“Tens of thousands of teenage and young adult asylum seekers continue to flee war, persecution, or extreme poverty. Crucial years of education are lost while waiting for asylum, and in turn dreams and aspirations are compromised. We fight to change this reality by training students.”
Sonia Nandzik and Douglas Herman, ReFOCUS Media Labs

Insights into the work of ReFOCUS Media Labs

All pictures © ReFOCUS Media Labs

Yaser Akbari instructs students how to use a Gimbal. They are standing around him at a table, while he is explaining.

Lesvos, Greece

When students become teachers: Yaser Akbari – the Lesvos Lab lead teacher instructs students in the professional use of gimbals. Yaser is an alumnus of the ReFOCUS program. His outstanding skills have allowed him to secure a teaching position and produce his own videos and a movie.

A group of women and girls gathered and are looking at a camera to see pictures one of them made. They are laughing.

Cracow, Poland

Women and girls dominate the ReFOCUS Media Lab project in Cracow, Poland. The Lab is dedicated to Ukrainian refugees forced to flee their country after Russian aggression.

Two women are outside on Lesvos and are filming in the landscape.

Lesvos, Greece

Female students from the Lesvos Lab produce their own short video for International Women’s Day in response to the atrocities committed against women in war zones across the world.

A group of students is working in a tiny studio on the editing of a movie.

Athens & Lesvos, Greece

Students and teaching artists from the Athens and Lesvos Labs together produced “Dead End” . This movie by Said Ahmadzia Ebrahim, produced by ReFOCUS, was featured immediately after release at the Ghan Film Festival in Australia.

Five persons in a room are making a movie. Two are sitting at a table in a shabby and cold room and the others are filming them.

Lesvos, Greece

Lesvos Lab teaching artists: Nazanin Foroghi and Yaser Akbari produce a music video for an Afghan rapper, Mo Hossaini. The video, titled “Interview,” metaphorically depicts the process refugees in Greece have to go through to prove their claim for asylum.

Cracow, Poland

Students in the Cracow Lab learn professional filmmaking. The Lab offers classes in photography, storytelling, filmmaking, and graphic design. All classes are taught by Ukrainians and provide formal education to help Ukrainians get access to the Polish labor market.

A person is showing three others something on a laptop. The other three are looking very focussed.

Athens, Greece

In the Athens Lab the latest teaching artist, Abbas Heidari, teaches Afghan and Iranian students green screen shooting and editing techniques. In a series of workshops students learn professional media skills and build their artistic portfolio.

A very crowded room. People are looking to a big screen, where a movie is shown.

Lesvos, Greece

In the Parea community center for refugees on Lesvos, ReFOCUS screens its first feature documentary, “Even After Death ”. The film was shot in 2019, but the subject of deadly sea crossings is still very relevant in the Mediterranean area.

Talents for Tomorrow: Diversifying Foundations for Europe

The Allianz Foundation in Berlin and the European Cultural Foundation in Amsterdam are collaborating on a new Traineeship program focused on promoting and diversifying philanthropy with a European purpose. Throughout the 8-month pilot program, the Trainees will gain hands-on experience in one of the two Foundations.

Risktakers Fellowship Call

+APPLICATION DEADLINE EXPIRED+ The fellowship aims to create spaces of hope and resilience while facing the complex crises of our time. It supports individuals who meet these crises by developing ideas for desirable futures – in the digital space and beyond. This Fellowship is a collaboration with SUPERRR LAB.

Zad: Miles for Connection

The right to freedom of movement is essential for a generation of artists who had to relocate to Europe. Zad promotes the mobility of artists, individuals, and groups by offering financial support to showcase their work in new venues. This assistance can cover travel costs within their current country or across Europe. The program is open for applications year-round.

Allianz Foundation Grants Program 2025

Allianz Foundation's 2025 funding program is now open for applications. We support initiatives with civil society, ecological, cultural and artistic backgrounds. We place a special emphasis on projects working at the intersection of these areas and pursuing systematic change. If you are interested in funding, please apply now.

Fixing what’s broken: Our funding projects 2024

Twelve new projects in this year’s funding program – 'Fixing what's broken. Together!' – started in September. This season we are specifically supporting cooperation projects that address social divisions and ecological crises. Their work stands for solidarity, community spirit, and respect. Get to know the funded projects here.

Tandem-residencies in Tarabya: Ongoing open call

How does nightlife in Istanbul becomes an expression of identity and solidarity? In an interview, Yelta Köm and Ulya Soley reflect on their time as Tarabya fellows: from artistic research and publications to the “Sound Kitchen”. Find out what they experienced and how you can apply for the Open Call for tandem-residencies.