15 June 2008 – 17 August 2008
June 15th – July 13th 2008 (first month)
July 14th – August 17th 2008 (second month)

Come and celebrate Palestine, learn Arabic, study history, know the people and their culture, share some time with local families and volunteer with a local community organization.
 
The Palestinian summer celebration is a unique annual program that gives people from all over the world thechance to encounter the life and culture in Palestine in addition to donating some of their time to a local community organization through voluntary work and internships.

The Palestinian summer celebration 2007 will take place in the Bethlehem area in Palestine, between Wednesday June 20th and August 18th 2007. the annual celebration is organized by Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies in partnership with Bethlehem University and the US based Society for Biblical Studies, .

Participants will also have the opportunity to listen and question high level speakers of various positions and expertise.
 
Program:

Sunday 15th June 2008: Arrival
Upon arrival to Siraj center, guests will be introduced to their host families, Dinner and overnight with families.

Monday 16th June 2008: Orientation day
Participants are expected to start their day early at Siraj center. The orientation will be about the cultural differences, introduction to Bethlehem, roads, post offices, health services, restaurants, public transportation. Guests will then visit the Shepherds Field and the Church of Nativity. In the afternoon, we will end up at Bethlehem University for a tour and further orientation about the offered courses. Dinner and overnight with host families

From Tuesday 17th June 2008 – Friday 20th June 2008: Classes and volunteer work
Tuesday Morning: representatives of organizations will be there to pick their volunteers and show them their work locations and offices, and their way of transportation.
PM: Classes will start at Bethlehem University.
Dinner and overnight with the host families.

Saturday 21st June 2008: First Day Tour: Hebron
Tour the old city and meet with the Temporary International presence in Hebron and the Christian Peace Makers Teams. We will Visit the Ibrahiemi mosque, The Tombs of the Patriarchs and converse with locals. Moreover, we will visit traditional glass and pottery factories. We will have the chance to visit Hebron University and meet with students. In the afternoon, we will return back to Bethlehem and on the way back, we will stop by the Tent of Nations and hear about their stories. In the evening, their will be a BBQ with locals in the Beit Sahour area. Overnight with local families.

Sunday 22nd June 2008: Free Day

From Monday 23rd June 2008 – Friday 27th June 2008: classes and Volunteer work
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University

Saturday 28th June 2008: Tour Jerusalem
We will tour the old city and mount of olives. We will be introduced to the three monotheistic religions by visiting Al Aqsa mosque, the Western Wall and the Church of the Holt Seplechur. In the afternoon we will be introduced to the Geo- political situation around Jerusalem by a tour with the Israeli Committee against house demolishes. on our way back to Bethlehem, we will visit Betselem and have a meeting with the leading Israeli Human Rights organization. Dinner and overnight with local families

Sunday 29th June 2008: Free Day

From Monday 30th June – Friday 4th July 2008: Classes and Volunteer work
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University
 
Saturday 5th July 2008: Jericho and the Dead Sea
All participants will have the chance to participate in a trip to the oldest known settlement the world. Tour Jericho including, early morning Hiking in Wadi Qelt, Mount of Temptation and Tel Jericho. We will enjoy floating over the waters of the dense Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem with local families.
 
Sunday 06th July 2008: Free Day

From Monday 07th July 2008 – Friday 11th July 2008: Classes and Volunteer work
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University
 
Saturday 12th July 2008: Ramallah
We will tour, the city of Ramallah, meet with human rights organizations. We will visit Birzeit university and meet with students. We will tour the campus and hear about the right of Education campaign. In the afternoon, we will have some free time in Ramallah before heading back to Bethlehem. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.
 
Sunday 13th July 2008: Free Day

The starting of the second month:
From Monday 14th July – Friday 18th July 2008: classes and Volunteer work
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University
 
Saturday 19th July 2008 and Sunday 20th July 2008: Nazareth and Galilee
This trip will include an overnight in Nazareth area. During the coming days participants will have the chance to meet and learn about the situation inside Israel and the 1948 catastrophe. Participants will meet with Ittijah, a coalition for organizations in the Galilee. Tour a destroyed and unrecognized villages. Visit to Haifa, Jaffa and Akko. Meeting with the Arab Human rights organization in Nazareth besides for visits to holy sites in Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. Sunday late at night return back to the Bethlehem area for dinner and overnight with local families.
 
From Monday 21st July 2008 – Friday 25th July 2008: Classes and Volunteer work
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University
 
Saturday 26th July 2008: Negev
We will accompany Israeli organizations a visit and visit the Negev dessert. We will be introduced to the Bedouins issues and visit to Bedouin unrecognized villages. While in the Negev, participants will have the chance to visit holy and historical sites too. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem area with local families.
 
Sunday 27th July 2008: Free Day
 
From Monday 28th July 2008 – Friday 01st August 2008: Classes and Volunteer work
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University
 
Saturday 02nd August 2008: North of the West Bank
Participants will have the opportunity to visit the Northern West Bank. We will visit the cities of Qalqilieh, Tulkarem and Jinin. We will be introduced to the living conditions in these areas and we will visit the Arab American university in Jinin. We will meet with local organizations and officials and tour refugee camps. Dinner and overnight in the Bethlehem area

Sunday 03rd August 2008: Free Day

From Monday 04th August – Friday 08th August 2008: Classes and Volunteer work
AM: Volunteer work.
PM: Classes at Bethlehem University

Saturday 09th August 2008: Preparations for finals, there will be no day tour

Sunday 10th August 2008: Last weekend with Families

From Monday 11th August 2008 – Friday 15th August 2008: Classes and Volunteer work, Final Exams.
At night Farwell party with local families organized by Siraj.
 
Saturday 16th August 2008: Graduation party in Bethlehem University.
 
Sunday 17th August 2008: Departure.
 
Other Activities:
Hiking, participants will have the opportunity to take short and long hikes during the period of their stay in Palestine so they can enjoy wonderful outdoor experiences.

Half days trips: During the week, participants can visit the rural areas of Bethlehem and Palestine and have the village experience; all visits will be organized by Siraj center.