Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen
de

Social Media Grant

Taking the Community on a Journey

The Social Media Grant enables people that are active in German minority organisations to report on different topics within their home regions. Throughout this journey, grant recipients share their experiences with a big community on the Mind_Netz social media platforms.

This will allow the participants to network with German minorities in other countries and gain further qualifications in the area of social media. Afterwards, these travel reporters can integrate their experience into the work at their German minority organisation. In 2022 four travel grants were awarded.

Who can apply?

Members and employees of an association, organisation or editorial office of German minorities based in one of the following countries can apply: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, the Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

What does the funding include?

The grant includes a one-week report on the social media platform Mind_Netz. Throughout this week, grant recipients contribute photos, videos and reports about the day-to-day life of German minorities and their work in their organisations. Each year the grant focusses on a different topic.
The recipients will be provided with an allowance for their research.

Grant recipients are also invited to an online social media workshop which will prepare them for their tasks. In addition to this, grant recipients are invited to participate in a training seminar of the Cultural Assistant Programme and the Job Shadowing Programme. In a final discussion round after the trip, the travel reporters can share and evaluate their experiences and successes together with the ifa staff.

 

What are the prerequisites?

  • Those interested in applying must be involved in a German minority association, organisation or editorial office based in Eastern Europe, Caucasus or Central Asia
  • Applicants are at least 18 years old at the time of the application and have good written and spoken German skills.
  • Applicants have the necessary communication devices for creating articles, such as a smartphone, laptop or camera.
  • Practical experience in the area of social media and/or journalism is desirable.

Application Guidelines

Application Deadline

The application period for 2024 is yet to be announced.

What Application Documents Are Required?

  • The completed Informational form
  • Applicants must submit a short video — maximum 90 seconds — which briefly introduces them, explains their interest in German minorities and their concept for their travels. They should explain their motivations and why they are suitable for this grant. Video files that are too large to be sent by email can be sent via a file sharing service.

What Happens after Applying?

Selected applicants will be invited to a personal video interview. All applicants will receive written confirmation or rejection by email. Acceptance is subject to the approval of funds by the German Federal Foreign Office.

German Minorities

Minorities can mediate between cultures and provide impulses for the coexistence of different population groups – provided that the minorities are socially recognised, have a secure space to assert themselves and have access to appealing programmes. For this reason, they must be well positioned both institutionally and personally. The programmes for German Minorities support German minorities in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia in their role as civil society actors and bridge-builders. They thus promote a multifaceted, current and realistic image of Germany, contributing to the process of European integration and cultural relations within Europe and beyond.

Contact

Julia Herzog

Scholarship Programme Coordination

Charlottenplatz 17
D-70173 Stuttgart

Telephone: +49.711.2225.253
Email: dmi-stipendien@ifa.de
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Funded by the Federal Foreign Office