Spaces on this project are limited and therefore subject to availability. Early booking is recommended.
For current available start dates please check the calendar on the right.
Arrival & Orientation
There are no direct international flights into Palestine (West Bank). Volunteers usually fly into Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel (CODE: TLV), then make their way into The West Bank via one of several Israeli-controlled entry points. Full details of these crossing points, along with advice about how to make this crossing via each option, is provided to all registered volunteers in their Volunteers Dashboard.
Once volunteers have successfully entered The West Bank they must make their way to the local project office in Nablus. Again, full step-by-step instructions about how to do this are provided via the Volunteer Dashboard.
After they arrive at the local project office in Nablus, volunteers will be brought directly to the volunteer house to meet the local Project Manager and settle in to their accommodations. The following morning, an orientation is held and the itinerary presented. This includes a walking tour of the local area and also covers details of the social, health and educational needs of the local community. Your project manager will also address safety and health points, organizational rules and “do’s and don’ts” of living and working comfortably in Palestine. This is a great opportunity to get to know your hosts, meet your fellow volunteers, and ask any last questions you may have.
- Program Arrival Day: SATURDAY
- Program Departure Day: SATURDAY
- Arrival/Departure Airport: Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel (CODE: TLV)
- (Volunteers must plan to arrive in Nablus between 9am and 3pm on Saturdays)
Accommodation & Meals
Volunteers on this program are accommodated in a large, historic home in Nablus, conveniently located opposite the program offices. All standard amenities are available in the house including a well-equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, communal areas for relaxing, bathrooms and even free Wi-Fi!
Volunteers are accommodated on different floors by gender as per local custom and rooms are typically shared between two or three, but this will depend on volunteer numbers for your dates.
The accommodation on this program is self-catering (meals are not included in the program fees) and volunteers can make use of the kitchen facilities in the Volunteer House to prepare meals by purchasing groceries locally or may like to dine out at one of the many cafes, bars and restaurants located within easy reach of the house.
Be sure to try the traditional dish, Magloubeh, meaning ‘upside down’. A delicious main meal of rice, eggplant, lamb or chicken that are layered for cooking and inverted to serve.
Fees
That’s just USD 22 per day* for:
*In addition to the program fees listed above a Registration Fee is payable to secure your place. The registration fee is USD 299 for those volunteering with Love Volunteers for the first time or USD 149 for any subsequent volunteer placements. The registration fee includes: lifetime LV Alumni Membership, fundraising support & advice, dedicated pre-departure support, certificate of completion (on request), and exclusive access to the LV Trip Planner.
Some things are not included in the program fees listed above, such as flights, visas, vaccinations, travel insurance, additional foods and snacks, spending money, local transport, in-country trips and excursions, return airport transfer (unless mentioned above).
Please note that prices are subject to change without notice. Please ensure you have read the Love Volunteers Terms and Conditions & Refund Policy.