OUR MISSION
Kite-Runner was developed in 2022 as a hub with counselling and workshop opportunities, social events, and network building opportunities for Afghans with and without journalistic background.
Afghans living in Istanbul can participate in real meetings, social events, and workshops, while Afghans in other parts of Turkey or in third countries as Pakistan and back in Afghanistan can participate in online meetings via ZOOM. Especially the creative program for females will be as online session implemented.
The main focus of the activities in 2024 is to upgrade all kinds of professional skills of media people from Afghanistan (e.g., language skills, writing skills, video-editing skills, podcasting, storytelling, pitching and so on) so that they will become better qualified to work as freelancers for international media outlets in a global comparison.
This means even in 2024, more safe online activities will play a role within the Kite-Runner activities alongside physical meetings in Turkey at postaneistanbul to support media activists and journalists from Afghanistan in Turkey, in third countries and in Afghanistan itself.
MEDIA HUB
The establishment of a media hub serves to network and acquire participants, media outlets and paves the way for professionalizing media skills.
Questions about conflict situations, gender equality, and local communities will be addressed and will sensitize participants and the public online.
Frequently Asked Questions, FAQ
What are we looking for?
We are seeking Journalists and Creatives from Afghanistan capable of producing high-quality editorial products (including text, photos, podcasts, films, and videos) to share their perspectives on Afghanistan related topics with the Kite Runner program and join our international network.
The quality of work and ability to tackle political, societal, economic, and environmental issues in a way that sheds a different light on them are what we favor for passionate journalism and multimedia products. Journalists and Creatives can publish on Kite Runner, develop their skills, and gain experience on the international media market.
Experience in the field is an advantage, as is the desire to work on an own distinct style, English communication abilities, and acquisition skills to be able to work for international media.
What do we offer?
We provide working groups to work on multimedia skills, funding research, and other monetization opportunities. Advanced authors can benefit from contacts with international colleagues or editors to approach with pitching offers, and from activities like exhibitions and festivals to showcase their works.
The program offers modest reimbursements during periods of times for certain projects. Podcast and Video, Text and Photos on Afghanistan related topics are a focus, new creative forms like cartoons and other art works as well. We pay reimbursements for selected works to be published on our website. The requirement is to actively develop themes, pitch them and deliver a professional product. Participants receive support in the working groups to achieve this.
The authors can publish on the Kite Runners website; however, they hold the copyrights. Authors are encouraged and supported to offer their products to other Media Outlets or other Publication Platforms to generate additional income.
We are regularly looking for translators (English, Dari), social media experts and people engaging in networking with us.
What we don’t offer.
Everyone in the program is a Freelancer, we don’t offer employment, or relocation, contacts with embassies or humanitarian aid.
Venue
Postane
Postane is an urban center for impact-driven work and joint cultural production, based in Galata, Istanbul. In 2021, the former British Post Office building was repurposed as a public venue that serves as a launchpad for activists, promotes cultural heritage, and develops economic models and cultural programs that address social, environmental, and urban challenges.
The building includes an rooftop garden where we grow fruit, vegetables, and herbs; a solidarity-based kitchen and cafeteria; a fair trade unit that connects consumers with local producers and social enterprises; office spaces that encourage co-production; a specialized library; a podcast and video studio; and a multipurpose hall for public events.
Postane is a member of the Bertha Spaces network, which unites activist spaces under the banner of "radical hospitality,” and of the Allianz Foundation Hubs network, which supports organizations working in civil society, arts & culture, and climate justice in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. It is developed and operated by the social enterprise Bak Postacı.
DISCOVER OUR TEAM
Thomas Büsch
Thomas Büsch is an odd filmmaker and curator from Germany based in Istanbul; together with Sabine Küper-Büsch he initiated the Mahalla festival in the name of the Istanbul based association diyalog. The objectives of the association are the promotion of exchange and cooperation in order to carry out an intercultural understanding to strengthen as well as above all a cultural dialogue between communities. In 2014/2015 they established for diyalog and in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Istanbul, an extensive program under the title Searching Traces with the aim to give creative people with and without migration backgrounds the opportunity to look back on and reappraise their experiences in order to find new perspectives in a changing surrounding or in the hosting countries.
Shahzad Mudasir
Shahzad Mudasir is a Human, Women and Refugee rights advocate Social/Humanitarian worker, and Language Instructor born and raised in Afghanistan, Social Sciences Graduate student based in Istanbul. He has been working with multicultural and very diverse teams with National and International NGOs on several projects like the Child Protection Project for Syrian non-Syrian Refugees/Immigrants implemented by Save the Children International and Zeytinburnu Municipality funded by PRM, Prospects of Economic Purposes Project for Refugees, and Host Community funded by GIZ and many more. Shahzad is very passionate about helping people in need and has been part of several research/studies about Refugees/Migrants and their inclusion in Turkish society. He has been engaging in Psycho-social and cultural activities, seminars, training, and Language Exchanges. He is interested in Arts and Culture, Photography/Videography, Podcasts, Dance, and Poetry.
Asena Hayal
Producer, art consultant, exhibition and content coordinator. After working as a producer on various artists' projects, she went on to manage content and production for art festivals. A member of Diyalog Association for the past 10 years. Based in Istanbul and manages the Istanbul branch of Supermarket Lab, a Berlin-based communication agency.
Lea Cordani
My name is Léa, I am a third year French student, studying political sciences and arts. Throughout my career, I have developed a deep appreciation for the role that culture and the arts play in shaping societies and fostering international understanding. As I am deeply interested in the significance of representation and storytelling in shaping the collective imagination, I am focusing on empowering marginalized groups to tell their own stories and ensuring fair representation throughout my work, for now as a project management assistant.
Sabine Küper-Büsch
Sabine Küper-Büsch is a filmmaker and curator from Germany based in Istanbul; together with Thomas Büsch, she initiated the Mahalla Festival in the name of the Istanbul-based association diyalog. The objectives of the association are the promotion of exchange and cooperation in order to carry out an intercultural understanding to strengthen as well as above all a cultural dialogue between communities. Since 2008 they develop an Internet-publishing platform based on Videos called Streetwalking. In 2014/2015 they established for diyalog and in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Istanbul, an extensive program under the title Searching Traces with the aim to give creative people with and without migration backgrounds the opportunity to look back on and reappraise their experiences in order to find new perspectives in a changing surrounding or in the hosting countries.
Adnan Onur Acar
Adnan Onur Acar was born in 1984 in Osmaniye. He completed his primary and secondary education in Osmaniye and his undergraduate education at Marmara University Faculty of Law. He worked as a photographer, photojournalist, translator, and editor before he started working as a lawyer in 2015.
Selsela Imamzada
Selsela Imamzada is an Afghan journalist living in Ankara. She has been involved in media activities for many years. She worked as a journalist in the Afghan media between 2013-2018. Selsela Imamzada focused on the plight of Afghan women, child labor and the fight against extremism in her reports. She has been working as a reporter, production and broadcast manager at Alborz media since 2022. She likes reading books, visiting historical places and getting to know different cultures.
Somaia Walizadeh
Somaia Walizadeh is an investigative journalist associated with Khillid Radio from Herat, Afghanistan.
Mathilde Melek An
Mathilde is a Franco-Turkish artist whose work is imbued with the duality of her roots. She navigates between these two cultures, establishing her artistic base between Normandy and Istanbul. She has participated as an artist to Mahalla Festival and has collaborated with the Diyalog Association as a member of the board. In parallel to her artistic career, she has been translating and fixing for international media.
