From November 3 until November 17 RFG Media’s exhibition New Voices III – Voices Unveiled can be seen in the Atrium City Hall.

Nine emerging photographers with roots in countries including Cuba, Yemen, Egypt, Argentina, Ukraine, and Syria present their vision of the Netherlands. Their documentary photographs are intimate, confronting, and revealing. They break through stereotypical images and show how personal and layered themes such as migration and identity can be. The program marks the conclusion of a six-month trajectory filled with workshops and masterclasses. Photographer Jan Dirk van der Burg will host the evening and engage with the makers about the works they present and the stories behind them.

New Voices – photography by newcomers
In the New Voices project, refugee photographers and photojournalists are given the opportunity to continue their profession in the Netherlands. Over the course of five months, they work on a personal documentary photo series around the central theme: the newcomers’ view of the Netherlands.
Within the project, participants each develop their own visual concept, guided by professionals in the field including Rob Godfried. Workshops are provided on photojournalism, photo editing, and storytelling, led by experienced Dutch photographers. In addition, inspiring excursions are organized, for example to photo museums, galleries, or editorial offices.
The trajectory culminates in a joint exhibition and magazine, where the work and stories of these image-makers are presented to a broad audience.

Photographers
Aldana Genini (Argentina, 1997) is a photographer and journalist with roots in Argentina. She grew up in Patagonia and worked in the film industry and journalism before fully committing to photography. Since 2022 she has been living in the Netherlands, where she combines personal and political stories. Her work explores themes such as love, women’s movements, and the tension between bureaucracy and intimacy in migration processes.

Samer Daboul (Syria, 1996) is a Syrian photographer who began his career documenting the civil war in his homeland. His photographs have appeared in outlets including NBC News and Anadolu Agency. In the Netherlands, he documents integration and stories that mirror his own experience as a newcomer. For Samer, photography is a bridge between cultures and a way to make human experiences tangible.

Michel Mzzawi (Syria, 1996) is a Syrian visual artist and photographer. He grew up in a creative family and learned photography from his father, himself an award-winning photographer. After arriving in the Netherlands in 2023, he has focused on street photography and migration stories. His work plays with layers and reflections and explores the tension between visible and invisible.

Marharyta Khmelnytska (Ukraine, 1983) is a Ukrainian photographer with a background in television and film. She graduated as a TV director in Kyiv and worked on diverse projects, ranging from children’s fashion to snowboard photography. Since arriving in the Netherlands in 2022, she has been capturing everyday life from a documentary perspective, with a particular focus on light and vulnerability.
Mouneb Taim (Syria, 2001) is a Syrian photojournalist who began photographing after the death of his brother in 2014. For years he documented life in war zones and found in photography a way to capture courage and humanity. In the Netherlands, he works on reports about both conflict and everyday life, exploring how stories of migration and resilience can be represented.

Bradys Barreras (Cuba, 1976) is a Cuban news and documentary photographer. Trained in Cuba, he is known for his sharp and realistic portrayal of social and political realities. After fleeing from Cuba and Russia, he settled in the Netherlands. His work focuses on oppression and the silent stories of people on the margins of society, with a strong emphasis on ethics and truthfulness.

Fadel Dawod (Egypt) is an Egyptian photographer who, at a young age, began capturing protests and poverty for the newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm. His work, published in outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian, focuses on communities and stories that are often ignored. After persecution in Egypt, he now works in the Netherlands on documentary projects about migration and resilience.

Rawan Elias (Syria, 1994) is a Syrian photographer with a background in pharmacy and molecular biology. During the pandemic, she discovered her passion for photography. Since 2023 she has been living in the Netherlands, where she focuses on portraits and refugee stories. Her project Portraits of Light and Storm explores the emotional traces of war and the search for joy.

Omar Nasr (Yemen, 1988) is a Yemeni multimedia artist and photographer. In 2009, he founded a media company in Yemen and later worked for the WHO. The civil war forced him to flee his country. In the Netherlands, he uses photography to portray trauma and exile. His intuitive, often black-and-white images serve as silent testimonies of his inner world.

RFG Media
RFG Media is an organization by and for refugee journalists. RFG stands for ReFuGee.
We are driven by a dual mission. The first is to help refugee journalists secure a place in the Dutch labor market. The second is to ensure that the voices of refugee journalists are heard more frequently and more clearly. With their knowledge, expertise, and experience, they provide different and valuable perspectives in journalism. We believe that this alternative perspective can contribute to diverse and balanced reporting.
www.rfgmedia.nl