Every day, persecution and human rights abuses destroy people’s lives and fuel conflict in the Holy Land. But your presence can help prevent these injustices.

When you volunteer for this life-changing program, you’ll travel to Israel and Palestine, and spend three months living and working alongside families living under military occupation.

Throughout, your protective presence as an international observer will be helping to deter and reduce human rights violations in Palestinian communities. The program is based on an internationally recognised model called Accompaniment. And it’s proven to work.

The program, called the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), is effective because it combines strategic local presence and international pressure. The EAs provide a protective presence for families at risk of harassment; monitor human rights abuses; and, on return to their home countries, use their firsthand experience to advocate for international pressure on decision makers to comply with humanitarian law and to find long-term solutions to the conflict.

By volunteering as an ‘Ecumenical Accompanier’ or EA, you’ll be standing in solidarity with oppressed families. You’ll meet inspirational people from across the globe. And you’ll be part of an international movement of Israeli, Palestinian and international people and organisations building the foundations for a just peace in the Holy Land.

On your return to Australia, you’ll apply your first-hand experience to become an advocate for lasting change. You’ll help to put international pressure on decision makers to comply with humanitarian law and to find long-term solutions to the conflict.

EAPPI is a World Council of Churches program, and national chapters of EAPPI worldwide work in partnership with the World Council of Churches to implement it. In Australia, EAPPI is managed by Act for Peace (the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia) in conjunction with the volunteer EAPPI Australia Committee.

Being an Ecumenical Accompanier is challenging, rewarding, and undeniably vital work.

After intensive pre-deployment training and preparation, you’ll be ready to put on the distinctive EAPPI vest and join the other members of your multinational team at one of seven deployment locations throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Have I got what it takes?

Putting on the EAPPI vest is not for everyone. While extremely rewarding, this is a physically and mentally demanding role, living under prolonged, stressful conditions. 

While on deployment you’ll need to be flexible, hard-working, physically and emotionally robust, open to hearing from different perspectives, and able to represent the program in a professional manner.