Deadline: 19th November 2023

Applications are now open for the Rest & Resilience Scholarship 2024 . The Rest & Resilience Fellowship is a joint programme of the taz Panter Foundation and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which has been running annually since 2015.

They invite two journalists from countries with restricted freedom of the press and information to Berlin for a limited period of six months. During their stay, the media professionals take time off from their daily duties to recover from the difficult working conditions and expand their personal and professional horizons. At the end of the six months, the fellows return to their home countries with renewed energy and new prospects for continuing their journalistic work.

If they wish, participants can withdraw completely from public life. However, the fellowships will offer different workshops for additional training and networking purposes and participation is strongly encouraged. In addition, the time spent in Berlin offers opportunities to exchange with international journalists from all over the world, get to know German newsrooms, take language classes and take advantage of individual psychosocial counselling, if desired.

Benefits

• Visa and travel costs
• Furnished flat in Berlin
• Travel health insurance for the six months spent in Berlin
• Monthly stipend of €1,000
• Psychological support
• Workshops (e.g. on digital security training, stress management)
• Professional and/or personal journalistic training opportunities

Eligibility

• Open to journalists from countries with restricted freedom of the press and information.
• The candidate has a clear idea of how the six-month scholarship in Berlin can have a positive impact on their current situation.
• Several years' experience as a professional journalist.
  Note Although the work of human rights activists is very valuable, they cannot invite individuals who are not professional journalists, as they do not fall within RSF's mandate.
• Profile of personal threat due to journalistic work or difficult working conditions caused by external factors.
• Proven knowledge of the English language. Candidates must be able to communicate well in a professional context.
• Have a passport valid for at least twelve months at the time of application (or which can be reapplied/renewed independently).
• A state of health that allows for longer journeys and a stay of six months in the host country, as well as sufficient independence to deal with everyday matters on their own in a foreign environment.
• Ability and willingness to return to the country of origin after the scholarship period.
  Note:  Applications from journalists who are unable to return to their home country due to the political situation or their own threatening situation unfortunately cannot be considered in the application process. This is mainly due to the fact that no visa will be issued by the German authorities without the possibility of return.

Application

Your application must include the following documents:

• The enrolment form completed and signed .
• A scan of your current passport (valid for another 12 months or independently renewable).
• Your curriculum vitae in tabular form (CV).
• A motivation letter (1-2 pages) in which you explain why you are applying for the Rest & Resilience Scholarship. Address which specific factors jeopardise or complicate your individual work situation. Please also write how you plan to enjoy your stay in Berlin and how this will have a positive impact on your future work in your home country.

Send the completed application form and other requested documents in PDF format to:  fellowship-rsf-taz@proton.me

For more information, visit Rest and Resilience Scholarship .