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The Auszeit Refugium Fellowship is a joint program by the Taz Panter Foundation and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which has been held annually since 2015.
This Auszeit Refugium Fellowship invites two journalists from countries with restricted freedom of the press and information to spend up to six months in Berlin.
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During their stay, these media professionals take a break from their challenging working conditions, allowing them to recuperate and broaden their personal and professional horizons. After six months of the Auszeit Refugium Fellowship, the fellows return to their home countries with renewed energy and fresh perspectives to continue their journalistic work.
Participants have the option to withdraw entirely from public life, but the program also offers various workshops for further training and networking, which are highly encouraged. The time spent in Berlin provides opportunities to engage with international journalists from around the world, get acquainted with German editorial offices, take language classes, and access individual psychosocial counseling if desired.
Benefits
The benefits of the fellowship include;
- covering visa and travel costs,
- furnished apartment in Berlin, travel health insurance for six months,
- monthly grant of €1,000,
- psychological support,
- workshops (e.g., digital safety training and stress management), and
- Opportunities for professional journalistic and personal development.
Eligibility for Auszeit Refugium Fellowship
Eligibility criteria require applicants to be journalists from countries with restricted freedom of the press and information, with a clear idea of how the fellowship in Berlin can positively impact their current situation. They should possess several years of professional journalism experience and be proficient in English. Additionally, applicants must have a valid passport, good health, and the ability and willingness to return to their home country after the fellowship.
Unfortunately, applications from journalists who cannot return to their home country due to political or threat-related reasons cannot be considered, as German authorities require the possibility of return for visa issuance.
Application Process
The application process involves submitting a completed and signed application form, a scan of the current passport (valid for another 12 months or renewable), a tabular curriculum vitae (CV), and a 1-2 page letter of motivation explaining why the applicant is seeking the Rest & Resilience Fellowship, the specific factors endangering their working situation, and how they plan to utilize their time in Berlin to benefit their future work in their home country.
The application should be sent in PDF format to: fellowship-rsf-taz@proton.me
Application deadline: November 19, 2023.
