Zajel focuses on three main ideas:

• To challenge the stereotypes about Palestinians that exist in the West, this is accomplished by making our students aware of these misconceptions and providing them with the historical and cultural education needed to counter this.
• To foster international communication and intercultural dialogue, to empower our students to accept and deal with different opinions, religions and cultures by bringing them into contact with people from across the world.
• To involve the Palestinian youth in organizing activities that serve their community; this builds the self confidence and experience of students, which will help them play a larger role in the future building of a Palestinian state.

How do we bring these ideas into practice?

• Voluntary work placements allow international volunteers to help our efforts in a variety of ways, for instance: teaching English and establishing contacts internationally with youth organizations from across the globe.
• Summer work camps are organized annually for a period of three weeks: volunteers from all over the world are brought together to work at the university and local refugee camps, This camp aims to foster a lasting relationship between the international volunteers and the Palestinian community.
•  Video conferences aim to engage lecturers and students from Palestine and the rest of the world in an open dialogue about important and controversial topics within the Middle East.
• Study visits allow participants to see another side of the conflicts in the Middle East. Study Visits last for one or two days, and include workshops, lectures and meetings with leaders of the community, giving invaluable insight into this complex region.
• The Palestine Information Unit promotes Palestinian culture, tradition, history and news. It gives a voice to those usually overlooked by a media that focuses solely on the conflict conflict.