volunteer with us
Ibdaa has multiple programs and multiple opportunities for help and improvements.
We are accepting volunteers on the ongoing basis.
Please Contact us for more information
We are accepting volunteers on the ongoing basis.
Please Contact us for more information
Volunteer reviews
Line Bech Nielsen
20 years Denmark Volunteered at Ibdaa from April 19th-June 4th. 1. Accommodation Staying at Ibdaa Guesthouse is highly recommendable if you are just staying there for a short term. The rooms are clean, the atmosphere amazing, and it is really great to be so close to everything: the staff, the other volunteers at Ibdaa, both Ibdaa buildings, the camp itself and all the people at Dheisheh. If staying several weeks or even months I wouldn't recommend the guesthouse though. For me, I quickly missed having my own table, kitchen and a bit more space why moving into an apartment in Bethlehem was the right decision. Also my room was close to the main entrance why it was quite loud in the evenings. |
2. Kindergarten
Hournestly, working at the Kindergarden was tough and really challenging in the beginning amongst other things due to the barrier of language. Since the children of course don't speak any English knowing just a few Arabic phrases beforehand would be a great help. However, after the first week, working with the Palestinian children became so giving, meaningful, indightful and educational for me! During that work I have learned and gained so much. Mainly because of the three amazing and inspiring teachers! They have played a big part in me feeling comfortable and in the right role amongst the children. Because of their expertise and kindness I have been able to both play and have fun with the kids but also to teach them. Being with the children of Dheisheh really learns you a lot about the culture, about life in the camp, about life in general, and I am sure the six weeks of work there will stay with me forever. In addition it helped improving my (very few) Arabic skills. It's amazing how quickly you become attached to such a group. Not just as a collective, but to each one of them individually. So quickly you get to know their mood, temper, needs and personality - despite the lack of language. To sum up, every day in Kindergarten was quite hard and challenging, but way more giving, insightful and important.
3. Women's sports and Women's Committee
Working with women might be the one thing I would recommend the highest to everybody ever going to Ibdaa or just to Palestine! I have learned and gained more from that than from anything else. The women of Dheisheh are simply the most open, hournest, inspiring, lovely, strong and giving people you could ever imagine. I am so incredibly grateful for getting to be invited into their room and to become part of their community.
I clearly remember my first time at Women's Sports. Originally I just planned to stop by shortly to look. However, as soon as I entered, I was happily thrown into joining. That way my first really team fitness training ever was in a Palestinian refugee cano to Arabic music with a team of women speaking no Englidh but an amazingly motivating "Yallah Yallah"-yelling instructor. It was such a positive experience though. It was amazing to see how clearly this was their haven/personal space. Here they are free and have time to be just themselves. It was so visible how much energy and happiness they gained of it.
Concerning the Women's Committee, a lot of it is the same. This is truly the women's haven. They have these two hours a week together just by themselves free to say, feel and do that they want. To say and talk about how they actually feel without any husband or family there. Without any household to do. Here they share stories, problems, dreams, hopes and happiness. Together they are so strong. Being a part of the committee and getting to hear the women's stories and thought and getting to know each one of them had truly filled me with a lot of love and gratitude. One little thing is that most of the women don't really speak English, so having one friend from the camp who spoke English who joined me there has been really good and quite important.
4. Staff/contact
Really, the contact at Ibdaa has been perfect and totally problem free.
Contact person
It's been a great help to have one contact person to plan all of my program(in a very nice and organized way) and whom I have known I could call when ever. This has made the communication very easy and clear, and I have felt 100 % safe. In general the staff at Ibdaa is great. The receptionists are friendly, smiling and are always willing to help you. So are the teachers, school inspector, coaches, restaurant chef etc. They all make you feel home at Ibdaa which might be the most important thing.
Hournestly, working at the Kindergarden was tough and really challenging in the beginning amongst other things due to the barrier of language. Since the children of course don't speak any English knowing just a few Arabic phrases beforehand would be a great help. However, after the first week, working with the Palestinian children became so giving, meaningful, indightful and educational for me! During that work I have learned and gained so much. Mainly because of the three amazing and inspiring teachers! They have played a big part in me feeling comfortable and in the right role amongst the children. Because of their expertise and kindness I have been able to both play and have fun with the kids but also to teach them. Being with the children of Dheisheh really learns you a lot about the culture, about life in the camp, about life in general, and I am sure the six weeks of work there will stay with me forever. In addition it helped improving my (very few) Arabic skills. It's amazing how quickly you become attached to such a group. Not just as a collective, but to each one of them individually. So quickly you get to know their mood, temper, needs and personality - despite the lack of language. To sum up, every day in Kindergarten was quite hard and challenging, but way more giving, insightful and important.
3. Women's sports and Women's Committee
Working with women might be the one thing I would recommend the highest to everybody ever going to Ibdaa or just to Palestine! I have learned and gained more from that than from anything else. The women of Dheisheh are simply the most open, hournest, inspiring, lovely, strong and giving people you could ever imagine. I am so incredibly grateful for getting to be invited into their room and to become part of their community.
I clearly remember my first time at Women's Sports. Originally I just planned to stop by shortly to look. However, as soon as I entered, I was happily thrown into joining. That way my first really team fitness training ever was in a Palestinian refugee cano to Arabic music with a team of women speaking no Englidh but an amazingly motivating "Yallah Yallah"-yelling instructor. It was such a positive experience though. It was amazing to see how clearly this was their haven/personal space. Here they are free and have time to be just themselves. It was so visible how much energy and happiness they gained of it.
Concerning the Women's Committee, a lot of it is the same. This is truly the women's haven. They have these two hours a week together just by themselves free to say, feel and do that they want. To say and talk about how they actually feel without any husband or family there. Without any household to do. Here they share stories, problems, dreams, hopes and happiness. Together they are so strong. Being a part of the committee and getting to hear the women's stories and thought and getting to know each one of them had truly filled me with a lot of love and gratitude. One little thing is that most of the women don't really speak English, so having one friend from the camp who spoke English who joined me there has been really good and quite important.
4. Staff/contact
Really, the contact at Ibdaa has been perfect and totally problem free.
Contact person
It's been a great help to have one contact person to plan all of my program(in a very nice and organized way) and whom I have known I could call when ever. This has made the communication very easy and clear, and I have felt 100 % safe. In general the staff at Ibdaa is great. The receptionists are friendly, smiling and are always willing to help you. So are the teachers, school inspector, coaches, restaurant chef etc. They all make you feel home at Ibdaa which might be the most important thing.